Voices Forged By The Sea: New Year's Day Deck Log Contest

Naval History and Heritage Command ^ | Naval History and Heritage Command

[US Navy Vet]

Sailors, we want to hear your voice! The Naval History and Heritage Command is hereby reviving the tradition of the New Year’s Deck Log Poetry contest. Let your poetic prowess be celebrated!

The deck log is the official record maintained by all commissioned U.S. Navy vessels. While the contents of a deck log are generally fiercely regulated, the United States Navy has long held the tradition of the Midnight New Year’s Day Poem. The first entry of the New Year, written in verse, gives a brief glimpse into the minds of the sailors and shipboard life, and provides a human voice to the otherwise impersonal deck log. Unfortunately, this tradition is waning with each passing New Year’s Day. Contests held by Navy Times in the 1960s drew hundreds of entries, but the number of official deck log submissions with special New Year's Day content has dwindled each year. By reviving the contest, the Naval History and Heritage Command hopes to preserve the tradion and boost participation throughout the Fleet.

This page has details on how to enter, a brief history of the tradition, and historical examples available for download. Links to highlighted and winning entries beginning with 2020 can also be found on this page.

[US Navy Vet]

Interesting Reading Here The US Navy does this every year.

[Craftmore]

There once was a sailor from trent,,,,,

[Robert A Cook PE]

At the power plants, when we are working through Christmas and new Years Eve, we rig up a “Safety Tree” and decorate it with seven yellow tags, six red taped ribbons, 5 glowing lamps, four fringed pens, three soiled gloves, and a cartridge in a safety tree ...