If they didn’t let him it might have been necessary for form a raiding party.
But the United States Navy has years of good sense on its side - in large part due to the service of Commodore John Barry.
So the navy’s decision to allow for the erection of a memorial on the grounds of the Naval Academy at Annapolis was being widely hailed this week.
The memorial has been secured by the Ancient Order of Hibernians which has been working to persuade the naval authorities to honor the Wexford-born Barry, confirmed by President George W Bush as the first flag officer of the United States Navy.
As was the case with the memorial to the Irish Brigade at Antietam, the Barry memorial comes late in the day and in the nick of time as there are now restrictions on erecting new memorials on the academy grounds.
“The AOH is committed to this project,” said AOH National President Seamus Boyle.
“And we will raise the funds needed to make the memorial a reality,” he pledged.
The battle plan is for the “Barry Memorial Project” to be completed in two phases.
The project’s first phase will be placing an arch sign over the academy’s new pedestrian gate and formally naming it the “Commodore John Barry Gate.” A dedication date as early as this September is anticipated.
The project’s second phase will be the construction of an eight-foot tall granite memorial honoring Commodore Barry.
The memorial will be positioned inside the Barry Gate and the adjoining area will be called “Barry Plaza.” It is planned that this work will be concluded in late 2012.
According to a release from the AOH, over 95 percent of pedestrians passing in and out of the Naval Academy’s grounds will pass through Barry Gate.
The plan, according to the release, is to raise funds from Irish American and patriotic organizations, Naval Academy alumni, and ordinary American citizens.
“Since this is a gift to the American people and to the Naval Academy, the AOH is not seeking federal and state funds.” the release said.
Efforts to honor Commodore Barry originated with the AOH’s District of Columbia State Board. The first proposal was submitted on August 29, 2008 and the U.S. Naval Academy’s Memorials Oversight Committee gave final approval in January 2011.
The news of the approval was held back so that it could be announced in tandem with the recent AOH celebrations of the order’s 175th anniversary.
“Such a fine patriot as Barry will be an inspiration to our future military leaders as they pass through the Barry Gate and along the new memorial at the Barry Plaza,” said Bob April, president of the AOH District of Columbia State Board.
