USS Whitehurst Logo by: Pat Stephens, Webmaster, DESA
 

The Whitehurst Logo Story

In early June 1953, Whitehurst was in her Home Port, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  In recognition of the upcoming Coronation of Great Britain's new Queen, Whitehurst, along with hundreds of other American Navy Ships, in ports around the world, put on the "Full Dress Ship" attire. Colorful signal flags and pennants were strung fore and aft, starting at the Union Jack, up and over the mast above the yardarm, and down to the Flag Staff at the fantail lifelines.

Whitehurst Gunnersmate 3rd class Glen Anderson, using an Argus C3, the workhorse camera for 35mm hobbyists, took the photo that has become the emblem of our ship.  The beautiful picture of the ship against white clouds, over the colorful harbor, graces the heading of hundreds of stories on this website, thanks to Glen's photographic skills. The photo was placed in our Logo and made to appear as a plaque, by the skillful web master of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, Pat Stephens.

note: June 2nd, 2015, 62nd anniversary of the coronation, the following article was published in "The Huffington Post", the Internet Newspaper. mc On June 2nd, 1953, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary started her tenure as the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Queen Elizabeth II almost didn't become queen. She was third in line to the throne when she was born behind her uncle, King Edward VIII, and her father, The Duke of York. Her fate changed when her uncle decided to abdicate his position in order to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. On December 11th, 1936, Edward explained to the world via radio broadcast his decision and immediately the kingdom went to his younger brother Prince Albert, Duke of York, who succeeded to the throne as George VI. Queen Elizabeth II poses in her coronation attire in the throne room of Buckingham Palace in London, after her coronation, June 2, 1953. (AP Photo) Elizabeth's father reigned until his death in February 1952. She immediately became the new monarch and performed the duties of the sovereign, but did not have her official coronation until the following spring because the nation was in a period of mourning. The 25-year-old mother had a glamorous ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Her coronation was the first to be televised, making her an instant cultural icon across the world. An estimated three million spectators in London viewed the pageantry in person. Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, marking the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne.

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