Westlin Weavers News -- 2005 Archive
August 19, 2005 -- A new song by The Westlin Weavers' singer/songwriter Jeanne McDougall celebrates the journey of a ten-year-old Greek immigrant who arrived in the U.S. aboard the U.S.S. Constitution on July 4, 1828 -- an immigrant who was her great-great-grandfather.
"A Land Beyond The Sea" commemorates the journey of George Sirian, survivor of an 1824 massacre on his home island of Ipsara (now Psara) and the beginning of his years of service aboard the historic frigate. Sirian is the only man to have served three separate tours of duty aboard the Constitution. In 2003 the USS Constitution Chapter of the Surface Navy Association inaugurated the George Sirian Meritorious Service Award to a Chief Petty Officer (CPO) in the Navy who exemplifies Surface Warfare excellence. The 2005 recipient of the fleet-wide award is Quartermaster Senior Chief (Surface Warfare) Christopher Newland, a Vancouver, Wash. native currently assigned to the San Diego based guided missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53). He will be honored in ceremonies aboard the Constitution in Boston on Friday, August 26, 2005.
"I cannot tell you how proud I am to be able to share George's story with other descendants of immigrants who found a home and freedom in America," says McDougall. She adds that the lyrics are "how I like to imagine young George felt after the becalmed ship finally cleared Gibraltar and headed out into open water, bound for a strange and wonderful 'land beyond the sea.'" McDougall credits her father for tirelessly telling George’s story over the years "basically to anyone who would listen to him." Sirian's portrait, painted shortly after his arrival in Boston in 1828, is on loan to the U.S.S. Constitution Museum in Boston and is a part of the museum's ongoing education efforts.
"A Land Beyond The Sea" will be featured on the Westlin Weavers' upcoming CD"A Blanket Of Blue," a collection of favorite shanties and songs of the sea -- all with a Scottish flavor! The CD is scheduled to be released on September 18, 2005 at the San Diego Sea Chantey Festival aboard the tall ship "Star of India."
The Westlin Weavers will perform on the Main Stage at the San Diego Festival of Sail on Sunday, August 21, 2005 at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The stage is located on the Cruise Pier at the North Embarcadero. Call the Maritime Museum of San Diego at (619) 234-9153 for more information, or visit www.sdmaritime.org
The Westlin Weavers are: Jeanne McDougall on guitar, recorders, whistles, dulcimers and vocals; Alex McDougall on vocals, guitar and percussion; Pete Connolly on vocals, bass, bouzouki, whistles and bodhran; and Anastazia Dalesandro on vocals and guitar. Accompanying the band at the festival are members of the San Diego-based Celtic band The Clovers: Jackie Hammack on fiddle, Katherine Kamrath on bass, and Karen Brady on guitar.
Lyrics, "A Land Beyond The Sea"