United States Power Squadrons Celebrates
85 Years of Service to the Boating Public
USPS® has completed the biggest anniversary celebration ever. It started with an Anniversary party on 10 April 1999 at the Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts, where our First Logo
First USPS Logo from 1914

Anniversary Logo
85th Anniversary Logo ®
 history began and where a limited edition painting depicting a 1915 scene of Power Squadron boats engaged in maneuvers with the U.S. Navy in Marblehead Harbor was officially presented to USPS by renowned marine artist Donald Demers. The 1915 Boston Yacht Club station is shown in the background along with sailboats and the U.S.S. Virginia, one of the battleships involved in the original maneuvers.

Only 2000 prints, signed and numbered by the artist were made. Donald Demers discussed the painting at the 1999 June Governing Board Meeting in Puerto Rico. We have come a long way from our humble beginnings as part of the Boston Yacht Club in 1914.

The Voyage of the Ensign II began at the Puerto Rico Governing Board Meeting in June 1999 and concluded at the 2000 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Five ensigns traveled to all 450 local Power Squadrons across the United States, Puerto Rico, the American Virgin Islands and Japan.

Special Commemorative Ensign
Special Commemorative Ensign SM


The special commemorative Anniversary Ensign was flown over the Michigan State Capital on 19 August 1999

This voyage symbolized the journey from our beginnings 85 years ago through the new millennium and into the 21st century. The five ensigns and the course each traveled will be displayed at USPS headquarters in Raleigh.

The concept of having five USPS ensigns cruising the water of the United States and its territories while being transferred from district to district, was inaugurated in 1989, the 75th Anniversary of USPS, and the event was so popular and successful that it was decided to do it once again. A special commemorative ensign was created to mark the 85th anniversary and the voyage into the 21st Century Celebration 2000.

Also, in the year 2000, we will have a significant role in Op Sail 2000, the greatest gathering of Tall Ships and International Naval Review vessels in the history of our country.


® "United States Power Squadrons", "USPS", the USPS ensign, and the "Wheel-and-Ensign Design" are Registered Trademarks of United States Power Squadrons, Inc.


Page Last Updated at 09:56 PM on Thursday, July 20, 2006