AMMV Events
Events and get-togethers are some of the best ways to find community among fellow Mariners. Enjoying the company of others who have gone through similar events can be a uniquely refreshing experience. AMMV loves honoring our members alongside family and friends.
Celebrating Our Veterans
It is a great sacrifice to serve our country. For many, it meant making the greatest sacrifice and giving their lives in the name of our country. For others it meant missing dance recitals, or the birth of a child, or the marriage of a sibling, or the death of a loved one.
Our independence and the very life of our democratic republic have survived because of our Veterans and these very sacrifices that were made. We recognize all of our Veterans because they risked everything to give troops on the ground the necessary tools to ensure that the United States remained a beacon of light when the darkness seemed to be closing in.
We laud our Veterans and their sacrifices through our continued actions, but we also enjoy a good time together! Whether it’s a convention full of amazing speakers and panels, a small gathering to honor those lost to us, or even celebrating important holidays, we love seeing our members get together.
Event Calendar
AMMV knows that a huge source of stability and balance for Veterans is community. Our members need the connection to others, especially those who have also been Merchant Mariners and experienced the same hardships and background. The bonds between service members are some of the most solid bonds in existence, and we want to facilitate not only creating these relationships, but also maintaining them. Through our events, we encourage our members to meet others, honor each other, and learn more about taking their rights into their own hands. Take a look at our events below and see if you can make any of them! We’d be glad to have you.
View all our Events
Join us at the convention!
April 2-6, 2025
SAVE THE DATE and join us Wednesday, April 2 – Sunday, April 6 for the 37th Annual Merchant Marine Veterans Convention in Norfolk, Virginia!
The Hungnam Rescue
Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 6 PM (EST) | Hybrid
Join The Korea Society for an inspiring and heartwarming story timed for the holiday season about the largest wartime humanitarian evacuation in history. During The Korean War, naval and merchant ships from America and its allies rescued almost 100,000 North Korean refugees. The 75th Anniversary of this incredible event in 2025 will be marked by a major long-term exhibition at the American Merchant Marine Museum (AMMM), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, alongside exhibitions in Korea. Speakers include the last surviving crew member, Burley Smith, Dr. Joshua Smith, Director of the American Merchant Marine Museum, and Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
Unveiling a New Monument
Commemorating the Contributions
of American Merchant Mariners
in Support of D-Day
June 5, 2024 @ 11am – Utah Beach, Normandy, France
The American Merchant Marine Veterans has issued a press release for U.S. Merchant Marine WWII veterans and Allies who will be recognized with the unveiling of a new memorial installed in Utah Beach, Normandy France; 05 June 2024.
Please view the attached press release and brochure which highlights the historic significance of the marker and U.S. Merchant Marine’s contributions to victory in WWII.
There are (6) WWII Mariners traveling on tour for the 80th D-Day Anniversary including 107 year old Reynolds Tomter, Dave Yoho, Mike Robins, Allen Johnson, William Balabanow and Joe Kallist.
Veterans speak! An Intergenerational Dialogue
Monday, November 27th, 2023 | 7:00pm
Annual National Maritime Day
Monday, May 22nd, 2023
In honor of National Maritime Day, May 22nd, USA Warrior Stories’ Ross Rowlinson spearheaded efforts in Vero Beach, Florida to create a long overdue memorial to the WWII U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans. The City of Vero Beach unveiled the new WWII Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial in 2023 on their Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary. They also invited many local and visiting WWII veterans and Merchant Mariners to witness 100-year-old WWII Mariner Mr. Floyd York receive his copy of the Congressional Gold Medal from the local Congressional Representative Bill Posey’s office. In honor or May 22nd, USA Warrior Stories’ Ross Rowlinson spearheaded efforts in Vero Beach, Florida to create a long overdue memorial to the WWII U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans
Memorial Day
May 29th, 2023
Heroes of the U.S. Merchant Marine, William Balabanow, John Laughton, Charles Mills, George Worsham, and David Yoho represented the over 9,500 brave merchant mariners who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II by laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, 2023.
USA Warrior Stories producer and retired Merchant Mariner Ross Rowlinson was invited to Washington, D.C., to participate in the festivities. With the help of the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV), Ross recorded some amazing interviews while in Washington, D.C., in addition to previous interviews with living veterans.