8-YEAR OLD BOYS COULD JOIN THE NAVY IN 1812
Conor, Valerie and myself took a couple of our friends from Ireland to see the U.S.S. Constitution today. The tour is free and is quite good. The ship is still a commissioned U.S. warship and sets sail approximately twice a year to sail around the harbor. The U.S.S. Constitution is also known as 'Old Ironsides' because when the English tried to sink the ship, their cannon balls were seen to hit the side of wooden the boat and bounce off. One of the jaw dropping facts we heard today is that boys as young as eight could join the Navy back during the early 1800's. Turns out the compartment where the gunpowder was kept was quite small and boys could get in and out of their easier than a grown-up. So boys were taken to see and sent into battle because they were the right size. What's even more shocking is that both sides knew that the small boys were the ones who were running for gunpowder. So it was important to try to shoot the boys when possible to slow the soldiers down from being able to load their cannons. My, my how things have changed. Unless your an Al Queda terrorist, then it's okay to send 8-year old boys to their death with explosives strapped to their bodies.
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