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SUBJ//ANNOUNCING NEW YEARS DAY DECK LOG POEM CONTEST FOR 2023// 
 
POC/NHHC DECK LOG PROGRAM//LOC: WASHINGTON, DC/EMAIL: 
nhhc_had_decklogs@us.navy.mil// 
 
RMKS/1. The Naval History And Heritage Command (NHHC) is excited to announce 
the annual New Year's Day Deck Log Poem Contest for 2023 and calls for 
submissions by 2359 Eastern Daylight Time, 24 February 2023. 
 
2.  Celebratory congratulations to our winners from last year. 
First place: USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG-57) written by ENS Sarah Weinstein. 
Second place: USS RUSSELL (DDG 59) written by LTJG Megan Stilley. 
Third place: USS CURTIS WILBUR (DDG 54) written by LT Austyn Sutton. 
 
Thank you to everyone that submitted entries for last year's contest. 
We look forward to reading your 2023 entries! 
 
3.  The deck log is the official record maintained by all commissioned U.S. 
Navy vessels.  While regulations normally restrict the types of entries in 
logbooks, the Navy has long held the tradition of the Midnight New Year's 
Poem. 
The first entry of the new year, written in verse, allows Sailors to express 
their creativity, experience of shipboard life, and pride in their command. 
To highlight this unique tradition, NHHC will host a New Year's Day Deck Log 
Poem Contest.  Sailors, we want to hear your voice. 
 
4.  Reviving aspects of our heritage like this time-honored tradition 
enhances our warfighting effectiveness.  As Chief of Naval Operations, 
Admiral Michael M. Gilday noted in FRAGO 1, as we focus on the future, we 
will value and celebrate our heritage.  Harkening back to our heritage 
connects us with the generations of Sailors that came before us, creating a 
sense of belonging and responsibility to uphold their legacy of valor and 
sacrifice. 
 
5.  The focus of this contest is to celebrate the voices of our Sailors and 
to preserve this Navy tradition.  The contest also reminds the fleet of the 
importance of the deck log as a historical document, one that preserves for 
future generations the actions and voices of our Sailors. 
 
6. Contest Details: 
a.  Deadline for submissions is 2359 eastern daylight time, 24 February 2023. 
b.  Due to the public-facing nature of the contest, all entries must be 
unclassified. 
c.  Submissions will be accepted by email only.  Email a pdf copy of the deck 
log page(s) with your poem to nhhc_had_decklogs@us.navy.mil. 
d.  Eligibility. While it is not uncommon for squadrons and staffs to write 
New Year's Day poems in their watchstanding logbooks as well, this 
contest, for now, is limited to commissioned Navy vessels. 
e.  Poems can be submitted with either an identified or anonymous author.   
Commanding Officers that would like to recognize the poems author, 
please provide the authors contact information with the submission email. 
In the case of an anonymous author, the command will be recognized and 
receive the award. 
f.  Selections will be made for first, second, and third place. 
First place prize is a piece of historic copper sheathing from USS 
CONSTITUTION. 
Winning entries will be featured on NHHC's website alongside examples from 
generations past.  The NHHC director will also recognize the winners. 
g.  Winners will be announced in late April 2023 in coordination of 
national poetry month. 
 
7.  For examples of poems and more information, see NHHC's website: 
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/archives/resources
-for-the-fleet/deck-logs/new-years-contest.html
 
8.  For questions, please contact the NHHC deck log program, email: 
nhhc_had_decklogs@us.navy.mil. 
 
9.  Released by Mr. Andrew S. Haeuptle, Director, Navy Staff.// 
 
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