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SUBJ//ANNOUNCING NEW YEARS DAY DECK LOG POEM CONTEST FOR 2024 (CORRECTED 
COPY)/ 
 
POC/NHHC DECK LOG PROGRAM//LOC: WASHINGTON, DC/ 
EMAIL:  nhhc-decklogs@us.navy.mil// 
 
RMKS/1. The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) is excited to announce 
the Annual New Years Day deck log poem contest for 2024 and calls for 
submissions by 2359 eastern daylight time, 23 February 2024. 
 
2.  Celebratory congratulations to our winners from last year. 
First place: USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) written by LT Artem Sherbinin. 
Second place: USS Fitzgerald (DDG-66) written by GM2 Austin Canterbury. 
Third place: USS Farragut (DDG-99) written by QM3 Anthony Bentley. 
Thank you to everyone that submitted entries for last year's contest. 
We look forward to reading your 2024 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 Years 
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 Years 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 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importance of the deck log as a historical document, one that preserves for 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,  
23 February 2024. 
  b.  Due to the public-facing nature of the contest, all entries shall 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-decklogs@us.navy.mil. 
  d.  Eligibility: 
    (1) Entries must be from a commissioned U.S. Navy vessel, deployed or at 
shore. 
    (2) Entries must be submissions to the ships official deck log. 
    (3) Entries must be written as the first entry on January 1, 2024. 
    (4) All paygrades active and reserve are eligible. 
  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 NHHCs website alongside examples from generations 
past. The NHHC director will also recognize the winners. 
  g.  Winners will be announced in late April in coordination of national 
poetry month. 
 
7.  For examples of poems and more information, see NHHCs website: 
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/archives/resources
-for-the-fleet/deck-logs/new-years-contest.html 
 
8.  Released by Mr. Andrew S. Haeuptle, Director, Navy Staff.// 
 
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