British Honor Confederate Submariners

British submariners honor crew of Confederate sub
Associated Press
Friday, February 17, 2012


CHARLESTON — British submariners are in South Carolina to pay tribute to the crew of the first submarine in history to sink an enemy warship.

Members of the Portsmouth Submariners Association in the United Kingdom place a poppy wreath Friday at the graves of the crew of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley in Charleston. The poppy is a symbol of courage and sacrifice.

Association members have sent a poppy wreath to the grave every year since 2004, when the last Hunley crew was buried in what has been called the last Confederate funeral.

It was 148 years ago Friday that the hand-cranked sub sank the Union blockade ship Housatonic off Charleston. But the Hunley itself sank before returning.

The sub was raised from the Atlantic Ocean 12 years ago.

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2012/feb/17/british-submariners-honor-crew-confederate-sub/