Mayflower II in New York Harbor 1957
Mayflower II sailed into New York Harbor on July 1, 1957. She was greeted by a flotilla of 500 welcoming boats and a U.S. Navy blimp flying overhead. Once ashore, the entire crew was treated to a ticker tape parade down Wall Street’s Canyon of Heroes.
Two weeks earlier on June 13, the Mayflower II was cheered by thousands in Plymouth, Massachusetts, as she completed her transatlantic voyage from England. Now she was arriving at the greatest city in the world.
The Mayflower Project was the brainchild of Warwick Charlton, an Englishman who served in the British Army under two of their most famous generals: Field Marshall Montgomery – “Monty” – in North Africa, and the Earl of Mountbatten – Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command.
Warwick saw the horrors of war first hand. He also saw the essential role the United States of America played in defeating global tranny. The USA really did make the world safe for democracy, in Charlton’s view.
The Mayflower Project envisioned building an exact replica of the ship that carried the Pilgrims to America in 1620. It would be sailed across the Atlantic and given to the American people as a gift from Great Britain. A very tangible “Thank You” for the Americans’ war effort and contribution.
It took fifteen years to grow from dream to reality. On July 4th Weekend 1957, the Mayflower sailed into New York Harbor, before reaching her permanent new home in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The Wicked Pilgrim is the true story of the Englishman who gave Mayflower II to the American people: Warwick Charlton.
As the USA celebrates the 400th Anniversary of the Pilgrims’ voyage from England to America, all eyes will turn to a very tangible expression of America’s continuing “Experiment in Democracy.” All eyes will turn to Mayflower II.