One of our readers saw the story about Tall Ships Tacoma and has some pretty interesting memories of the Eagle.

Here's her letter:

I was born and lived in New London, Conn., where the ship’s home is, at the Coast Guard Academy. I lived close enough to walk there, almost every day, and went to a private girls school, across the street on the campus of Connecticut College.

My dad was stationed at the Academy and was a member of the Coast Guard Band, and I spent a lot of my time there. He retired in 1958 after 24 years of service in the United States Coast Guard. We moved away, but the ship was, and still is, flowing through the blood in my veins like it flows across the oceans of the world, showing its beauty for all to see.

As a kid I was all over that ship, climbing the masts, and in the galley, and everybody knew me, and my younger brothers and sisters, at the Academy and on the ship. I will never forget my life there, and never forget that ship as long as I live.

It is especially meaningful to me because my father was the person who went to Germany with the United States Officials to do the translating between the United States officials and the German officials when the ship was handed over to our country on May 15, 1946. He also helped sail the ship back from Germany and was the translator between the German and American sailors.

He said he made a lot of friends on that trip – as he always did everywhere. He said they had to go through a hurricane crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

People in Miami are always stunned to hear a blond hair, blue eyed German/American speak Spanish better than a native. My dad was born in New York, but his mother died right after he was born and he was raised by his German grandparents. He learned German as a child, and was fluent in both English and German and then went on to study more languages and become the manager of the Linguistics Library at The University of California in La Jolla.

He currently is 92 years old, as of March 18, and retired in an Alzheimer’s facility called "The Palace" in Kendall, Fla., close to Coral Gables. I saw him on his birthday, and he recognized me right away even though I hadn't seen him since his last birthday. I live in Nashville, Tenn., and it's difficult to get away as much as I'd like to. Connecticut is too cold for me, and Florida is too hot.

I visited Mobile, Ala., when the Eagle was there, and when the Eagle was in Miami several years ago, my dad was able to go and he was given special treatment when they found out who he was. I wish I could've been there, but with high blood pressure, summer in Florida is not a very good place for me.

Tacoma is just right. And I'm making arrangements to come to Tacoma this July. I love that area of Washington, and with all the ships being there that will make it even more special. I've been there 2 times already, and love riding the ferries. I've been almost everywhere, but will enjoy seeing it all again.