Sen. Leonidas Raptakis has logged his share of frequent-flier miles this spring.

Raptakis traveled to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, in the nation’s capital, 10 days ago as the featured speaker in the National Maritime Day Celebration –– honoring the U.S. Merchant Marine personnel “who gave their lives in service to America and freedom” over the last 75 years.

This week the Coventry senator heads to Athens, Greece, on an expedition to celebrate the “liberty ships,” the World-War II-era cargo ships that made up the majority of Navy’s transport fleet and are now headed toward extinction.

Following the war, 100 of the vessels were sent to Greece, where they were used to the rebuild parts of that country. Citing that contribution, Raptakis several years ago launched a campaign to create an on-ship museum in Athens honoring Hellenic seafarers and the ships’ storied history.

--By Cynthia Needham
Journal State House Bureau