Community Commentary -- Michael R. Lawler, Jr.

Thank you for the front page article “Anchors Away” (June 13) about

the new anchor at Ensign Intermediate School.

At the dedication ceremony, Adm. David Janes presented the anchor as a

gift “from the men and women of the United States Navy around the world

to the students of Ensign School.” Then ASB President Jackie Taylor

thanked the U.S. Navy and the Ensign Navigators (the school’s support

group of fathers) and accepted the gift on behalf of the students, “Now

that’s an anchor!” And finally, Mayor Tod Ridgeway and Councilwoman Norma

Glover dedicated the 10,185-pound ship’s anchor as helium balloons were

released and the Ensign School Marching Band played “Anchors Aweigh.” It

was a great event, and I am glad to have played part.

I want to clarify a statement that I made to the Daily Pilot that was

quoted in the article. A few months ago when I asked the commanding

officer at the San Diego Navy base to donate a surplus ship’s anchor, I

told him that the school’s name is Ensign, the nickname is the Seabees

and the school song is “Anchor’s Aweigh.” I did this to show the nautical

theme of the school and why the Navigators were trying to replace the

little boat anchor the students had with a more respectable ship’s anchor

as a monument on the corner of campus. At the time, I thought all that I

told the Navy was true.

Later, one of the other dads in the Navigators told me that “Anchor’s

Aweigh” is not the school song and that the band doesn’t even know the

song. As a result, I felt badly about what I had told them, even though

I’m sure the school song was immaterial to the Navy’s decision to donate

the anchor.

In the interview with the Daily Pilot reporter, when I recounted how I

was able to get the Navy to donate the anchor and referring to the part

about the school song, I said I made that part up (an unfortunate choice

of words). Well, it turns out that the other dad was just pulling my leg

and “Anchor’s Aweigh” really is the school song. At the dedication

ceremony, Principal Mike McGuire told me that “Anchors Aweigh” always has

been and always will be the school song, so what I told the Navy was in

fact true.

I didn’t want any of your readers to think that I mislead the Navy,

and I regret if my misstatement caused any problems.

* MICHAEL R. LAWLER JR. is a Newport Beach resident.