By NPS Chief of Staff Capt. Tony Parisi

Normally I don't volunteer for things as my job and family keep me plenty busy. But months earlier when asked if I would take part in a reenactment of Commodore Sloat's 1846 landing in Monterey, California, I agreed. The original event happened on July 7, 1846 in what was then Monterey, provincial capital of Alta California, Mexico. Commodore John Drake Sloat, commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron launched an amphibious assault on the town of Monterey from his flagship, the USS SAVANNAH. Some 250 U.S. Marines came ashore in long boats under the command of Captain William Mervine, Captain of the sloop of war CYANE.

Now legend has it that Captain Mervine had never seen real battle and was hoping for a one-way fight so that he could capture the enemy Mexican commander's sword and earn some glory for himself. Much to his chagrin, the Marines' text book amphibious landing was unopposed. Curious Californios (local inhabitants of Alta California at the time) came down to the shore to see what was going on. History tells us that there were only about 500 inhabitants living in Monterey in 1846, and that the Mexican army was nowhere near the Monterey Peninsula. Back then Monterey was a sleepy outpost on the Pacific for the government of Mexico far to the south.

Nevertheless, Captain Mervine marched his forces to the customs house and ordered the Mexican flag lowered and the Stars and Stripes raised. A proclamation was then read claiming all of California for the United States of America henceforth. Monterey's citizens were given U.S citizenship if they wanted it, and told that they could keep their elected officials, property, and titles; cheers went up all around.

Sloat's landing at Monterey and the subsequent annexing of California to the United States fit neatly with the widely held American belief in what was then called Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the idea that the United States and its settlers were destined to expand across North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Many Americans at the time thought that this was sanctioned by God, and thus, Manifest Destiny was widely accepted as a sacred endeavor for the United States.

Today I think some people currently living in California have been conditioned to believe that the U.S. Navy's conquest of Monterey and Alta California was nothing but naked colonialism; a land grab, or something worse. History, however, has to be viewed in the proper context. One interesting thing I learned doing this reenactment was that a British flotilla had also sailed into Monterey a week after Commodore Sloat had proclaimed California part of the United States. Upon seeing the Stars and Stripes flying over the customs house, the British Commodore allegedly uttered some unprintable expletives and then angrily sailed away. As luck would have it, if Commodore Sloat had not taken California the British surely would have, and today the Golden State would likely be either part of Canada, a province of the former British Empire, or something else.

I am really glad that I had the chance to participate in this reenactment. I like to think, that like Captain Mervine and Commodore Sloat, I too would have been gracious and kind to the local inhabitants, granting them immediate U.S. citizenship and the same rights and privileges that we all enjoy today.

Our Navy's sea going leaders had much more autonomy 174 years ago, however they also understood that they would be held accountable for their actions. That same spirit of independence and high standard of accountability is still part of the U.S. Navy's culture today. Although play acting in an old uniform and borrowed hat, I believe that my sense of duty and pride of service were just as genuine as those who landed in Monterey so many years ago. The U.S. Navy is still a powerful, virtuous and noble institution – truly a global force for good. My participation in this reenactment rejuvenated my dedication to the Navy and the Nation, and made me feel proud about the 28 ½ years I have served on active duty.