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To help them qualify as 1812 tour guides, Sailors are required to memorize a 15-page script. But most Sailors can't learn enough about 'Old  Ironsides'. "We went out and purchased $50 worth of books on USS Constitution for the crew's library," said Wilson.

"Right now I have only three books left, so all the other ones have been  checked out," he said. "It's really exciting to see the crew so interested in their ship and their Navy."

The homework that's done by Constitution Sailors pays off when it's time to face the multitude of questions visitors fire at them.

"How did the ship get the name of 'Old Ironsides'?" a boy asks. SN Steven N. Hetzer, dressed in 1812 garb responds, "On Aug. 19, 1812, under the command of Isaac Hull, Constitution sank the British frigate Guerriere off the coast of Newfoundland.

"It was during this battle that British cannonballs were seen to bounce off her sides, causing a seaman to cry 'Huzzah, her sides are made of iron,' and that's how 'Old Ironsides' earned her nickname," said the Bethel, Ohio, native. The boy smiles and says, "Wow that's cool!"

The crew's presence in Boston isn't limited to the decks of USS Constitution. They represent the Navy by performing at events throughout the city, including Color Guard duties at sporting events like Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots games.

"We do a lot of community projects on the ship, but we also get out and show our support in places a lot of people can see," said SK3 Brad Gardiner, a Dennis, Mass., native.

"It's history. They're living history. It's so American, just like baseball," said Sue Allen, Boston Red Sox fan.

For many of the crew, this is their first duty assignment, and it's where responsibility is taught by placing them in leadership roles. Department heads are not officers on board USS Constitution, they range in rank from E-4 to E-6.

Yeoman 3rd Class Louis Padilla is the administration department head, BM1 John A. Hutchinson is the deck department head, BM2 William Eno is the bachelors enlisted quarters department head and Fire Control Technician 2nd Class Kevin Ray is the public relations department head. The leadership skills they learn through their responsibilities prepare them for jobs anywhere in the fleet.

Wilson is a firm believer in giving responsibility to junior personnel. "When a Sailor comes to me and says, 'Chief I think we should do this' I don't say why, I just say do it." Wilson wants the people who work for him to be in his position one day. That's why he gives them the responsibilities they have.

Being good ambassadors for the U.S. Navy are what Constitution Sailors are all about.

"You can say the littlest thing and send 80 people walking away from the ship thinking good about you, Constitution and the entire Navy," SN Rory J. Lockowitz, an Elmwood, N.J., native, explained.

Apparently the perception of the Navy the public is receiving from Constitution Sailors is working, according to Cmdr. Mike Beck, the 64th commanding officer of 'Old Ironsides'.

"When a person leaves the ship or meets one of our Sailors, what they say most importantly is, 'Our youth are great'," said Beck. "Our country is in great shape if the youth of our nation are like the men and women I have here today in the United States Navy."

USS Constitution was one of six frigates authorized for construction by an act of Congress in 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed them to be the Navy's capital ships. Larger and more heavily armed than the standard run of frigate, Constitution  and her sisters were formidable opponents even for some ships of the line.     

Built in Boston of resilient live oak, Constitution's planks were up to seven inches thick. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and the copper sheathing that protected the hull. Thus armed, she first put to sea in July 1798 and saw her first service patrolling the southeast coast of the United States during the Quasi-War with France.

In 1803 she was designated flagship for the Mediterranean squadron under Captain Edward Preble and went to serve against the Barbary States of North Africa, which were demanding tribute from the United States in exchange for allowing American merchant vessels access to Mediterranean ports. Preble began an aggressive campaign against Tripoli, blockading ports and bombarding fortifications. Finally Tripoli, Tunisia and Algeria agreed to a peace treaty. Constitution patrolled the North African coast for two years after the war ended, to enforce the terms of the treaty.     

She returned to Boston in 1807 for two years of refitting. The ship was recommissioned as flagship of the North AtlanticSquadron in 1809 under Commodore John Rodgers. By early 1812, relations with Great Britain had deteriorated and the Navy began preparing for war, which was declared June 20.

Captain Isaac Hull, who had been appointed Constitution's commanding officer in 1810, put to sea July 12, without orders, to prevent being blockaded in port. His intention was to join the five ships of Rodgers' squadron. Constitution sighted five ships off Egg Harbor, N.J., July 17. By the following morning the lookouts had determined they were a British squadron that had sighted Constitution and were giving chase. Finding themselves becalmed, Hull and his

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