Midshipmen Celebrate as Sean Duffy Restores Jesus Painting at USMMA
In a powerful moment at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York, midshipmen erupted in enthusiastic applause when Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy demanded the restoration of a historic painting, Christ on the Water, depicting Jesus saving merchant mariners adrift at sea. The 10-by-19-foot artwork, painted in 1944 by Lt. Hunter Wood, had been a symbol of faith and resilience for nearly 80 years until the Biden administration ordered it covered with a curtain and later relegated it to a flood-prone basement in 2023.
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During his speech last month at the academy’s Battle Standard Dinner, Duffy, a devout Catholic, rallied the crowd, declaring, “Can we bring Jesus up from the basement? Let’s not put Jesus in the basement! Let’s get Him out! Let’s bring Him up!” The midshipmen’s raucous response underscored the painting’s deep significance to the academy community, with many viewing it as a source of spiritual encouragement during challenging times.
The painting’s removal stemmed from a 2023 complaint by Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who argued its display in the Elliot M. See Room—an administrative space used for meetings and honor code violation boards—violated the Constitution by promoting “sectarian Jesus supremacy.” Initially covered with a curtain, the artwork was later moved to the basement of the academy’s chapel, prompting outcry from midshipmen, alumni, and figures like Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Jim Banks.
Duffy’s pledge to restore the painting to its original place of prominence in Wiley Hall’s Elliot M. See Room has resonated widely. On May 15, he announced the painting’s return, stating, “To all the great midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy, you let me know how important this painting was to all of you.” He even hung a replica in his Department of Transportation office, calling it a “beautiful reminder of the power of faith when we need it most.”
For midshipmen, the painting is more than art—it’s a testament to God’s faithfulness. One student shared how he prayed beneath it during moments of academic struggle, finding hope in its image of Jesus guiding sailors through stormy seas. As the academy prepares to reinstall Christ on the Water, the midshipmen’s cheers echo a broader call to honor the nation’s religious and maritime heritage.
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