Index
​ASI Veterans Maritime Program​​
ASI VETERANS MARITIME PROGRAM
Honoring Service • Building Camaraderie • Exploring New Horizons
A Program of American Saudade, Inc. (ASI)
A New Mission. A Shared Brotherhood and Sisterhood.
Military service creates bonds that often last a lifetime. Regardless of branch, rank, military occupation, or generation, veterans share experiences that can transcend differences in background, culture, and personal history.
American Saudade, Inc. (ASI) is developing the ASI Veterans Maritime Program, an inclusive initiative designed to bring United States military veterans together through sailing, maritime education, historical exploration, and community involvement.
Inspired in part by established veterans' sailing initiatives, our program will embrace a broader philosophy:
Veterans do not need to have a disability, require rehabilitation, or possess previous sailing experience to participate.
Our purpose is simple: to provide veterans with opportunities to discover the maritime world, develop new skills, share experiences, and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow veterans.
Who Is Welcome Aboard?
The ASI Veterans Maritime Program is intended for veterans of all branches of the United States Armed Forces who received an Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge.
Participation will not be restricted by disability status, Portuguese or Cape Verdean ancestry, ethnicity, or previous boating experience.
Whether a veteran served at sea, on land, or in the air, the program will welcome those who share an interest in learning, exploration, and community.
Our common connection is service to our country. Our shared opportunity is discovering what the maritime world has to offer.
Sailing, Seamanship & Maritime Education
Sailing offers opportunities to develop practical skills, exercise judgment, work as a team, and experience the natural environment.
As the program develops, ASI intends to explore activities that may include introductory sailing experiences, basic seamanship, navigation, marine safety, weather, maritime engineering, and coastal cruising.
Educational activities may take place both ashore and aboard participating vessels, subject to qualified instruction, appropriate safety measures, available resources, and program capacity.
Our goal is not simply to introduce veterans to sailing, but to encourage continued learning and participation in maritime activities.
Camaraderie, Community & Shared Experiences
The ASI Veterans Maritime Program will also emphasize the importance of fellowship.
Through educational gatherings, group activities, guest presentations, historical discussions, and future sailing opportunities, we hope to create an environment where veterans from different generations can meet, exchange ideas, and develop lasting friendships.
No veteran should feel that participation requires a particular military background, level of physical ability, or personal circumstance.
The program will be built around mutual respect, inclusion, safety, and the shared experiences of military service.
Preserving Veterans' Stories and Maritime Heritage
Every veteran has a story worth preserving.
In keeping with ASI's educational and historical mission, the program will encourage veterans to share their experiences through oral histories, photographs, interviews, educational presentations, and historical preservation projects.
These stories may help future generations better understand military service, maritime traditions, technological developments, and the people who contributed to our nation's history.
Veterans with experience in navigation, engineering, communications, logistics, leadership, education, and other specialties may also find opportunities to share their knowledge as mentors and volunteers.
Building the Program Together
The ASI Veterans Maritime Program is currently in its planning and development stages.
We intend to explore relationships with sailing schools, yacht clubs, maritime institutions, veterans' organizations, qualified instructors, and individual vessel owners interested in supporting this initiative.
Initial activities may include shore-based educational programs, organizational meetings, presentations, and introductory maritime experiences. Future sailing activities will be introduced as resources, partnerships, insurance, and safety arrangements permit.
As the program grows, we hope to expand opportunities for veteran participation throughout Rhode Island and the surrounding maritime communities.
A
n Invitation to Veterans and Supporters
ASI welcomes expressions of interest from eligible veterans who would like to participate in the program or help shape its future.
We also invite sailing instructors, maritime professionals, veterans' organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and volunteers to contribute their knowledge, experience, equipment, or support.
Together, we can build a program that honors military service while opening new opportunities for education, exploration, and lasting friendship.
Your Service Matters. Your Experience Matters. You Are Welcome Aboard.
AMERICAN SAUDADE, INC.
A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
ACTA NON VERBA — Deeds, Not Words
A Voyage Into History
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A Message from Our Founder
Veteran-Led. Maritime-Inspired. Open to All Who Served.
The ASI Veterans Maritime Program reflects the personal experiences and commitment of American Saudade, Inc.'s founder and president, Vince DaSilva, a United States Navy veteran, former Navy diver, submariner, and retired maritime professional.
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Having served in the U.S. Navy during the Cold War, the Gulf War, and later pursuing a career in the maritime industry, Vince understands firsthand the importance of discipline, teamwork, camaraderie, shared responsibility, and the lasting bonds forged through military service.
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Drawing upon these experiences, he envisions a program that brings veterans together through sailing, seamanship, maritime education, historical preservation, and community engagement.
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Although rooted in maritime traditions, the program is intended for veterans of all branches of the United States Armed Forces, regardless of ancestry, disability status, or previous sailing experience.
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The objective is simple: to create opportunities for veterans to reconnect, share their experiences, develop new interests, and continue contributing to their communities.
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Our service may have ended, but our sense of purpose, camaraderie, and commitment to one another continues.
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ACTA NON VERBA — Deeds, Not Words
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“Founded by a U.S. Navy veteran, the ASI Veterans Maritime Program is dedicated to honoring the service of all American military veterans through camaraderie, maritime education, recreation, and shared experiences.”
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