America250 Saluting Commander Billie Farrell

Meet Kentucky native Billie Farrell, who made history as the first woman to command the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship still in active service. Her ship, "Old Ironsides," first sailed under President John Adams back in 1798. Farrell, a Paducah native and U.S. Naval Academy graduate, took the helm as the seventy-seventh commanding officer in 2022 for a two-year assignment in Boston. During this special Veterans Day celebration, Farrell returns home to share her remarkable story. She'll discuss her groundbreaking role commanding the historic vessel, what the USS Constitution means to American history, her inspiration and role models, and her journey of service. Before the program, you're welcome to visit the "I Too Am a Kentuckian" exhibition to learn more about her. Admission is $16 or the cost of regular museum admission. RSVPs are required to attend.