The public is invited to a Memorial Day ceremony aboard the oldest steel American warship still afloat

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Independence Seaport Museum at Penn's Landing is hosting a Memorial Day ceremony aboard the Olympia , the oldest steel American warship still afloat. The hour-long ceremony starts at 10 a.m. on Monday, and the public is invited to attend.

"Olympia is a very special ship. She served from the 1890s all the way up to 1921," says Mike Flynn, the museum’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

"She is most famous for two acts. One is firing the first shot in the Battle of Manila Bay, for the  Spanish American War, May 1, 1898 — and even more significantly, she was chosen to carry  the remains of the Unknown Soldier from La Havre, France, all the way to Arlington National Cemetery after World War I."

Flynn says there’s a ceremony aboard the ship every Memorial Day to remember and honor American military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the nation.

On Monday, there will be guest speakers, a bugler playing “Taps,” and a ceremonial wreath thrown overboard into the Delaware River. The event will wrap up with a triple 6-pounder gun salute.

"There is certainly a Philadelphia community, retired veterans, … that  are interested in understanding more about the importance of this holiday,” Flynn said.

The Olympia served from 1895 to 1921.

"Olympia also especially has seen a lot of changes over her time. She is a technological advancement from the 1890s, and a lot of what  they discovered with her transformed into our technology base for World War II. So she's very significant, not only culturally, but also operationally of how she worked and operated,” Flynn said.

Visitors can explore the history of the Becuna , too. The World War II diesel submarine that floats next to the Olympia is 80 years old this month. The sub completed five wartime patrols, she sank a few ships, and she earned four combat stars for her service.