A historic painting of Jesus that hung in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for nearly eight decades has been returned to prominence under Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, following its removal during the Biden administration, as reported by The Blaze.
The artwork, titled Christ on the Water and also known as Jesus and Sailboat, was installed in Wiley Hall in 1947. Created by marine artist Lt. Hunter Wood, USMS, in 1944, the painting depicts Jesus guiding sailors at sea. For generations, it served as a symbol of faith and heritage for Merchant Mariners.
In 2023, the Biden administration ordered the painting removed after a complaint from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. It was relocated to a flood-prone basement storage area within the building, sparking backlash from alumni and supporters.
During a visit to the academy in May, Secretary Duffy announced his intention to restore the painting to its original place of honor. On Monday, he confirmed that the artwork had been reinstalled in the Elliot See Room of Wiley Hall.
“Jesus is out of the basement!” Duffy wrote on X. “I promised you I would restore faith at @UsmmaO by returning Christ on the Water to its place of prominence, where it belongs after being taken down under Biden and my predecessor. God is good for these Mariners — true FAITHFUL American patriots!”
Jesus is out of the basement!
I promised you I would restore faith at @UsmmaO by returning “Christ on the Water” to its place of prominence, where it belongs after being taken down under Biden and my predecessor.
God is good for these Mariners – true FAITHFUL American… pic.twitter.com/99ddlMnyDr
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) September 30, 2025
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Acting Superintendent Captain Tony Ceraolo also marked the occasion in a press release.
“Our purpose today is to preserve a piece of the Academy’s cultural and historical legacy. We honor the past and the resilience of those who came before us. This painting is about history, remembrance, and hope ensuring that the story of our midshipmen and their wartime experiences remain part of our shared institutional memory.”
The painting, believed to have been made on sail canvas with marine paints and spar varnish, has long been tied to the Academy’s wartime heritage and culture.
Its return has been celebrated by current midshipmen, alumni, and supporters who viewed the artwork as an enduring reminder of the Academy’s traditions.
Secretary Duffy’s social media post announcing the painting’s return included a photo of more than two dozen midshipmen standing before it.
The decision restores the artwork to public view at the Academy after nearly a year in storage.
I used to work not far from there. The merchant marine cadets were a fixture, jogging through the Great Neck streets. They were frequent users of the library I worked at, which was right nearby. I did not know Biden’s administration was actively removing religious symbolism! I am glad this administration knows the difference between “freedom OF religion” and “freedom FROM religion”.
The devil is the king of lies, and call in an organization the “Military Religious Freedom Foundation” when its job appears to be to erase religion, is certainly a big one.
More people should know about this…the Left constantly tried to erase our history. What a beautiful painting…and so BIG…glad it was restored to its rightful place!
Which academy did this take place? I’m familiar with the Academy, but hadn’t heard this.
Charlie Trexler
(ret)
Did the devout Catholic autopen ever explain why he removed it? A favor to (or orders from) Ubama?
Bravo Zulu and AMEN.