America's Tall Ship departs Charleston: Photos & Video

The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, known as “America’s Tall Ship,” home ported in New London, Conn., departed Charleston Monday afternoon to continue its participation in Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009. The present day Eagle has become a recognizable symbol of the U.S. Coast Guard. Known throughout the world for its history of belonging to the Germans, the Eagle was originally a training vessel for the German navy in World War II and was previously named Horst Wessel. In 1946, following WWII, the Horst Wessel was taken as a war prize by the United States and is the seventh ship to be named Eagle in Coast Guard history Click link for more.