Trenton Rotary Club members heard a program from a community member about crossing the Atlantic Ocean as a child during their April 23 meeting.

Program chairman Gary Dolan introduced his wife, Ellen Dolan, who spoke about traveling by boat to England as a child. She connected her memories to the book “Crossing on Time” by David MacCauley, which focuses on the steamship on which she traveled.

In 1950, Ellen and her family, the Embrys, were sent to England by the military so her father could serve a two-year assignment as a dentist. The family traveled on the SS. United States, the same ship featured in MacCauley’s book. MacCauley also traveled on the ship, though his trip was from England to the United States.

Ellen said the ship had three decks, reflecting the class system that was still in place at the time. She shared several memories from the trip, including celebrating her 10th birthday while aboard the ship. The celebration included a birthday party with other children on board, an orchestra and what she described as “an elegant” meal.