History and Maritime preservation - interview with Hector Luis Aponte III, Maritime enthusiast, about UNITED STATES LINES, the ss UNITED STATES, and the AURORA (WAPPEN VON HAMBURG) preservation project by Earl of Cruise - A preview on the history of UNITED STATES LINES collection Hector Louis Aponte III UNITED STATES LINES did start on August 27th, 1921 on the ruins of the UNITED STATES MAIL STEAMSHIP LINES. One of the founders of UNITED STATES LINES has been Kermit Roosevelt sr. 2nd son of President Theodore Roosevelt and is the cousin of the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Kermit Roosevelt of USL ( Left ) and E.C. Palmer of the Shipping Board ( Right ) (1926) - collection Hector Louis Aponte III UNITED STATES LINES as previously the US MAIL used seized German vessels as their ships for operating a transatlantic service. These have been the AMERIKA (AMERICA), GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT GRANT - ex SERVIAN (REPUBLIC as trooper, then UNITED STATES LI...