Posted on 07/15/2006 4:26:20 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
AVONDALE, LA (AP) -- Under a light rain, the wife of a Marine Corps general smashed a champagne bottle into the hull of the future USS Green Bay, christening the 684-foot warship during ceremonies at a New Orleans-area shipyard on the Mississippi River.
"In honor of the great city of Green Bay and in the name of the United States of America, I christen the Green Bay," said Rose Mary Magnus, wife of Gen. Robert Magnus. "May God bless this ship and all who sail in here."
Magnus then whacked the center of the stern, taking two tries to break the bottle amid applause from a crowd of about 700 people at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Avondale yard on Saturday.
Red, white and blue balloons drifted over the ship and the river. The U.S. Marine Corps band struck up a tune, but the sound system sputtered, leaving it largely inaudible.
"She will take 800 combat Marines in peace and war to the nation's bidding," said Gen. Magnus, the keynote speaker for the event, much of which took place in a heavy shower before the christening.
The new vessel is the fourth ship in the LPD series, designed to carry troops for rapid deployment, launch and recovery. It will be a major part of the U.S. amphibious fleet and carry 360 Navy sailors, along with up to 800 Marines.
The ship is expected to be commissioned in 2008. Currently, the Green Bay is more than 70 percent complete and stands between the USS New York, which is being built with World Trade Center steel in her bow, and the USS New Orleans.
Current plans call for nine ships in the LPD series, each of which costs an average of $1.3 billion.
A hush fell over the crowd as Gen. Magnus detailed the heroics of two Marines who died in battle - one from Louisiana and one from Wisconsin. Cpl. Richard P. Schoener, 22, of the Lake Charles, La., area, was killed in action in 2005 in Afghanistan. Sgt. Benjamin C. Edinger, 24, of Green Bay, died in Iraq in 2004. Both received Bronze Stars for valor posthumously.
Green Bay Mayor James Schmitt urged the vessel's future crew members to consider themselves citizens of his city and to visit when on leave.
"They may be thousands of miles away, but to us they are Green Bay citizens and to us they are extended family," Schmitt said.
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems head Philip Teel said the Green Bay has survived budget cuts - original plans called for 12 LPDs - and delays from Hurricane Katrina.
Teel said many of the yard's 5,000 shipbuilders "still live in trailers, someone else's home, or Camp Katrina," temporary living quarters for many of the employees.
A reproduction of the "G" logo on the helmets of the NFL's Green Bay Packers was placed on the hull for the ceremony. Five shipyard workers who stood for a salute from the crowd wore yellow hardhats with the logo.
For the Midwest Ping List when you get 'round to it. :)
USS Green Bay Dedication
July 15, 2006, 06:29 PM
By Elizabeth Ries
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=5155282
Green Bay now has about 360 new citizens, but they won't be living here in Titletown.
They are crew members of the future U.S.S. Green Bay -- a navy ship christened Saturday in New Orleans in front of a crowd of about 700 -- including the mayor of Green Bay.
It took two tries, but the wife of a Marine Corp General smashed a champagne bottle into the hull of the U.S.S. Green Bay, officially christening the navy's latest warship.
Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt said "The navy chose to name this ship after Green Bay because of our community spirit, our commitment to team effort, and our strong work ethic."
Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt spoke at the event -- saying the ship's name pays homage to the city.
"The U.S.S. Green Bay's motto is 'Stand and Fight, Remain Unvanquished' and I think that epitomizes Green Bay's commitment to facing obstacles head on and our commitment to finding solutions."
The ship is designed to carry troops for rapid deployment, launch and discovery.
And Mayor Schmitt says the sailors and marines stationed on it are now a part of it's namesake.
"We will be actively providing items to give them a feel for Green Bay. Letters to our sailors and momentos to give them a sense of Green Bay hometown pride. They may be thousands of miles away, but to us, they are Green Bay citizens and we are their extended family," said the mayor.
The brand new ship will feature advanced technology -- and Mayor Schmitt is confident it will live up to it's name.
The mayor said "When fully commissioned, the U.S.S. Green Bay will be, bar none, the finest expeditionary ship in the world. A vessel worthy of the city who's name it bears."
The U.S.S. Green Bay is more than 70% complete.
It's expected to be commissioned in 2008.
This loses something in the translation...
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