True, it is a sad end to a proud ship, but the breaker's yard would be just as sad.
If I were a former crew member I think I would rather a ship I loved be still out there somewhere in one piece (even on the bottom) rather than made into a million razor blades or whatever.
The melt shop wouldn't be so bad if it were in the United States.
But nowadays, they send 'em overseas for scrap.
I'd rather sink 'em off our own shoreline.
It's supposed to be good habitat for the fish.
Apparently, the enviro-whackos don't want us to recycle ships anymore. I'll bet they aren't too thrilled about blowing it up and sinking it in middle of the ocean. You just can't please them. So screw them!
Think of it this way, at least she'll die with her boots on.
Plus, we REALLY do need to know how much punishment a super carrier can take if we were to get into a tangle with, say, China.
Early in my Navy career I did a NATO cruise (6 weeks) on the America. Just before the end of my NATO career, I did a WESTPAC cruise on the USS Coral Sea, with which I may now be shaving. Either end seems awfully ignominious to me for such great vessels, but there is also the artificial reefs program that almost claimed Forrestal (another of "my" ships) and is waiting to claim Constellation (yep, I was on her, too).