Posted on 10/07/2006 9:05:25 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Spraying the bubbles from sparkling wine across the enormous gray bow of the USS George H.W. Bush, the Bush family on Saturday christened the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier named after the 82-year-old former president.
"I know you join me in saying to our father, President Bush, your ship has come in," the current president said during a ceremony for the last of the Nimitz-class carriers, the CVN 77.
"She is unrelenting, she is unshakable, she is unyielding, she is unstoppable," Bush said, lauding the warship's state-of-the-art design before pausing for a punch line aimed at his mother's well-known steely constitution. "As a matter of fact, probably should have been named the Barbara Bush."
The elder Bush, a decorated Navy pilot in World War II, joined the armed forces on his 18th birthday, June 12, 1942. "After our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor, you simply couldn't find anyone who wasn't anxious to sign up," he told the audience as a heavy rain fell.
"The point is that our nation was totally united against the insidious totalitarian threat against freedom," he said. He added, "In my humble view, we were no greater than the kids that serve today."
The current president said that in the 21st century, "freedom is again under attack and young Americans are volunteering to answer the call."
Doro Bush Koch, the elder Bush's daughter, handled the ritual smashing of a bottle of sparkling wine against the flattop's bow.
Bush father and son and several relatives joined hundreds of others, from government dignitaries to shipyard workers, at Northrop Grumman Newport News, where the $6 billion, 1,092-foot-long carrier is being built. It is not yet finished and is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in late 2008.
The christening ceremony was scheduled to be nearly two hours long, but deafening thunderclaps, lightning, wind and intermittent heavy rain left the speakers mostly abandoning their prepared remarks to merely introduce the next in line.
The elder Bush choked up during his informal and sentimental address, while talking about the men with whom he served in World War II.
Four Navy veterans who served with Bush during the war traveled to the ceremony, an event the former president called the "third happiest day of his life," after his wedding and the day when two of his sons were elected governors.
"This is every naval aviator's dream," he said
The 10th of the Nimitz-class carriers — the largest warships in the world — features technological advancements that make it a bridge to the next generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
On Sunday, the carrier was to be launched from its dry-dock into the James River and taken to an outfitting berth, where work on interior systems will continue.
The former president was the youngest pilot in the Navy when he joined, receiving his commission and naval aviator wings before age 19.
Bush flew torpedo bombers off the aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto. In 1944, he was on a mission over the Pacific when Japanese anti-aircraft fire hit his plane. Bush parachuted into the sea and was rescued by a Navy submarine. He later was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals for his Navy service in the Pacific theater.
Capt. Kevin O'Flaherty, the carrier's prospective commanding officer, is in charge of about 330 sailors now attached to the ship. He said he eventually will be responsible for about 3,000 crew members when the ship is put into service. It is not known where the carrier is to be stationed.
___
Associated Press Writer Sonja Barisic contributed to this story.
Doro Bush Koch, left, daughter of former President George H.W. Bush, joins her father, second from left, Mike Petters, of Northrup Grumman, second from right, and President Bush, right, as they wave to the crowd after the christening of the nuclear aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush at the shipyard in Newport News, Va., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
On the Net:
Bush carrier: http://www.nn.cnorthropgrumman.com/bush/
Nimitz-class carriers: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid4200&tid200&ct4
Members of the press await the bottle breaking during the christening ceremony of the USS George H.W. Bush at Northrop-Grumman's shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, October 7, 2006. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
New US Aircraft Carrier, CVN-77 George H. W. Bush to be Christened Saturday, October 7, 2006
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1712789/posts
Northrop Grumman Construction Site ^ | Oct 2006 | Northrop Grumman/US Navy
Posted on 10/03/2006 8:06:52 AM PDT by Jeff Head
Another reason to fight against Dem control of Congress is the chance that they might try to name a ship after Bill Clinton.
She's a beaut.
Former President George H.W. Bush and U.S. President George W. Bush leave together after the christening ceremony of the USS George H.W. Bush at Northrop-Grumman's shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, October 7, 2006. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
(L-R) U.S. President George W. Bush, former President George H.W. Bush and Northrop-Grumman sector president Michael Petters watch as Doro Bush Koch christens the USS George H.W. Bush at Northrop-Grumman's shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, October 7, 2006. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
CVN 77 ping
"Another reason to fight against Dem control of Congress is the chance that they might try to name a ship after Bill Clinton."
If they do it should be a submarine.
Where was Barbara Bush? Is it not customary for the wife to christen the ship? I hope her health did not prevent her from attending. Did anyone mention why she was not there?
I believe she was there for the ceremony but must not have gone up on the ramp.
Former President George H.W. Bush escorts former first lady Barbara Bush to the christening ceremony of the USS George H.W. Bush at Northrop Grumman's shipyard in Newport News, Virginia October 7, 2006. The Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is scheduled to enter service in late 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES)
Former first lady Barbara Bush listens to remarks during the christening ceremony of the USS George H.W. Bush at Northrop-Grumman's shipyard in Newport News, Virginia October 7, 2006. The Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is scheduled to enter service in late 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES)
Former President George H.W. Bush, U.S. President George W. Bush, and Governor Jeb Bush, leave together after the christening ceremony of the USS George H.W. Bush at Northrop-Grumman's shipyard in Newport News, Virginia October 7, 2006. The Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is scheduled to enter service in late 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES)
Such a wonderful time in the Bush families life experience, Wow that will make the Dems so angry.
No one covered this that I saw.
These are the kinds of things I am happy to have my tax dollars spent on.
CVN-77 George H.W. Bush
Ooo-rah!!!
Take that, Arab street!
I hope the old boy gets a flight on and off the Bush when she is sea ready.
Bless this ship and all that will sail upon her.
It was being covered live on whatever station/network was on in the San Antonio restaurant where I was eating a late breakfast. (Sausage and egg tacos with low carb tortilla. Yum!)
Meant to add that I thought it was either CNN or Fox, but I wasn't paying much attention. I had my daughter and granddaughter, the Amazing (if grumpy) Miss V. with me, as well as my wife and our great nieces.
Actually, I believe they are going to name the newest model of the Hummer after Clinton.
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