<
P>
Posted on 06/14/2015 10:58:52 AM PDT by llevrok
MOBILE, Ala. — Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords of Arizona had a Navy vessel named in her honor during a ceremony at a Mobile, Alabama, shipyard Saturday afternoon.
Giffords joined others including Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, as the USS Gabrielle Giffords was christened in coastal Alabama. The 419-foot ship was built at the Austal shipyard and is the Navy's 10th littoral combat ship designed to operate in shallow waters near the coast.
Giffords was badly wounded in a 2011 shooting that left six dead and a total of 13 injured in Tucson. The Democrat left Congress and later founded an organization that supports gun control.
"In congress I was proud to support our armed forces. I love the Navy — I even married sailor," Giffords said as she kissed her husband Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain who stood by as she addressed the crowd. "Thank you to all who built this ship. She's stealthy; she will defend freedom around the world."
Giffords was chosen as the vessel's namesake because of the characteristics she exemplified after the attack, officials said.
"Courage comes in many, many forms — physical, mental, spiritual and political. Gabby has truly modeled courage and resilience," said Vice Admiral Philip Cullom, deputy chief of Naval operations for fleet readiness and logistics.
Biden was the ship's sponsor and Cullom said her spirit will guide the vessel while it is in service. Biden called the ship a feat of engineering excellence.
During his speech, Kelly paused to thank Biden for attending the ceremony as she mourns the death of her son and former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Biden, a Delaware National Guard major who spent a year in Iraq and was awarded a Bronze Star, died May 30 after a two-year battle with brain cancer.
"Know that Beau was the kind of person that made us all deeply hopeful for our country's future. He did that for Gabby and for me," Kelly said.
"As a military mom, there is no one I would rather be with than you here today, the ones who stepped up to serve," Biden said, later adding, "Gabby represents the same qualities the Navy embodies."
Yeah, aren’t there guns on that ship?
How many ships are named after the judge who was killed?
Wait till they name one after Caitlin.
7 rounds per magazine, most likely
We need another thread on this subject like we need another hole in our heads.
Appropriate name for a ship with a hole in the Head.
This will be the only ship allowed to have guns. The rest will be disarmed.
Dang. Now I want some pancakes.
The Rachel Corrie Model dozer?At least we know it would get the job done.
Naval ships and federal buildings should not be named for the living.
Please tell me this is satire...
100% gun free. Shoots rainbows and flowers at the enemy.
<P>
“Naval ships and federal buildings should not be named for the living.”
I agree 100%. It seems like this trend was started not too long ago, and is the exclusive domain of the democrat party, though I’d imagine republicans won’t be far behind in joining in. Talk about a way to inflate already overinflated egos!
smh
Cat builds some beautiful machines.
Her claim to fame is being gunned down by a fellow Democrat who was wacko. In real life she was an incompetent boob and hack politician
Only a liberal could get her brains blown out and not suffer any life threatening injuries whatsoever
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.