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The Church of Sweden has advised pastors to avoid christening asylum seekers that have converted to Christianity due to the risk of reprisals in the case of repatriation, reported news agency TT. One of the reasons for the recommendation is because it can cause danger and increase risks if a person who has converted to Christianity is later sent back to their home country. Another reason is that the motive for the christening can be questioned by some who suggest that asylum seekers convert to Christianity to increase their chances of staying in Sweden. The issue is being addressed in...

GROTON, Conn. (Dec. 5, 2009) – Congressman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) spoke at the Dec. 5 christening of the USS Missouri (SSN 780), a Virginia class attack submarine and the fifth warship in American history to be named after the “Show-Me” State. “We in Missouri are proud of this ship, proud of this crew, and proud of the shipbuilders that are making her,” said Skelton. The last ship to bear the name USS Missouri, now a floating museum in Pearl Harbor, was commissioned in 1944 and earned the nickname “Mighty Mo” for the tremendous firepower of her 16-inch guns and her...

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- With the spray of bubbly from a champagne bottle, PCU Missouri (SSN 780), the Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine, was christened during a late morning ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., Dec. 5.

BATH, Maine – In a solemn ceremony punctuated by talk of courage, service and sacrifice, the mother of a Marine corporal on Saturday christened a warship honoring her son, who died after covering an exploding grenade to protect his comrades in Iraq. After composing herself and taking a deep breath, Deb Dunham smashed a bottle of champagne over the bow of the 510-foot warship Jason Dunham, then held the bottle aloft before a cheering crowd of more than 1,500 people. She was joined by the Marines who served with her son, by her husband, Dan Dunham, and their daughter Katelyn...

BATH, Maine (AP) - In a solemn ceremony punctuated by talk of courage, service and sacrifice, the mother of a Marine corporal on Saturday christened a warship honoring her son, who died after covering an exploding grenade to protect his comrades in Iraq. After composing herself and taking a deep breath, Deb Dunham smashed a bottle of champagne over the bow of the 510-foot warship Jason Dunham, then held the bottle aloft before a cheering crowd of more than 1,500 people. She was joined by the Marines who served with her son, by her husband, Dan Dunham, and their daughter...

July 28, 2009 Navy Christens New Guided Missile Destroyer Jason Dunham The Navy will christen the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Jason Dunham, Aug. 1, 2009, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. Designated DDG 109, the new destroyer honors Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dunham was born in Scio, N.Y., Nov. 10, 1981, sharing the same birthday as the U.S. Marine Corps. On April 14, 2004, Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq, when his battalion commander’s convoy was...

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - The first African-American Navy Admiral had a very fitting tribute Saturday. He had a ship named in his honor. The USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, was christened Saturday morning in Pascagoula. With one swing the U.S.S. Gravely entered the service of the U.S. Navy. His widow, Alma Bernice Gravely described the moment. " You use two hands and you go right where you're said to hit it." Alma Gravely acted as sponsor for the christening. Her husband, Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely , broke through every color barrier as he rose in the ranks of...

GROTON, Conn., June 18, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----General Dynamics Electric Boat will christen New Hampshire (SSN-778), the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced nuclear attack submarine, at a ceremony at its shipyard here on Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. Cheryl McGuinness of Portsmouth, N.H., is the ship's sponsor. Mrs. McGuinness lost her husband, Tom McGuinness, on September 11, 2001, in the World Trade Center attacks. He was the co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, which was flown into the north tower of the World Trade Center.

A new U.S. Navy ship to be christened Saturday was built partly using steel from the 9/11 ruins of the World Trade Center. The company says on its Web site that the bow-stem of the ship, the seventh to be named "New York," includes 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center.

President Bush and Mrs. Bush joined former President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush for the christening of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush CVN 77. Click here for a transcript of the GWB’s remarks. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, General Peter Pace, Virginia Senator George Allen, Doro Bush Koch and Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Enjoy your Saturday visit to Sanity Island

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy christened the amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) in a ceremony Aug. 19 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss. Silke Hagee, wife of Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee, served as the ship’s sponsor. This is the first christening to be held at the Pascagoula facility since the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Makin Island, like other ships under construction in the Gulf Coast last year, was significantly impacted by Katrina, which ravaged the area. Through the efforts of the Post-Katrina Clean-up Team, removing debris and identifying...

(AP) GREEN BAY -- The U.S. Navy will christen its new 684-foot warship the Green Bay on Saturday, July 15, at a shipyard near New Orleans. "People are stoked about it," said Navy Lt. Brian Peters, electronic materials officer for the USS Green Bay. "What's unusual is, we're building it in New Orleans, and we're also building a ship called the New Orleans. But from what I've seen there's more enthusiasm about the Green Bay being built." The ship, being built in Avondale, La. at a Northrop Grumman shipyard, is the second Navy vessel to be called the Green Bay....

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy’s newest attack submarine Hawaii will be christened June 17 during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Conn. The third submarine of the Virginia class, SSN 776 will bear the name Hawaii to recognize the tremendous support the Navy has enjoyed from the people of the 50th state and in honor of the rich heritage of submarines in the Pacific theater. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle will serve as sponsor of SSN 776, the state’s namesake submarine. The ceremony will...

The world's largest cruise ship -- Freedom of the Seas, which arrived this week in New York Harbor from Southampton, Britain Wielding a scissors, a woman who helped raise more than 400 foster children over 27 years snipped a ribbon to christen the world's largest cruise ship Friday while it docked near the Statue of Liberty. "I name this ship the 'Freedom of the Sea.' May God bless her, Royal Caribbean and all who sail upon her," 56-year-old Katherine Louise Calder said in the ceremony televised live on NBC's "Today." She then cut the ribbon to release a giant bottle...

Spain's Princess Leonor, firstborn of Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, was christened before King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at a ceremony in Madrid's royal Zarzuela Palace. Leonor, who could become Spain's first female head of state since Isabella II (1833-1868) if Spain proceeds with a mooted constitutional reform to allow a woman to succeed the throne, was baptized Leonor de Todos los Santos (Leonor of all the saints) with water from the River Jordan. The princess was born on October 31 by Caesarean section to Letizia, a 33-year-old former television news presenter who married Felipe, heir to...

NAVAL STATION EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- The Navy unveiled its future as it officially christened its revolutionary new Littoral Surface Craft - Experimental, commonly referred to as "X-Craft," Feb. 5. Developed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), this high-speed, aluminum catamaran is designed to test a variety of technologies that could allow the Navy to operate more effectively in littoral, or shallow, waters. Officially, the ship's been named Sea Fighter and has been assigned hull number FSF 1, which stands for fast sea frame. X-Craft marks the first time a catamaran was designed and built specifically for the Navy....

Northrop Grumman Newport News celebrated its first submarine christening in nearly a decade when Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States and the ship’s sponsor, broke a bottle of American-made sparkling wine across the hull of the Virginia-class submarine Texas (SSN 775). Also pictured is U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Tom Schievelbein, Northrop Grumman Newport News president. Photo by Chris Oxley, Northrop Grumman Newport News

NEWPORT NEWS -- First lady Laura Bush will christen the shipyard's newest submarine July 31 at a morning event on the banks of the James River, Northrop Grumman Newport News said Monday. The Texas, known as SSN (submersible ship nuclear) 775, is the second boat in the Virginia class, a new group of nuclear-powered attack submarines that eventually could consist of 30 ships. That boat is the first of the class to be getting its christening in Newport News. During the traditional event, which celebrates the official naming of the submarine as the Texas, Lone Star State native Laura...

The third and final Seawolf-class submarine, the USS Jimmy Carter, will be christened June 5.

USS Jimmy Carter To Be Christened In CT Jimmy Carter Library Mar 28, 2004 1:32 pm US/Eastern (1010 WINS) (GROTON, Conn.) The third and final Seawolf-class submarine, the USS Jimmy Carter, will be christened June 5. The ceremony is conducted by Electric Boat, and kicks off the process for delivering the submarine to the Navy later this year. "The christening of the ship is a shipyard affair," said Navy spokesman Lt. Phil Rosi. "We participate, certainly, but they have the lead on it."

Vessel named for black Civil War hero (excerpted) Army's $25 million ship will help supply troops around the world The Associated Press The U.S. Army and VT Halter Marine on Wednesday christened a new supply ship in honor of a black Civil War hero. The MG Robert Smalls is a logistics support vessel. It is named in honor of Robert Smalls, who 142 years ago commandeered a Confederate steamer and turned it over to Union sailors blockading Charleston's harbor. It is the first Army vessel named for a Civil War hero and the first to bear the name of a...

Destroyer's 97-Year-Old Namesake on Hand to Witness Ship's Christening By David Sharp Associated Press Writer BATH, Maine (AP) - A 97-year-old former Navy secretary and chief arms control adviser in the Reagan administration was on hand Saturday as a warship bearing his name was christened. Paul H. Nitze smiled broadly from his wheelchair as his wife swung a champagne bottle against the destroyer's bow to the cheers of hundreds of onlookers. A band then broke into "Anchors Aweigh" and red, white and blue streamers and confetti shot into the air. The event marked only the eighth time in U.S. Navy...

Christening spoon found in grave of Saxon king By David Derbyshire, Science Correspondent (Filed: 09/04/2004) An ancient silver spoon buried in the grave of an early Christian king may be one of the earliest christening spoons found in Britain, archaeologists said yesterday. The spoon was discovered alongside a lyre and copper box for holding relics in the burial chamber of the so-called Prince of Prittlewell, a high-ranking aristocrat who lived in Essex 1,400 years ago. When the grave was discovered this year in Southend-on-Sea, archaeologists described it as one of the most important finds in decades. Although the bones had...

'Let's Roll' Plane Christened in Florida; Anti-Terrorist Training Plane Approved to Use Todd M. Beamer Foundation Trademark; Photo Available 2/25/04 5:04:00 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: National Desk, Photo Editor Contact: Lina Page of The Todd M. Beamer Foundation, 866-437-6111, ext. 102; e-mail: lpage@beamerfoundation.org; Major Richard F. Cipriano of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, 813-247-8065; rcipriano@hcso.tampa.fl.us, web: http://www.beamerfoundation.org PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Todd M. Beamer Foundation and Heroic Choices recently granted permission to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, located in Tampa, Fla., use of the "Let's Roll" trademarked logo to name their new Boeing 727 anti-terrorist training...

Navy to Christen New Guided-Missile Destroyer Halsey The newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Halsey (DDG 97) will be christened on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss. Adm. William J. Fallon, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, will deliver the ceremony’s principal address in concert with Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi. Heidi Cook Halsey, Anne Halsey Smith, and Alice “Missy” Spruance Talbot will serve as sponsors of the ship named for their grandfather. In the time-honored Navy tradition, they will break the bottle of champagne across the bow to...

CJTF-7 Public AffairsBAGHDAD, IraqRelease #040112d 1st AD soldiers, Iraqi firefighters rededicate fireboat BAGHDAD, Iraq – For the first time since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Baghdad has a fire boat patrolling the Tigris River—officially. The Future 2, a fire boat found looted and inoperable by soldiers of the 40th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, on the bank of the Tigris near the 14th of July Bridge, has been repaired and returned to duty. The boat was finally rededicated by 1st Armored Division soldiers and Iraqi firefighters in a ribbon-cutting and christening ceremony on the Tigris near where it was...

PHOTO CAPTION: AIRCRAFT CARRIER REAGAN RETURNS -- The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), returns to Northrop Grumman Newport News Thursday afternoon, May 8, after successful builder's trials. During builder's trials, the ship undergoes extensive testing in a variety of areas. Ronald Reagan is the ninth Nimitz-class ship built by Northrop Grumman Newport News. It will be commissioned by the U.S. Navy on July 12, 2003, at the Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Va. Photo by John Whalen, Northrop Grumman Newport News. Latest word on her home port is that it will be San Diego.

Dec 1, 2003 Jessica Lynch to Christen Cruise Ship The Associated Press MIAMI (AP) - Former Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch is to christen Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ship at Feb. 27 ceremonies in Jacksonville, the Miami-based line announced Monday. Lynch will break a traditional bottle of champagne against the Carnival Miracle immediately preceding its three-day inaugural cruise from the Port of Jacksonville. She will be named the ship's "godmother." "We are privileged that Miss Lynch, who represents thousands of courageous American men and women serving in our armed forces, has accepted our invitation to be godmother," said Carnival President and...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The U.S. Navy christened a cargo ship in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, who won the Medal of Honor for giving up his life to save his comrades 36 years ago in Vietnam. Wheat was 20 on Aug. 8, 1967, when he dived on an exploding mine in a jungle in Quang Nam Province, saving his fellow Marines from injury. On Tuesday, his sacrifice was recognized during a ceremony at Blount Island Command in Jacksonville. Wheat, from Moselle, Miss., was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for combat valor. In the...

  No. 594-03 IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 14, 2003 Navy Christens Newest Attack Submarine Virginia      The U.S. Navy will christen Virginia, lead ship of the latest class of attack submarines, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.      Sen. George Allen of Virginia will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Lynda Johnson Robb, wife of former Sen. Charles Robb of Virginia and the daughter of 36th President Lyndon Baines Johnson, will serve as ship’s sponsor.      The ceremony will be highlighted in the time-honored Navy tradition when Robb christens the ship...