Hardly unusual. USS Wisconsin (BB-64) never got it its namesake state, either.
Posted on 07/09/2006 2:27:12 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(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. The first was a small gunboat from the Vietnam era.
This ship, designed to carry troops for rapid deployment, launch and recovery, will be a major part of the U.S. amphibious fleet and carry 360 Navy sailors along with up to 800 Marines.
When the Navy commissions the ship in 2008, the USS Green Bay will be too large to ever visit its namesake because it will not be able to fit through the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Currently, the ship is more than 70 percent complete and stands between the USS New York and the USS New Orleans.
Navy veterans living in Green Bay are excited about the ship.
"To have a ship named after the town you live in, that's quite an honor," said veteran Russ Alsteen, a Green Bay barber. "This is a new style of combat vessel. It will have the latest technology."
Former U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Danzig says the city's "commitment to team efforts" is why the name was chosen, and former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr will appear in a video that will be played at the christening ceremony.
"The tradition and history of the team is unmatched anywhere," Starr says. "When you combine the historical strength with the unique fan support that is there, it's an honor to be identified with that great community."
Lombardi Middle School Principal Nancy Croy will attend the christening as part of the school's relationship with the Navy. Also, Stephanie Favre, cousin of Packers quarterback Brett Favre, works in production control at the shipyard.
"To end up on working on this project, it's really weird," Favre said. "This is my way of contributing to the defense of our country."
I hope Stephanie invites her cousin to the christening.
You can't put articles like this up unless you post pics also.
Go Green Bay!
Hardly unusual. USS Wisconsin (BB-64) never got it its namesake state, either.
Jokes? Why be so cynical?
Both happen. "Christening" (no Jewish warships in the US Navy?), is the naming ceremony.
OK, thanks.
I bet they call the hangar deck Lambeau Field!!
Here's a nice site regarding the same:
Whenever I've watched this type of ceremony the final words always seem to be "I/We christen thee ..." as in “I christen thee United States Ship Texas. May God bless all who sail on her”.
Correct. See #7.
May the Uss Green Bay sail into whatever she sails into and take care of AMERICA. God Bless Her and all who sail aboard.
Does it have a cheese locker?????
The LPD is nice ship.
Amen.
Oh, golly, you shut me down before I even got rolling!
I've got a thing for LPDs having been transported aboard this one during Vietnam.
She's still in service and still out there, somewhere.
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