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Location: Patterson, New York | Subject: New Boat - USS New Hampshire
Here is the link to see photos also; but full text of story is below:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080622/NEWS/806220351/-1/PUBLICRECORDS05
Portsmouth widow of 9/11 pilot christens sub
By Nancy Cicco
ncicco@seacoastonline
June 22, 2008 6:25 AM
GROTON, Conn. — She called herself a "symbolic shadow" of the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, but Cheryl McGuinness assured the crowd assembled before her Saturday "new life has been birthed."
Thousands of shipbuilders, local residents and dignitaries had gathered at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard to watch McGuinness, of Portsmouth, christen New Hampshire (SSN-778), the Navy's newest nuclear-attack, Virginia-class submarine.
Before her, clad in their dress-white uniforms, were the vessel's approximately 130 officers and enlisted crew members. They were standing at attention atop a makeshift platform built above the submarine, which was resting in Graving Dock No. 3. McGuinness called the assembled Navy brass, crew members, shipbuilders and lawmakers her "heroes" for their work in protecting and serving American freedom.
Moments later, while standing on a platform snugged up against the aft end of New Hampshire's sail, McGuinness took two practice swings before smashing a wrapped bottle of sparkling wine against the submarine. Once she was done, a horn blast echoed across the Thames River.
McGuinness is the widow of Thomas McGuinness, a former Navy pilot who was the co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, one of two hijacked airplanes flown into the Word Trade Center.
The Navy asked McGuinness to become the New Hampshire's sponsor in honor of her courage in the face of adversity and integrity.
Noting submariners are a "superstitious" lot, keynote speaker Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of Naval nuclear propulsion, said McGuinness' sponsorship of the boat would bode well for the crew. Her initials have been welded into the vessel's keel plate, he said.
"It's an honor, it's a privilege, we are excited to be part of the celebration," McGuinness said of her sponsorship after the ceremony. "We are going to do all we can to support them ... The New Hampshire to me is symbolic of a new journey protecting freedom with a new technology and a new crew."
The $2.3 billion submarine was built by employees of General Dynamics and shipbuilders of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding of Newport News, Va.
Construction began in 2004 and encompassed 10 million man-hours. The boat was finished eight months ahead of schedule and came in $54 million under budget.
The vessel will receive its commission to become the USS New Hampshire during a ceremony at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in October.
"New Hampshire has come to pick up the keys and say 'thank you very much,'"‰" joked U.S Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H., one of the event's guest speakers. Shea-Porter and U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney, D-Conn., who serve on the House Armed Services, praised the boat for its state-of-the-art capabilities.
Calling it "the best submarine ever built," Shea-Porter said the boat "will play a vital role in providing for our national security."
The New Hampshire is the fifth Virginia-class submarine built. It can launch Tomahawk cruise missile, torpedoes and autonomous undersea vehicles. She is equipped with sonar systems and special features for Navy SEALs teams, according to information from Shea-Porter's office.
Shea-Porter and Courtney said they are committed to seeing the Navy build two ships a year.
"The Virginia-class program is the all-star program of the Navy and that's not just home-cooking," said Courtney. "It is an incredible program that is good for the taxpayer and good for our national security."
The submarine's first captain will be Cmdr. Michael Stevens. Four of the crew members are from New Hampshire, with one member from Portsmouth.
Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., issued a statement, saying, "This christening marks the third time the state of New Hampshire has lent its name to an American warship since the founding of the U.S. Navy.
"Third-graders at Garrison Elementary School in Dover began the effort to name a modern naval vessel after our state in 2003, after learning that the last USS New Hampshire had been decommissioned in 1921."
The first ship named for New Hampshire was in service from 1846 to 1921, including during the Civil War. The second, from 1908 to 1921, was a battleship used for convoy escort duty during World War I and as a training ship.
Guests at Saturday's ceremony received commemorative keychains featuring New Hampshire quarters.
sub At a Glance
Displacement: 7,925 metric tons submerged
Length: 377 feet
Beam: 34 feet
Maximum depth: +800 feet
Maximum speed: +25 knots
Crew: 14 officers 120 enlisted
Weapons accompaniment: Tomahawk cruise missiles, Mark-48 advanced capability torpedoes, advanced mobile mines, unmanned undewater vehicles
Cost: Approximately $2.3 billion
Source: U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter's office
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New Boat - USS New Hampshire
