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USS Delaware christening ceremony is this weekend

Photo from 2016 taken by Sen. Carper's Office

The USS Delaware, a Virginia-class, nuclear-powered fast attack submarine will be christened on Saturday.

 

Senator Tom Carper is hosting three local watch events for Delawareans to view the sub’s christening, which is taking place in Newport News, Virginia.

He says the event itself is not open to the public and he wanted to make sure First State residents could witness it.  

“We’ll have live feeds to three college campuses, one in Sussex County, which would be at the Del Tech Campus in Georgetown. We’ll have another watch party up at Del Tech in Stanton and the folks at Wilmington University, NOT in Wilmington but in Dover, they’ll be hosting a third one,” Carper said.

Carper, a 23-year Navy veteran, was part of the Delaware Congressional delegation that initially sent a letter to then Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in 2012, asking the Navy to name a vessel after the First State.

The last naval vessel to bear the name USS Delaware was decommissioned in 1923.

Carper will give the christening address at Saurday's event.  Former second lady Jill Biden, who is the sponsor of the USS Delaware, will formally christen the ship by breaking a bottle of champagne against the hull.

The christening is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. People can start arriving at the three watch locations at 9:30.

 

Sen. Carper notes the sub will stay in Newport News at least for the next two months for some additional work before going to work.

 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.
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