Wharf Rat's Home - A Shipmate Who Never Made it to Sea.

'It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.'

Preserving a piece of US Maritime History - invaluable

The USS Olympia is a cruiser that fought in the Spanish American War in 1898 and has been preserved in Philadelphia. She's a one of a kind ship, a national historic monument, and in danger. She needs approximately $10-15 million in repairs to keep her a viable museum for years to come. If you have the resources, or connections to those resources, please consider helping. (full disclosure - there is no financial benefit to me to ask the question - we need to save this ship for posterity). Please contact me at 612-599-1935 or bdskon@fedex.com if you have additional questions.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

For Immediate Release

The Navy League of the United States, Twin Cities Council announces the Keel Authentication Ceremony for the future

USS Minnesota SSN 783!

On Friday, May 20, 2011 at 12:00 noon the Keel Authentication Ceremony will take place at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Newport News, VA www.huntingtoningalls.com.

In July 2008, the United States Navy announced that our state would be honored by having a warship named ‘Minnesota.’ Not since 1922 have we had a US Navy warship named after our state.

Officially known as Precommissioning Unit (PCU) Minnesota, the Virginia-class fast attack submarine will receive its ‘USS’ designator once commissioned (estimated in June 2013).

The Keel Authentication Ceremony is a time-honored tradition that includes having the signature of the Ships Sponsor welded into the keel of this ship. The Sponsor then announces that ‘the keel is truly and fairly laid.’

This ceremony marks the first in three major milestones of bringing PCU Minnesota to the fleet.

PCU Minnesota is being built in the same shipyard as the previous two USS Minnesota’s, and just five miles from one of the most famous naval battles in history that prominently featured the first USS Minnesota in the Civil War (the famed ‘Minnesota’ connection we see in many news stories).

Please visit the new website www.ussminnesotassn783.com (the commissioning committee website) for additional information.

Attending the ceremony from the Twin Cities Council:

Dave Hutton, USN Ret., President, Twin Cities Council, and Co-Chair of USS Minnesota Commissioning Committee (USMCC)
Brian Skon, Vice President, Twin Cities Council, Vice Chair USMCC
Mike Alteri, USN Ret., Board of Directors, Twin Cities Council and member USMCC
Jim Sillman, USN Ret., member Navy League and USMCC