REMARKS OF CONGRESSMAN IKE SKELTON (D-Mo.) CHAIRMAN, HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMISSIONING OF THE USS MISSOURI (SSN-780) GROTON, CONNECTICUT - SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2010

摘要

Secretary Mabus, thank you for that kind introduction. Governor Nixon, Secretary Gates, Members of Congress, Distinguished Flag Officers, all our friends from the USS Missouri Commissioning Committee and citizens of the great state of Missouri, the crew of MISSOURI, shipbuilders, family and friends, I am truly honored to be with you. This is a great day - for the Navy, for Missouri, and for Amer-ica. Today we complete the first stage in the life of this vessel and commission into the battle force fleet of the United States Navy the 5th USS MISSOURI, a 7,800 ton attack submarine of the Virginia class. Her first crew is with us today, and in just a few minutes they will man this vessel and set the first watch. At the direction of the ship's sponsor, they will bring the ship to life and begin the next chapter of service to the nation from a vessel named MISSOURI.