woodbuck27
07-10-2006, 09:56 AM
CITY LANDS NAVAL NAMESAKE
U.S. Navy, local entourage will christen USS Green Bay on Saturday
By Paul Brinkmann / greenbaypressgazette.com
AVONDALE, La.  Green Bay stands tall in American football history. Now it's also casting a big shadow in a southern Louisiana shipyard. The U.S. Navy will christen a new 684-foot warship the "Green Bay" on Saturday at a Northrop Grumman shipyard near New Orleans. Excitement is building among the Navy crew, the shipbuilders and local residents following the ship's progress. Already the crew is establishing connections in the community they hope will endure for decades. "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. It's the football team."
This is the second Navy vessel to be called the Green Bay. The first was a Vietnam-era gunboat just 165-feet long. The new USS Green Bay  also called LPD 20  will be a major part of the U.S. amphibious fleet, carrying 360 Navy sailors and up to 800 Marine Corps troops. The ship is designed to carry troops for quick deployment, launch and recovery  thus the name Landing Platform Dock or LPD. When the Navy commissions it in 2008, the USS Green Bay will likely be home-ported in San Diego. It will be too large to fit through the St. Lawrence Seaway, so it can never visit its namesake city or enter the Great Lakes.
The young ship survived Hurricane Katrina at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations just west of New Orleans. Currently more than 70 percent complete, it stands between two future sister ships, the USS New York and the USS New Orleans. The excitement about Green Bay is tangible at the buzzing shipyard. The billion-dollar ship crouches near the dock wall like a giant gray rhino, sporting two conical masts the height of a 15-story building. Yellow and red cranes fill the air. Hammers ring, horns blare and sirens warn of moving cranes. Men on bicycles  pedaling slowly and wearing orange vests  escort tractors bearing oversized ship parts.
Navy vets in Green Bay are among those monitoring the progress. "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. I was excited to hear one of them would be called the Green Bay," Alsteen said. The city's "commitment to team efforts" is why the name was chosen, former U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Danzig said when announcing the names.
That makes sense to former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, who will appear in a video played at the christening ceremony. "The tradition and history of the team is unmatched anywhere," Starr said. "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." The Navy has established a relationship with Lombardi Middle School. Principal Nancy Croy will attend the christening. She's already planning a geography contest between students and sailors.
Another connection between Green Bay and the ship is apparently a coincidence. Stephanie Favre, who works in production control at the shipyard, is a cousin of current Packers quarterback Brett Favre. What does she think about the coincidence? "It's ironic to me. To end up on working on this project, it's really weird. This is my way of contributing to the defense of our country."
"Green Bay may be modest in size, but it is enormous in spirit. The city is well known for its commitment to team efforts and the LPD 20 will be home to another team  the Navy-Marine Corps team  that is no stranger to the hard work and sacrifice necessary to be the best in the world."  Former U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Danzig
U.S. Navy, local entourage will christen USS Green Bay on Saturday
By Paul Brinkmann / greenbaypressgazette.com
AVONDALE, La.  Green Bay stands tall in American football history. Now it's also casting a big shadow in a southern Louisiana shipyard. The U.S. Navy will christen a new 684-foot warship the "Green Bay" on Saturday at a Northrop Grumman shipyard near New Orleans. Excitement is building among the Navy crew, the shipbuilders and local residents following the ship's progress. Already the crew is establishing connections in the community they hope will endure for decades. "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. It's the football team."
This is the second Navy vessel to be called the Green Bay. The first was a Vietnam-era gunboat just 165-feet long. The new USS Green Bay  also called LPD 20  will be a major part of the U.S. amphibious fleet, carrying 360 Navy sailors and up to 800 Marine Corps troops. The ship is designed to carry troops for quick deployment, launch and recovery  thus the name Landing Platform Dock or LPD. When the Navy commissions it in 2008, the USS Green Bay will likely be home-ported in San Diego. It will be too large to fit through the St. Lawrence Seaway, so it can never visit its namesake city or enter the Great Lakes.
The young ship survived Hurricane Katrina at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations just west of New Orleans. Currently more than 70 percent complete, it stands between two future sister ships, the USS New York and the USS New Orleans. The excitement about Green Bay is tangible at the buzzing shipyard. The billion-dollar ship crouches near the dock wall like a giant gray rhino, sporting two conical masts the height of a 15-story building. Yellow and red cranes fill the air. Hammers ring, horns blare and sirens warn of moving cranes. Men on bicycles  pedaling slowly and wearing orange vests  escort tractors bearing oversized ship parts.
Navy vets in Green Bay are among those monitoring the progress. "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. I was excited to hear one of them would be called the Green Bay," Alsteen said. The city's "commitment to team efforts" is why the name was chosen, former U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Danzig said when announcing the names.
That makes sense to former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, who will appear in a video played at the christening ceremony. "The tradition and history of the team is unmatched anywhere," Starr said. "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." The Navy has established a relationship with Lombardi Middle School. Principal Nancy Croy will attend the christening. She's already planning a geography contest between students and sailors.
Another connection between Green Bay and the ship is apparently a coincidence. Stephanie Favre, who works in production control at the shipyard, is a cousin of current Packers quarterback Brett Favre. What does she think about the coincidence? "It's ironic to me. To end up on working on this project, it's really weird. This is my way of contributing to the defense of our country."
"Green Bay may be modest in size, but it is enormous in spirit. The city is well known for its commitment to team efforts and the LPD 20 will be home to another team  the Navy-Marine Corps team  that is no stranger to the hard work and sacrifice necessary to be the best in the world."  Former U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Danzig