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Northrop Grumman Newport News celebrated its first
submarine christening in nearly a decade when Laura
Bush, First Lady of the United States and the ship’s
sponsor, broke a bottle of American-made sparkling wine
across the hull of the Virginia-class submarine
Texas (SSN 775). Also pictured is U.S. Sen.
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Tom Schievelbein,
Northrop Grumman Newport News president.
Photo
by Chris Oxley,
Northrop Grumman Newport News
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Northrop
Grumman Newport News celebrated its first submarine
christening in nearly a decade for the Virginia-class
submarine Texas (SSN 775). Laura Bush, First
Lady of the United States and the ship's sponsor attended
the ceremony. Mrs. Bush said the day celebrated the
devotion of sailors and shipbuilders. “She’s
built by the finest craftsmen and engineers in the world,”
she said. “This magnificent ship is a tribute
to your skill.”
Photo
by Chris Oxley,
Northrop Grumman Newport News
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U.S. Sen.
Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas was the keynote speaker
for the ceremony and talked about the pride Texans feel
for the first submarine named for the Lone Star State.
“This is a great day for the forces of good in
this world,” she said. “This ship is another
exhibit in our strong national resolve to win the war
on terror.”
Photo
by Chris Oxley,
Northrop Grumman Newport News
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To
commemorate the christening ceremony and Mrs. Bush’s
role as the ship’s sponsor, Northrop Grumman Newport
News donated nearly 200 books to all of the 28 Newport
News Public Elementary Schools. The books are the 2004
Caldecott Medal and the 2004 Newberry Medal Award winners
and honor books. Jeremiah Brown, a first grader at Doris
Miller Elementary School and the son of Newport News
employee Priest W. Brown together with Allysea Rivera,
a second grader at Briarfield Elementary and daughter
of Newport News employee Heather Wright, showed the
books to Mrs. Bush as part of the ceremony.
Photo
by Chris Oxley,
Northrop Grumman Newport News
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Tom
Schievelbein, Northrop Grumman Newport News president,
presented the bottle used in the christening to First
Lady Laura Bush after she smashed it across the hull
of the Virginia-class submarine Texas
(SSN 775). As she performed this time-tested toast,
she said, “I christen thee United States Ship
Texas. May God bless all who sail her.”
Photo
by Chris Oxley,
Northrop Grumman Newport News
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The
approximately 4,000 invited guests were entertained
by the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Band and the Texas A&M
Fightin' Aggie Wranglers, a country and western dance
group comprised of Texas A&M University students.
Guests included Newport News and Electric Boat employees
who are building Texas and their families,
family and friends of the Texas crew, U.S.
Navy personnel and government officials.
Photo
by Chris Oxley,
Northrop Grumman Newport News
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Preparations are underway at Northrop Grumman Newport
News for the July 31 christening of the Virginia
class submarine Texas (SSN 775). Laura Bush,
First Lady of the United States, is the ship’s
sponsor and will christen the ship named for her native
state. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), will
be the keynote speaker for the ceremony.
Photo
by Chris Oxley,
Northrop Grumman Newport News
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Northrop
Grumman Newport News employees Warren Moore and Jerry
Hayden put last minute touches on the ceremonial cover
that will adorn the bow of the Virginia-class
submarine Texas during the christening ceremony
July 31.
Photo
by John Whalen,
Northrop Grumman Newport News
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