COMMISSIONING - NEW HAMPSHIRE (SSN-778)
A Presentation to the City Council, City of Portsmouth - May 5, 2008:
Portsmouth has been selected by the Secretary of the Navy - after competing with two other sites - as the location for the commissioning of the USS New Hampshire. Not only is it logical that the Navy's gold standard "New Hampshire" shipyard have the honor - but it is thanks to Dover schoolchildren (who will be included in the commissioning events) that this submarine - the 5th in the Navy's new Virginia Class Submarine fleet - is the new Navy ship to bear the "New Hampshire" name.
The Commissioning of the USS New Hampshire will take place at 10 AM on Saturday, October 25, 2008 - just 5 short months away. So the purpose of this briefing is to let the community know we have been selected and that the Commissioning Committee is hard to work to make sure the event is outstanding for the officers and crew, the Secretary of the Navy and other Very Important guests.
The commissioning of the submarine New Hampshire fits in the long, historical relationship between Portsmouth, the Shipyard and the Navy. We know Portsmouth and John Paul Jones helped build the original US Navy. The battleship New Hampshire was christened by Gov John McLane who hosted the Portsmouth Peace Treaty negotiations at the Shipyard for President Teddy Roosevelt. TR then, in 1909, gave the "New Hampshire" the honor of leading his Naval Salute welcoming home the Great White Fleet. And, of course, the Shipyard has played and continues to play a critical role in the history of the American Submarine - as the gold standard for work done on-time and under-budget.
The Commissioning ceremony is a high-profile, tradition-laden event for the United States Navy. It will attract senior Navy officers, Congressional representatives, the Governor, special invited guests - and an estimated 8 - 10,000 visitors including the crew's families. One of our committees is working on crew hospitality. Another is working on fund-raising to ensure a world class commemoration.
The impact on the City of Portsmouth, a National Trust Distinctive Destination, will be very positive. There has not been a similar event in the City for many years. It is difficult to exactly determine the impact of the increased number of visitors on City services, but I think we can expect a sizeable crowd in Prescott Park, on Four Tree Island and throughout the City, There will also be increased vehicular traffic which we will work to distribute throughout the City: using the Seacoast Trolley to assist. The timing of the event; 10 - 11 AM is helpful and upon dispersal we anticipate that many visitors will make a day of it and enjoy the many wonderful offerings in our City.
The Commanding Officer of the USS New Hampshire, Cmdr. Mike Stevens, is here from Groton CT where the sub is currently under construction at Electric Boat, to tell you a little more about his ship, the timeframe between now and October 25th, the crew and what they're looking forward to at this event, but before I give him the floor, I want to welcome him by saying that just as the Seacoast community united in 2005 to "Save Our Shipyard" we know the community will enthusiastically extend the hospitality of Portsmouth, the Seacoast and New Hampshire to the officers and crew of our namesake, USS New Hampshire. Once again we are in the spotlight, entrusted by a Navy who views our Shipyard as the "gold standard" to make this a "gold standard" commissioning ceremony. As the official hosts for the crew during the Commissioning Week, and for events leading up to that celebration - starting with representation at Market Square Day - we, the entire community, will make the USS New Hampshire welcome.
Events
10/19 USS New Hampshire arrived in Portsmouth 11:15 am
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Thru 11/2 Scarecrows of the Port Festival
Downtown merchants present first annual "Scarecrows in the Port" harvest festival, commissioning celebration and welcome to the crew and their families.
10/25/2008 US Navy Commissioning Ceremony, 10 am
10/27/2008 USS New Hampshire departs, 12:20 pm