Thank You, New Hampshire!
New Hampshire, you may stand down. A maintenance detail is still tidying up the loose ends and our online store filled with USS New Hampshire collectibles is still going strong (as are the local merchants with memorabilia who suggest that USSNH items would make great one-of-a-kind gifts).
But to all of you who supported our USS New Hampshire Community Commissioning Committee, organized under the Portsmouth Council - Navy League of the United States and the seemingly endless duties and challenges it took to achieve our vision, I can proudly say, "Thank you. Job well done!"
We said from that start that the honor of helping Commission the USS New Hampshire was one shared by the entire state. The support we received for all the celebration activities we prepared certainly came from every corner. We sold Commissioning buttons to folks from more than 110 towns across New Hampshire. Our sponsors came from many communities - in fact the cities and towns of Portsmouth, Newington, Rye and others still processing requests stepped forward as a body to support our submarine.
Please help us thank our sponsors for their efforts by supporting their businesses and expressing your appreciation. A donation unnoticed is a donation unfulfilled.
Marquis Sponsor: Teledyne D.G. O'Brien; Presenting Sponsors: FairPoint Communications, Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. / Waste Management, Inc., Seacoast Media Group, DataRisk LLC, Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Lockheed Martin, Two International Group LLC. Lead Sponsors: Wal-Mart of New Hampshire, City of Portsmouth, Sean & Kirsten Mahoney, Harbour Light Strategic Marketing, Leading Edge, All Metals, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Newport News, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems; Gold Sponsors: Axsys Technologies, Everyday Details, New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Northeast Credit Union, Northrop Grumman Marine Systems, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Perot Systems, Unitil. Silver Sponsors: BAE Systems Land and Armaments, L.P., Bid2Win Software, Inc., Emerson Process Management, Kollmorgen Corporation, Senator Martha Fuller Clark, Piscataqua Savings Bank, Yankee Pacific LLC. Bronze Sponsors: Albacore Park, Appledore Marine Engineering, Inc., Beswick Engineering Co., Inc., CACI, Inc., CCSI, Inc., FPL Energy Seabrook Station, Granite State Minerals, HP Hood LLC, Irving Oil, Jerry Karcher, Kocher & Company, Inc., Attorney & Mrs. John P. McGee, Jr., Ocean Bank (Portsmouth), Optima Bank, Pierce Atwood LLP, PixelMEDIA, Inc., Red Hook Ale Brewery, SilverCloud Software, LLC, Sprague Energy Corporation, St. Andrew's Lodge No. 56 Free & Accepted Masons (Portsmouth), Tidal Media Group. Additional Sponsors: American Legion Post 21, BCBM, Paul and Irene Couture, C.G. Davis Post 34, DeStefano Architects PLLC, Emerson Hovey Post #168 VFW, Jalbert Leasing, Inc. DBA C&J, ADM & Mrs. Kinnear II, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Milford Rotary Club, Frederick W. & Pauline J. Ordway, PSGS Recreation Committee, Portsmouth Rotary Club, Seacoast African American Cultural Center, Town of Newington, William Young, Gerry S. Weidema & Joseph K. Simone, Bosen & Springer In-Kind Sponsors: Ad-Cetera Graphics, Anneka Jans, BreastCancerStories.com, Clear Channel Communications, Enoteca Italiana, Festive Occasions, John Hancock, Jumpin' Jay's, Muddy River Smokehouse, Regal Limousine Services, Off the Wall Promotions, Pease Golf Course, Portsmouth Gas Light Co., Propeller Club, Trustees of Prescott Park, Rogan's Village Bake Shop, Scarecrows of the Port, Secure Planning Inc., Sir Speedy Portsmouth, Smuttynose Brewing Co., Sperry Tents, Strawbery Banke Museum, Wentworth by the Sea Hotel & Spa, Westwind Gardens, Wilcox Industries, Zero Gravity Films.
In-kind help also came in every form imaginable - from volunteer service by Sea Scouts and veterans' groups, to the Scarecrows of the Port that local businesses created to add to the festivities presented to the USS NH crew and their families. Local businesses produced hats, coasters, posters, commemorative photographs, a special postal cachet, and a sub shaped cake. (All of which, except the cake, are on our website, www.ussnewhampshire.org) To say nothing of all the chefs who prepared various meals.
I especially thank my Community Commissioning Committee and their companies and clients who supported the work they were doing while they all tried to maintain their regular jobs: Doug Bates, President, Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Portsmouth City Manager John P Bohenko; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Commissioning Committee: Steven Boisvert, Deborah M White, Gary Hildreth, Danna Eddy and Marty Raymond; Kittery City Manager Jonathan L Carter and York City Manager Catherine Goodwin; Janice Comber, Northrop Grumman Commissioning Support; Rose Cronk; Mike Daigle, President, Data Risk LLC; Portsmouth Mayor Thomas G. Ferrini; USS New Hampshire Commander Mike Stevens and Chief of the Boat Glen Kline; CAPT William McDonough; John McGee, Attorney, Flynn and McGee; CDR Robert J Normandeau, Past President, Navy League of the US, Portsmouth Council; Renee Reidel Plummer, VP Marketing, Two International Group; Stephanie Seacord, Senior PR Counsel, Leading Edge; and George Toscano, Toscano & Ardito, CPA.
But the real point is that we set out to create a gold standard welcome from the moment the USS New Hampshire hove into view, until she sailed beyond the horizon, and we did that. Every sailor, to a man, said they'd never seen anything like it. That the Seacoast led a welcome they would remember long after the Commissioning pennant was put away. New Hampshire, you did our "New Hampshire" proud and the Committee thanks you for that.
Portsmouth has officially adopted the USS New Hampshire so we know we'll have the chance to welcome them "home" again at some point in the future. Until then we wish them fair winds and following seas. A little piece of our hearts rides with them.
Bruce A. Clark,
Chairman Commissioning Committee
USS New Hampshire (SSN-778)
President - Portsmouth Council
Navy League of the United States
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