WASHINGTON: The U.S. Navy will name its next aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in honor of the president who was buried Wednesday in his home town, officials said.
The Navy had not planned to announce the decision yet, but Donald H. Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary who also served in the Ford administration, divulged the news during his eulogy at Ford's funeral.
"How fitting it would be that the name Gerald R. Ford will patrol the high seas for decades to come in defense of the nation he loved so much," he said.
Later at the Pentagon the Navy confirmed that it would make an official announcement "in a few weeks." It said it was still working on details of the ceremony with members of the Ford family.
Ford served as a Naval officer in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Source
The Navy had not planned to announce the decision yet, but Donald H. Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary who also served in the Ford administration, divulged the news during his eulogy at Ford's funeral.
"How fitting it would be that the name Gerald R. Ford will patrol the high seas for decades to come in defense of the nation he loved so much," he said.
Later at the Pentagon the Navy confirmed that it would make an official announcement "in a few weeks." It said it was still working on details of the ceremony with members of the Ford family.
Ford served as a Naval officer in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Source
Congress: USS Gerald R. Ford
Senator John Warner of Virginia originally proposed an amendment to a defense spending bill declaring that CVN-78 "shall be named the U.S.S. Gerald Ford," after former President Gerald Ford, who was alive at the time but later died on December 26, 2006. When signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 17, 2006, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 declared only that "[it] is the sense of Congress that ... CVN-78 should be named the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford." Since such "sense of" language is typically non-binding and does not carry the force of law, the ultimate decision for the name rests with the Department of the Navy.
In 2000, Senator Warner attached a similar amendment to the same defense spending bill, using the same "sense of" language to request that CVN-77 be named the USS Lexington, after two aircraft carriers that fought in World War II (CV-2 and CV-16).[7] As a non-binding resolution, the Navy chose instead to name the carrier after former President George H. W. Bush, officially naming it the USS George H. W. Bush on December 9, 2002.[6]
Navy Veterans: USS America
The USS America Carrier Veterans Association, an association of sailors who served aboard the recently scuttled USS America (CV-66), has advocated that CVN-78 also be named America. Walter Waite, vice president of the CVA, has declared that it is "appalling that the name of our country has been pushed aside in favor of living politicians." Congress' recommendation of USS Gerald R. Ford and Waite's statement both came before the former president's death in late 2006. The group has organized a letter-writing campaign to Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter through a companion website, CVN78.com, encouraging him to adopt the name USS America despite Congress' recommendation.
Announcement
On January 3, 2007, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld prematurely announced that the aircraft carrier would be named after President Ford during a eulogy for the President at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Later in the day, the Navy confirmed that the aircraft carrier would be, indeed, named for the former President. [9]
Also, during the eulogy, Rumsfeld stated that Ford was made aware of the honor a few months before his death, when Rumsfeld himself told Ford. Source
Senator John Warner of Virginia originally proposed an amendment to a defense spending bill declaring that CVN-78 "shall be named the U.S.S. Gerald Ford," after former President Gerald Ford, who was alive at the time but later died on December 26, 2006. When signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 17, 2006, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 declared only that "[it] is the sense of Congress that ... CVN-78 should be named the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford." Since such "sense of" language is typically non-binding and does not carry the force of law, the ultimate decision for the name rests with the Department of the Navy.
In 2000, Senator Warner attached a similar amendment to the same defense spending bill, using the same "sense of" language to request that CVN-77 be named the USS Lexington, after two aircraft carriers that fought in World War II (CV-2 and CV-16).[7] As a non-binding resolution, the Navy chose instead to name the carrier after former President George H. W. Bush, officially naming it the USS George H. W. Bush on December 9, 2002.[6]
Navy Veterans: USS America
The USS America Carrier Veterans Association, an association of sailors who served aboard the recently scuttled USS America (CV-66), has advocated that CVN-78 also be named America. Walter Waite, vice president of the CVA, has declared that it is "appalling that the name of our country has been pushed aside in favor of living politicians." Congress' recommendation of USS Gerald R. Ford and Waite's statement both came before the former president's death in late 2006. The group has organized a letter-writing campaign to Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter through a companion website, CVN78.com, encouraging him to adopt the name USS America despite Congress' recommendation.
Announcement
On January 3, 2007, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld prematurely announced that the aircraft carrier would be named after President Ford during a eulogy for the President at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Later in the day, the Navy confirmed that the aircraft carrier would be, indeed, named for the former President. [9]
Also, during the eulogy, Rumsfeld stated that Ford was made aware of the honor a few months before his death, when Rumsfeld himself told Ford. Source
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