AMERICA WILL SAIL AGAIN!
Navy Secretary
Donald C. Winter has announced that the new LHA(R) will be named
AMERICA. This proud new ship will be designated USS AMERICA LHA-6
and is expected to come on line in 2012. The announcement was made
June 27th 2008 during the reunion banquet hosted by the USS AMERICA
Carrier Veterans Association in Jacksonville, Florida. Secretary
Winter was the guest of honor at the banquet, which was also
attended by Radm. Robert Fuller, AMERICA's 10th skipper, General
Peter Pace, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and his wife Lynne
and Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund.
In his speech, Secretary Winter reviewed the proud history of USS
AMERICA CVA/CV-66 and applauded the patriotism and enthusiasm of
AMERICA's former crewmembers. "AMERICA's veterans have much to be
proud of and superb performance will always be associated with that
name. It is with this extraordinary legacy in mind that I would
like to take this opportunity to announce the name of what will be
one of our crown jewels of our fleet. And so today, I am proud to
announce that LHA-6, our newest assault ship, will carry on the
proud legacy of her predecessor and be named AMERICA". Secretary
Winter went on to announce that Lynne Pace, wife of General Peter
Pace has accepted the invitation to serve as AMERICA's
sponsor.
Secretary Winter's announcement successfully ended an almost four
year effort by the USS AMERICA Carrier Veterans Association to have
the name AMERICA once again sail the high seas. That effort began
with the belief that the name AMERICA, above all others, should
always be on a U.S. Navy ship. During this effort, we recieved
input from many of the CVA membership, asking questions, making
suggestions and helping to guide us in the right direction. Your
contributions to this cause helped turn an idea into a
reality.
Four years from now, we will stand pier side and proudly watch as
USS AMERICA LHA-6 is christened knowing that it was our unified
effort that made it happen. This, more than anything else,
reinforces our belief that together, we can accomplish just about
anything, and it is you the membership, that makes the CVA work.
The entire USS AMERICA Carrier Veterans Association offers our
collective thanks to Secretary Winter for making this happen. We
appreciate his patience with us over the years and ultimately, his
decision to once again put the name AMERICA on a great Navy
ship.
For additional information, please visit the USS America Carrier
Veterans Association at http://www.ussamerica.org