OFFICIAL BCNA NEWS
When Fleet Week and the Blue Angels return to San Francisco in October, there will be another exciting addition to Fall festivities — the commissioning of the U.S. Navy’s new USS America.
Outshining the traditional Parade of Ships and the Blue Angels may be an impossibility, but a ship’s commissioning — joining the Fleet — is an important and colorful (blue) event.
One of San Francisco’s many traditions is that it always has been a Navy town.
The dates of Fleet Week are October 9 to 13, with the formal commissioning ceremony likely taking place on Oct. 11.
Many San Franciscans will remember that Fleet Week could not happen last year because of the “sequester.” Â And America’s Cup 34 had taken over the town.
The fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the country’s name, the new USS America (LHA-6) is an amphibious assault ship, 844 feet in length, and has a speed of 20+ knots.
Her motto is “Bello Vel Pace Paratus,” meaning “Prepared in War or Peace.” Â In the latter capacity, she is said to be great in acting as a deterrent and in lending humanitarian and disaster response efforts in time of need.
The new USS America will be based in San Diego.
More information can be found on the USS America Facebook page.
