On July 21st the Committee, in conjunction with sponsor Charles Schwab, presented a framed picture of the ship’s crest to Senator Cory Gardner. On hand were Committee members Ryan Schwab, Dick Cooper and Florence Mackin along with several members of Charles Schwab organization at the Schwab campus in Lone Tree. Several members of Senator Gardner’s staff were also on hand, including 3 interns working for the summer in his Denver office. The Senator was interested in the activities of the committee over the past 3 years. He was proud to add his signature to our “traveling” picture of a Virginia Class submarine, and was quite impressed with the picture of the ship’s crest which will hang in his office in Washington, DC.
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Welcome to USS Colorado (SSN-788) Commissioning Committee web site. USS Colorado (SSN-788) is the 15th Virginia Class submarine. She was delivered to the Navy on September 21, 2017. Having completed shakedown operations, she was commissioned on March 17, 2018 at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, CT. The Committee's purposes are to promote awareness within the state, provide support for the crew, and to help organize and raise money for the events surrounding commissioning.
On July 21st Committee Chair JJ Mackin was honored to join Congressman Ed Perlmutter and Colorado’s new Adjutant General, Major General Michael Loh, in honoring Vietnam-era veterans in a ceremony at Red Rock Community College. Over 50 veterans of every service we presented with Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins and a certificate. The veterans were joined by their families and seemed truly appreciative of the ceremony. This was the fifth such ceremony Congressman Perlmutter has organized. For more information visit Congressman Perlmutter’s Web Site. Photos courtesy of Congressman Perlmutter’s staff.
[Not a valid template]On June 23rd USS Colorado passed two significant milestones. First was Habitability milestone. That milestone means that the ship is acceptable for the crew to live on board and that the mess is now open. Earlier this week the pictures that John Fielder donated to the boat were installed in the crew’s mess area, so the ship is truly taking on the character of our state. The second milestone is “In Service” which means the crew is now responsible for the safety and security of the boat, damage control, and they man the in-port forward watches of Petty Officer of the Deck and other armed watchstanders. They will hold morning and evening colors and ringing on-board of senior officers (with the standard-issue bell for now).
These are significant achievements, one step closer to sea trials and to Commissioning!
Below are the John Fielder pictures installed in the Crew’s Mess and on the Serving Line.
[Not a valid template]In ceremonies at the State Capitol on June 5th, Governor Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 17-183, Support for USS Colorado Commissioning into law. The bill appropriates $100,000 to the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs to make grants for the purpose paying for expenses related to the commissioning of USS Colorado, promoting awareness of USS Colorado within the state; and to support the crew.
Twelve members of the committee and six sailors from the local Navy Recruiting District office were in attendance. One of the sailors, MMN1 Scott Gold, currently has orders to report to USS Colorado in September as a permanent member of the crew.
Those attending Included Sandie Bourassa, daughter of recently deceased WWII submarine Veteran Andy Palenchar. Andy was the sailor who pulled LTJG George H. W. Bush from the Pacific after the future President was shot down. Andy went on to serve as an officer in the Army, serving in Korea and two tours in Vietnam retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was an active participants in USS Colorado events here.
Also on display at the signing was the ship’s bell that will be on USS Colorado. The bell is a gift from the USS Colorado Battleship (BB45) Association to the submarine and cast by noted Colorado sculptor George Lundeen. The bell was rung in celebration upon the signing of the bill.
While this grant means that we have met our fundraising goal, we are still accepting donations. Money raised in excess of our obligations will go to a scholarship fund for crew’s families administered by the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation and will also help fund future crew visits to the state after commissioning.
[Not a valid template]On Friday September 25th, the Navy League Denver Council hosted a presentation about USS Colorado (SSN 788). The 75 attendees listened while CDR Ken Franklin called into the meeting from his home in Connecticut. He provided an update about the boat and the crew. He discussed recent construction status and the work of the crew to support shipyard operations and prepare for sea trials next year. He said that the crew had performed superbly in all their efforts to date. After his call, Committee Chair ‘JJ’ Mackin provided a presentation that included pictures from recent Committee events as well as plans for future events.
The Denver Council also presented awards to members of Sea Cadets as well as heard a presentation about their activities over the past year.
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