The Keel Laying Ceremony for COLORADO (SSN 788) was held on Saturday March 7 at General Dynamics Electric Boat Quonset facility in North Kingston, RI. It was a great event! A number of speakers paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of the shipbuilders of Electric Boat and Newport News as well as the officers and crew of COLORADO. The ship’s sponsor Annie Mabus was introduced by her father, Ray Mabus Secretary of the Navy. She gave a heartfelt speech expressing her gratitude and appreciation for the honor and her happiness at being part of the Navy family. There were a number of attendees from Colorado. Secretary of State Wayne Williams was the official representative from the state and presented a state flag to the Commanding Officer, CDR Ken Franklin.
Also in attendance from Colorado were former State Senator Bernie Herpin and former State Representative Spence Swalm, co-sponsors of the USS Colorado License Plate Bill, Jared and Jonathan Veteto, owners of Cogitic, a submarine parts manufacturer in Colorado Springs and sponsors of the Ship’s Crest Design Contest, Committee member Dana Plewka of the Denver Post and Committee Chair JJ Mackin.
We will post pictures as we receive them from Electric Boat.The New London Day posted several pictures of the ceremony as well as an article about the event. Navy.mil has posted a picture and Electric Boat has an online video of the ceremony.
Pictures of the program for the Keel Laying are below.
Click here to see more pictures from the Keel Laying Ceremony
