In addition to the events on Saturday, the commissioning committee hosted a number of other events starting on Thursday. On Thursday evening they hosted a party for the crew featuring a New England clambake. About 500 of the crew, their families, former crew and Commissioning Committee attended. During the event the Commanding Officer, Commander Reed Koepp, presented dolphins to several of the ship’s crew and held a promotion ceremony for the new ship’s engineer, Derik Rothchild, to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. The Commissioning Committee took this opportunity to present plank owner plaques to the crew along with other gifts. The Committee donated to each crew member Spyder jackets embroidered with the ship’s crest, a coin set commemorating each of the key events in the ship’s construction, and a special silver coin minted with silver from Colorado.

On Friday a special brunch was held for the ship’s sponsor Annie Mabus and was hosted by Mrs. Mary Anne Pitts, wife of Rear Admiral Pitts, at their quarters on the Submarine Base. It was a small event, including her dad, former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, her Maid of Honor Jess Ladd, the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Chief of the Boat and their spouses. Representing Colorado were a few members of the Commissioning Committee as well as Larry Mizel, Chairman of Richmond American Homes Foundation, presenting sponsor for the committee events, Maj. Gen. Michael Lowe and his wife Diane, the Adjutant General of the State of Colorado.

In the afternoon another New England clambake was held for sponsors, major donors and special guests. The Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department on the Submarine Base did another fantastic job in serving this clambake. Approximately 400 people attended this event including Governor Hickenlooper, photographer John Fielder, sculptor George Lundeen, CEO of Left Hand Brewing, Eric Wallace, Annie Mabus and her dad, former Secretary of the Navy Mabus, Maj. Gen. Loh and Mrs. Loh and the veterans from battleship Colorado. During the day on Friday a number of people were given tours of the submarine.

That evening the Chairman’s Reception was held at the Mystic Marriott Hotel. There were about 400 people present to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine supplied by our Colorado sponsors. During the reception, Steffan Tubbs broadcast live on 710KNUS to his audience in Colorado as he interviewed members of the crew, Committee and other in attendance, including Governor Hickenlooper. To start off the program the Electric Boat singing group, the Subtones, sang several songs related to Colorado with a backdrop of John Fielder’s Colorado landscape photographs. Several sponsors and individuals presented gifts to the ship, including Julianne Hish who presented a stained-glass replica of the ship’s crest. The Commissioning Committee also presented several gifts including exercise equipment donated by TRX company and a special plaque with a challenge to the crew from battleship veterans that will be mounted in the boat. All the battleship veterans present joined onstage to present a specially engraved ship’s bell created by sculptor George Lundeen on behalf of the BB-45 Association.

Overall the activities of Commissioning Week were a memorable, once in a lifetime experience. All present seemed to overwhelmingly enjoy the events.