On Monday December 14, Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont hosted the four visiting crew members to a VIP tour of their brewery after the school visits.  The sailors tasted some of the Left Hand beers, and then were hosted to dinner at a local restaurant. The brewery delivered the sailors back to their hotel in Denver in their special Left Hand Brewing stretch limousine.

Left Hand Brewing is planning on having on having limited release USS Colorado beer issued around the occasions of both the ship’s Christening and Commissioning.  A portion of the profits from those sales will be donated to the USS Colorado Committee Commissioning Fund.

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On Monday afternoon the crew members visited two local schools. Master Chief Brett Jackson and YN2 James Brown visited Ricardo Flores Magon Academy in Denver. MM1 Ryan Zabka  They spoke to 383 students,  Kindergarten through 8th grade. The students loved the idea of a Colorado boat, and they asked numerous, interesting questions. The COB showed a DVD which included pictures of subs and many of the crews activities since they started.

MM2 Derrick Altenburger visited Red Hawk Elementary School in Erie where they spoke to over 100 students about USS Colorado and answered numerous questions from the students about life on a submarine.

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STSSN (Sonar Technician Submarines Seaman) Brayden Kane of Brighton, Colorado was awarded his submarine dolphins in ceremonies in the Rotunda of the State Capitol on Monday December 14th. Dolphins are the Submarine Warfare Insignia and are awarded when a sailor meets rigorous requirements to learn all the systems throughout the submarine and pass a qualification board. Seaman Kane requested that his ceremony be held in Colorado so that his family could attend.

Committee Chairman and Retired Submarine Captain John Mackin officiated the ceremony. Brigadier General Michael Willis of the Colorado National Guard provided welcoming remarks on behalf of the State. World War II submarine veteran Andy Palenchar pinned the dolphins on SN Kane. Andy served on USS Finback (SS 230) during the war and helped rescue future President George H. W. Bush when he was shot down in the Pacific. Andy joined the Army reserve after the war and was called to active duty for the Korean War and served until 1978 serving two tours in Vietnam. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. PCU Colorado shipmates participated in the ceremony as well. Chief of the Boat Brett Jackson provide remarks about Seaman Kane and assisted Andy in pinning the Dolphins on. MM1 Ryan Zabka read a story of World War II submarine operations.

Gene Naegel of the Rocky Mountain Base of the United States Submarine Veterans organization presented Seaman Kane with the traditional submarine veterans vest and a membership in the Base.

News crew from Channel 9 were there to cover the event. Here is a link to their coverage:USS Colorado Seaman Honored at State Capitol

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Some pictures of the lunch afterward

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On Monday December 15th the four USS Colorado submariners were interviewed on air by Channel 9’s Cheryl Preheim. They discussed construction of the Submarine and preparations to go to sea. See the interview here;

Channel 9 Interview

Some pictures at the studio:

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