Welcome

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.

USS Colorado Crewmembers to visit Denver

22. November 2015 · Comments Off on USS Colorado Crewmembers to visit Denver · Categories: Crew VIsit

Five sailors from USS Colorado will visit the state on December 13th through the 15th. Four will be here to be honored as “Bronco Country Heroes” during halftime of the Broncos-Raiders game on the 13th. Participating in this event will be Chief of the Boat, ETCM Brett Jackson along with MM1 Ryan Zabka, YN2 James Brown and MM2 Derrick Altenburger.

The fifth sailor, STSSN Brayden Kane of Brighton, Colorado has just met all the requirements to earn his submarine dolphins, the submarine warfare insignia. He is coming to Colorado in order to have his Dolphin Award ceremony here so that his family may attend. The ceremony is planned for 10 AM on Monday December 14th in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. WWII Submarine Veteran Andy Palenchar will present the Dolphins with submarine sailors and veterans in attendance.

During the visit the sailors will make several school visits and be available for media interviews. On Tuesday evening, December 15th there will be a reception in their honor. More details of this event to follow.

First USS Colorado Ship’s Bell Unveiled at CU on Veteran’s Day

17. November 2015 · Comments Off on First USS Colorado Ship’s Bell Unveiled at CU on Veteran’s Day · Categories: Ship's Bell

In ceremonies held on Veteran’s Day, the University Memorial Center at CU Boulder unveiled the ship’s bell from the first USS Colorado which was commissioned in 1858 and saw service in the Civil War. The 832 Pound bell arrived on the day before from the Navy History and Heritage Command in Virginia.

The bell has a unique history. It was also used on the second USS Colorado (ACR 7) commissioned in 1905. That vessel was renamed USS Pueblo in 1916 to allow the name to be used for the battleship USS Colorado. In addition the bell was used aboard the USS Puritan (BM-1) (1896-1910) prior to being used aboard the USS Colorado (ARC-7), The Puritan was a Monitor class ship that served during the Spanish-American War and the 2nd of 5 ships called the USS Puritan. The bell was removed from the USS Pueblo in August or September 1931 during scrapping and transferred to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL for display. The bell was transferred to the Navy History Center (now called Naval History and Heritage Command) in November of 2004 until it was transferred to CU Boulder.

The annual Veterans Day Ceremony featured remarks by Major George “Chip” Jones, USMC (Ret). Also speaking were University Chancellor DiStefano and Congressman Jared Polis. After the ceremony in the Glen Miller Ballroom a reception was held in a nearby room the new bell proudly on display. USS Colorado Commissioning Committee had a table with merchandise for sale and a model of SSN 788 by model maker and retired Navy E-9, Jon Sorenson.

With the acquisition of the new bell, the University will be expanding the University Memorial Center to accommodate it. Currently the center has the bell and helm from the battleship Colorado, a 40 inch model of the ship and plaques honoring CU alumni who lost their lives in the service of our country.

For more information about CU University Memorial Center Please Visit www.colorado.edu/umc/about/veterans

 

[Not a valid template]

Original USS Colorado Ship’s Bell Coming to Colorado

05. November 2015 · Comments Off on Original USS Colorado Ship’s Bell Coming to Colorado · Categories: Ship's Bell
USS Colorado Ship's Bell

USS Colorado Ship’s Bell

Research by our Committee and friends revealed that the ship’s bell from the original 3 masted steam frigate USS Colorado was stored by the US Navy’s Heritage and History Command at a warehouse in Virginia. Additionally that bell was also used on the second USS Colorado (ACR 7).

The University of Colorado at Boulder has been designated as the official repository of memorabilia from the battleship USS Colorado (BB 45) which saw service in World War II. Currently that bell along with the helm and other items are on display at the University Memorial Center (UMC) on campus.

After discovery of the existence of the first bell, the university initiated a request to have the bell loaned by the navy to the UMC to accompany the battleship’s bell. After a number of emails on the subject, the Navy has agreed to the loan and is shipping the bell to Colorado.

The bell weighs 832 pounds and measures 42″W x 34.5″H x 35.5″D.

The bell is departing Virginia area tomorrow and, barring any unforeseen road delay, is scheduled to arrive in time for Veteran’s Day.

Rocky Mountain Region Celebrates the 240th Birthday of the U. S. Navy

30. October 2015 · Comments Off on Rocky Mountain Region Celebrates the 240th Birthday of the U. S. Navy · Categories: Uncategorized

More than 200 guests joined in the time honored naval tradition of celebrating the Navy’s Birthday. The annual U.S. Navy Birthday Ball was hosted by the Navy League of the United States Colorado Springs Council on October 10, 2015. This Rocky Mountain Region gala was held at the elegant Antlers Hilton in downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to marking the 240th birthday of the Navy, the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Navy Reserve was honored with the theme of “Ready Then. Ready Now. Ready Always.”

The semi-formal evening kicked off with a lively hour of socializing. Guests had the opportunity to greet friends and learn about the fleet’s newest fast attack submarine that is the state’s namesake, USS Colorado (SSN- 788). Information and mementos of the boat were available for the party goers. A focal point was a lighted ice sculpture of a ship’s anchor. The Widefield High School NJROTC Honor Guard presented the colors.

ADM Bill Gortney, Commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM, was the guest speaker. His remarks to the audience centered upon the integration of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Navy Reserve. He thanked those in attendance for their service to the nation and recognized the youngest personnel present for their devotion to duty.

Following the remembrance of missing and departed comrades in arms, champagne toasts were made to the Commander in Chief and the services. Then guests enjoyed the ceremonial cutting of the Navy birthday cake. At the age of 102, LT James “Jim” Downing, USN (Ret), was honored as the most senior Navy serviceman present. He is one of the oldest known survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and is a Colorado Springs Council member. At age 18, Hospitalman Apprentice VanEsselstine was the youngest sailor at the celebration and enlisted in 2015. With ADM Gortney and CAPT Bethke cheering them on, LT Downing and HA VanEsselstine cut the birthday cake with the Navy sword.

The planning and execution of the annual U.S. Navy Birthday Ball is a collaboration between the Navy League of the United States Colorado Springs Council and many organizations. The Mile High Tailhook Association, the Rocky Mountain Navy CPO and PO Associations, active duty personnel representing local Navy elements and commands, the USS Colorado (SSN-788) Commissioning Committee, and businesses including O’Donnell & O’Donnell, Copy Experts, Dream Quest Photography, and Colorado’s Morning News on 850KOA are commended for their contributions to this special celebration. Next year’s Navy Ball is planned for October 15th, 2016.

[Not a valid template]

Ship’s Crest Design Finalized

20. October 2015 · Comments Off on Ship’s Crest Design Finalized · Categories: Ship's Crest

The winning entry in the Ship’s Crest Design Contest held earlier this year was LTJG Michael Nielsen of Arvada, Colorado who is now assigned to the crew of Colorado. Since reporting to the boat, he has worked with the command to make several enhancements to the design before it is finalized. The final Ships’s Crest design is shown below. Some of the modification from the original include:

  • The shape of the crest was made taller to make it more coin and patch friendly.
  • Inclusion of seven stars to signify the seven battle stars earned by the Battleship Colorado (BB 45) in World War II.
  • Modifying the Latin phrase to “Terra Marique Indomita” which means “By land and sea, untamed”. In this form the Latin implies that Colorado, or the “spirit” embodied by the name (the state, the vessel, the past vessels, the people), is untamed by either land or sea.
  • The submarine was updated to look more realistic and added in a slight wake around it to highlight the reflection as being water and give the appearance of ship movement.
  • Detail was improved in the mountains to improve realism.
  • The sun was given a stronger gradient to give it a better appearance of the sun resting on the horizon just over the mountains, this in order to emphasize the ties with the state’s natural beauty and the beauty of technological prowess that is USS Colorado.
USS Colorado Ship's Crest

USS Colorado Ship’s Crest

« Older articles
Newer articles »