The commander and I have talked about the ship's trip schedule and where I might be able to join them. McCurry turned to Cmdr. Danzig said the Navy and Marine Corps are about relationships. As a relatively declining number of Americans have experience in military service, one problem we have is how we relay a sense of military experience to the public. This was the beginning of the Navy's Honorary Members Program.
Distinguished civilians become honorary members of a crew or a unit.
It works two ways. The honorary members visit the ship or unit and speak with the crew. Other notables to be initiated soon are author Maya Angelou, San Diego Padres owner Larry Luchino, soccer star Mia Hamm, futurist Peter Schwartz, financier Dennis Bovin, football star Chad Hennings, and retired Marine Corps colonel and television star Ed McMahon. Miss. Iwo Jima became the second amphibious warship named to honor the enduring legacy of the heroic participants who fought and dedicated their lives to the United States in the February 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. James Bradley, son of Petty Officer Second Class John H. Bradley, delivered the ceremony's principal address.