Name CVN78 USS America

A new flagship for America! 

Gerald R. Ford

38th President

January 21,
2007

Twenty months ago we finally came to the sad realization that the
United States Navy had deliberately sunk our nations namesake,
ex-USS AMERICA CV66.  Shortly thereafter, ex-AMERICA veterans as
well as other veterans and citizens came together in a grassroots
effort to name the Navy’s next aircraft carrier, CVN78, the
USS AMERICA. 

We wish to acknowledge and thank our fellow shipmates and
supporters for the thousands of letters and petition signatures we
collected in our efforts to name CNV78 the USS AMERICA.  On Tuesday
January 16, 2006, at a ceremony held at the Pentagon in Washington
D.C., Navy Secretary Donald Winter officially named CVN78 the
USS Gerald R. Ford. 

While we were not successful in our initiative to honor our ship,
we are currently contemplating a new strategy to name a future Navy
ship the AMERICA as a commitment to our belief that the name
"AMERICA" belongs on an American Navy ship. 

Despite our two great disappointments, not being allowed the
opportunity to turn ex-America into a museum dedicated to naval
aviation, and, the naming of CVN78, it is a comfort to know that
CVN78 owes a great deal to the sacrifice of our ship.  It was the
explosives / damage testing ultimately leading to the demise of
ex-AMERICA that will go towards the design and construction of
CVN78 USS Gerald R. Ford.  The information extracted from ex-America
will make CVN78 a stronger more survivable platform than any of her
predecessors. 

In a magnanimous gesture, President Ford's daughter, Susan
Ford-Bales, acknowledged the contribution made by AMERICA and her
crew as indicated by her naming ceremony remarks below;

“As we
gather here today for the naming of CVN78, let me first say to
Senator Levin and Senator Warner, thank you for your tireless
effort in making the naming ceremony a reality.  And thank you for
your unceasing support for our men and women in
uniform. 

The
naming of the CVN78 the USS Gerald R. Ford represents more than
assigning a name to a naval vessel.  There is now a unique bond
between CVN78 and its new namesake.  The permanence of dads name and
his new legacy is forever instilled in this new vessel and the men
and women who will someday occupy her decks.  It is that special
bond that gives our family great pride. 

The
USS Gerald R. Ford also shares a unique bond with another ship and
her crew.  As many of you know, several years ago the USS AMERICA
was towed into the Atlantic Ocean and then sunk in a series of
tests to verify critical components of the CVN78 carrier program. 
Those tests were essential to maximize the survivability of the
future carrier fleet of the CVN78. 

The
USS AMERICA and her proud crew set a magnificent example patriotism
and unwavering service in the United States Navy, and now their
valor lives on in the spirit of the USS Gerald R. Ford.  And for
that gift, and for their service, we are deeply grateful to the
AMERICA and her crew.” 

I would like to
congratulate the Ford family on this new honor that has been
bestowed upon former President Gerald R. Ford.  CVN78 is going to be
a great ship and with much of her future crew current
ly in grade
school or high school, our future will undoubtedly sail with
her!