USS Constitution Not to Set Sail Until 2018
The crew of USS Constitution embarked on their final Boston Harbor underway demonstration aboard Old Ironsides this year, Oct. 17. Constitution set out into the harbor for her fifth and final underway of 2014 at 10 a.m. with more than 600 guests in attendance aboard America's 'Ship of State.' The guest list, made up of individuals and organizations with long-standing ties of support to both the ship and the Navy, featured Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a Boston Pops quintet and the Dropkick Murphys, one of Boston's most popular hometown bands. This was the historic warship's final Boston Harbor cruise until 2018, as she is scheduled to enter dry dock in March 2015 for a three-year planned restoration period.
Fourth Joint High Speed Vessel Named
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus joined Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to announce that the name of the Department of the Navy's fourth Joint High Speed Vessel will be USNS Fall River (JHSV 4), during a brief ceremony at Heritage State Park on the Fall River waterfront. "The Fall River represents the physical embodiment of the City of Fall River's patriotic spirit," said Mabus, "and the dedication of the thousands of young men and women from this city who have worn and continue to wear the uniform of our country all over the world." USNS Fall River will be the second ship to hold the name of the city. The first, USS Fall River, was a Baltimore-class heavy cruise ship commissioned in 1945 and used largely on training missions.
