This one is just close to my heart - The Orange Mane

Swedish Extrovert · 03-23-2007, 08:27 PM

I'd just like to pay my own little farewell to one of the greatest warships ever, in the worlds finest Navy ever.

The USS John F. Kennedy has faithfully served her country for 39 years. Commissioned in 1968, it has landed aircraft in all major conflicts since. She was laid to rest today, and feelings of 'sublime melancholy' and major pride surged through my mind as over 5,000 VIP civilians in attendance and countless others on the beach enthusiastically applauded her crew.

I'm roasted after escorting media all day, but it was worth it.

Farewell to a ship that has been a cornerstone of the US Military for the last two generations. To prevent war, and maintain peace, a powerful American military presence must exist. The USS John F. Kennedy has been that presence.

President John F. Kennedy best said it himself when he addressed graduates of the United States Naval Academy on 1 August, 1963: "I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"

If you care, here is an article in the local media here - http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/t...?storyid=78434

A decommissioning really puts the power of this vessel in perspective... to think all the traps, and the battles, all those hard long nights as Sailors frantically - albeit composedly - labored about to complete countless missions. All the places that this great ship has been to. It's quite humbling and certainly exciting to think about.

Bronco Bob · 03-23-2007, 08:53 PM

Yep, retiring all those old carriers. They decommissioned my old ship,
the USS Constellation CV64, back in August 2003. At least she got to
go out fighting though, participating in the start of the Iraq war in March
2003 and launching 1500 sorties before heading back to the states in
April 2003.

Spider · 03-23-2007, 09:20 PM

Those Ships were bad ass ........ I dont know the name of it , but I saw one outside of San Diego , off in the horizon back in 95 , Damn thing looked like a monster from that distance...... very intimidating

W*GS · 03-23-2007, 11:47 PM

My brother was on the Big John back in the mid-70s... When it collided with the Belknap, amongst many other things...

I'll have to tell him.

03-23-2007, 08:27 PM	#1
Swedish Extrovert President of the Universe Formerly known as mightysmurf Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Highlands Ranch Posts: 14,959 Adopt-a-Bronco: Joel Dreesen	This one is just close to my heart I'd just like to pay my own little farewell to one of the greatest warships ever, in the worlds finest Navy ever. The USS John F. Kennedy has faithfully served her country for 39 years. Commissioned in 1968, it has landed aircraft in all major conflicts since. She was laid to rest today, and feelings of 'sublime melancholy' and major pride surged through my mind as over 5,000 VIP civilians in attendance and countless others on the beach enthusiastically applauded her crew. I'm roasted after escorting media all day, but it was worth it. Farewell to a ship that has been a cornerstone of the US Military for the last two generations. To prevent war, and maintain peace, a powerful American military presence must exist. The USS John F. Kennedy has been that presence. President John F. Kennedy best said it himself when he addressed graduates of the United States Naval Academy on 1 August, 1963: "I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'" If you care, here is an article in the local media here - http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/t...?storyid=78434 A decommissioning really puts the power of this vessel in perspective... to think all the traps, and the battles, all those hard long nights as Sailors frantically - albeit composedly - labored about to complete countless missions. All the places that this great ship has been to. It's quite humbling and certainly exciting to think about. Last edited by Swedish Extrovert; 03-23-2007 at 08:33 PM..

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03-23-2007, 08:53 PM	#2
Bronco Bob Tastee Freeze Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 9,464 Adopt-a-Bronco: Champ Bailey	Yep, retiring all those old carriers. They decommissioned my old ship, the USS Constellation CV64, back in August 2003. At least she got to go out fighting though, participating in the start of the Iraq war in March 2003 and launching 1500 sorties before heading back to the states in April 2003.

03-23-2007, 09:20 PM	#3
Spider Mr Diplomacy I survived Tebow Mania at the Mane Join Date: May 2001 Location: Elway was just an arm =MacGruder Posts: 84,438 Adopt-a-Bronco: Von Miller	Those Ships were bad ass ........ I dont know the name of it , but I saw one outside of San Diego , off in the horizon back in 95 , Damn thing looked like a monster from that distance...... very intimidating

03-23-2007, 11:47 PM	#4
W*GS Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 19,511	My brother was on the Big John back in the mid-70s... When it collided with the Belknap, amongst many other things... I'll have to tell him.