Flag Destined for USS Montana Presented During Montana Navy Week

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Noble | 170815-N-OL837-039 HELENA, Montana (15 Aug, 2017) Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton (center), presented a Montana state flag to Bill Whitsitt, President of the USS Montana Commissioning Committee (left) and Rear Adm. Michael Holland, U.S. Pacific Fleet Director, Maritime Headquarters (N03) during Montana Navy Week. The flag will eventually be flown aboard the USS Montana (SSN 794) once the submarine is commissioned in 2020. Since 2005, Navy Week programs have served as the principal outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, helping Americans understand that their Navy is deployed around the world, around the clock, ready to defend America at all times. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason Noble/Released)  

HELENA, MT, UNITED STATES

08.15.2017

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Noble 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

During a ceremony at the Montana State Capitol, Corey Stapleton, Montana Secretary of State, presented a Montana state flag flown at the capitol building to Bill Whitsitt, President of the USS Montana commissioning committee and Rear Adm. Michael Holland, U.S. Pacific Fleet Director, Maritime Headquarters (N03).

A Navy veteran, Secretary Stapleton, highlighted Montana’s large veteran population in his remarks, and said the ceremony almost made him want to get back out on the high seas.

"This is a great day for Sailors in Montana," said Whitsitt. "Our committee is excited for the future of the USS Montana crew and expect this to be the first of many gift presentations we will make to the USS Montana."

USS Montana (SSN 794) is currently under construction in Newport News, Va. and will be one of the most advanced submarines in the world when commissioned in 2020.

"It has been great to meet Corey and the members of the commissioning committee,” said Holland. “As a Montanan and a submariner, it is quite an honor to participate in a ceremony where the state presents the commissioning committee with a flag that will eventually be flown on the USS Montana."

Born and raised in Great Falls, Holland is the Flag host for Montana Navy Week.

"All Montanans are proud at having another ship named after the state on the heels of the USS Billings, and we continue to see great support of USS Helena," said Holland.

Montana Navy Week is scheduled for August 14 to 20, 2017, coinciding with the Montana Fair, and is designed to give area residents an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people and its role in ensuring national security and prosperity. The Montana communities of Billings, Bozeman and Helena are each hosting events during Navy Week.

The Navy Week program has served as the Navy's principal outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, helping Americans understand that their Navy is deployed around the world, around the clock, ready to defend America at all times. Since 2005, there have been over 200 Navy Weeks hosted by 75 different U.S. cities.

For a full schedule of events in Montana, visit http://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Montana/
For more news from the Navy Office of Community Outreach, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/navco/

• Date Taken: 08.15.2017
• Date Posted: 08.16.2017 19:12
• Story ID: 245104
• Location: HELENA, MT, US