WEBVTT 00:00.040 --> 00:02.040 Good morning ladies and gentlemen , 00:02.040 --> 00:03.984 welcome to the venice of America . 00:03.984 --> 00:06.096 Beautiful Fort Lauderdale florida and 00:06.096 --> 00:07.873 the commissioning of the city's 00:07.873 --> 00:10.207 namesake ship . The USs Fort Lauderdale . 00:10.207 --> 00:12.096 I'm Commander robert Foster , the 00:12.096 --> 00:14.040 ship's executive officer and is my 00:14.040 --> 00:13.900 privilege to be your master of 00:13.900 --> 00:16.390 ceremonies . Today we're here today to 00:16.390 --> 00:18.501 commission the 12th san Antonio class 00:18.501 --> 00:20.668 amphibious transport dock ship and the 00:20.668 --> 00:22.668 first ship to proudly bear the name 00:22.668 --> 00:24.890 Fort Lauderdale . Our ceremony today is 00:24.890 --> 00:26.890 a time honored tradition that began 00:26.890 --> 00:28.890 with the commissioning of our first 00:28.890 --> 00:31.112 warship captured British Schooner , the 00:31.112 --> 00:32.946 Margarita in 1775 . Since then , 00:32.946 --> 00:35.057 thousands of ships have undergone the 00:35.057 --> 00:37.057 transformation from silent holes to 00:37.057 --> 00:38.557 fully alive warships . Our 00:38.557 --> 00:40.668 commissioning crew hereafter known as 00:40.668 --> 00:42.723 plant owners , are information among 00:42.723 --> 00:42.550 you and ready to bring the ship alive . 00:43.640 --> 00:45.640 In just a few moments the ship Navy 00:45.640 --> 00:47.696 Band Southeast will render honors to 00:47.696 --> 00:49.973 the honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz . 00:51.140 --> 00:53.307 Will the guests please rise and remain 00:53.307 --> 00:55.084 standing for the arrival of our 00:55.084 --> 00:56.751 official party honors and the 00:56.751 --> 00:58.973 presentation of colors and the national 00:58.973 --> 01:00.973 anthem . Ladies and gentlemen , our 01:00.973 --> 01:04.430 official party in our audience are 01:04.430 --> 01:06.670 maids of honor , MS charlotte burger , 01:06.680 --> 01:09.210 Miss molly messing and Miss Catherine 01:09.210 --> 01:10.210 messing . 01:13.240 --> 01:16.380 On the Diaz Lieutenant William Daniel , 01:16.380 --> 01:18.640 Junior chaplain Corps , United States 01:18.640 --> 01:19.150 Navy 01:25.640 --> 01:27.530 Commander , Christopher Matassa , 01:27.540 --> 01:31.080 United States Navy LPD 17 Class Program 01:31.080 --> 01:33.302 managers . Representative supervisor of 01:33.302 --> 01:34.960 shipbuilding gulf coast . 01:37.240 --> 01:39.400 Captain Cedric McNeil , United States 01:39.400 --> 01:41.770 Navy amphibious warfare Program Manager , 01:49.040 --> 01:51.440 MS Linell Sasser are long glass 01:51.440 --> 01:52.440 presenter . 02:01.140 --> 02:03.720 MS Patricia du Mont chairperson . Uss 02:03.720 --> 02:06.053 Fort Lauderdale commissioning committee . 02:13.200 --> 02:15.520 MS Kari Wilkinson . President ingalls 02:15.520 --> 02:16.520 shipbuilding , 02:25.240 --> 02:27.470 Rear admiral thomas J . Anderson , 02:27.480 --> 02:29.610 United States Navy program Executive 02:29.610 --> 02:30.730 officer ships . 02:36.240 --> 02:38.600 The honorable Lamar fisher . Vice Mayor 02:38.610 --> 02:39.999 Broward county florida . 02:49.140 --> 02:51.400 The honorable Dean Trantalis . Mayor , 02:51.410 --> 02:53.299 City of Fort Lauderdale florida . 03:02.140 --> 03:04.360 Admiral Daryl Caudle , United States 03:04.360 --> 03:06.510 Navy Commander , U . S . Fleet Forces 03:06.510 --> 03:08.399 Command Commander , U . S . Naval 03:08.399 --> 03:10.740 Forces . Northern Command Commander , U . 03:10.740 --> 03:12.796 S . Naval Forces Strategic Command . 03:15.240 --> 03:16.240 Okay , 03:21.240 --> 03:23.780 General eric M . Smith , United States 03:23.780 --> 03:26.002 Marine Corps . The assistant commandant 03:26.002 --> 03:27.224 of the Marine Corps , 03:36.440 --> 03:38.990 The Honourable Carlos del Toro The 78th 03:38.990 --> 03:40.940 Secretary of the Navy . Yeah , 03:48.840 --> 03:50.729 ladies and gentlemen , our ship's 03:50.729 --> 03:52.951 sponsor . The honorable MEREDITH burger 03:52.951 --> 03:54.896 escorted today by command . Master 03:54.896 --> 03:57.062 Chief James Magee , United States Navy 03:57.170 --> 03:59.226 Uss Fort Lauderdale . Command Master 03:59.226 --> 04:00.226 Chief , 04:18.540 --> 04:20.484 ladies and gentlemen the honorable 04:20.484 --> 04:22.373 Debbie Wasserman Schultz , United 04:22.373 --> 04:24.540 States Representative State of florida 04:24.540 --> 04:26.762 23rd district escorted today by Captain 04:26.762 --> 04:29.270 James Corsi mO , United States Navy Uss 04:29.270 --> 04:31.326 Fort Lauderdale Commanding Officer . 04:31.740 --> 04:32.740 Right , 04:53.140 --> 04:55.196 ladies and gentlemen , honors to the 04:55.196 --> 04:57.251 honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz . 04:59.550 --> 05:02.540 Platform and salute . 05:23.440 --> 05:26.450 Platform . Ready two 05:33.700 --> 05:34.867 advance the colors . 05:39.840 --> 05:42.150 Right , okay . 05:52.300 --> 05:54.160 Platform and salute . 06:03.940 --> 06:04.940 Mhm . 06:27.740 --> 06:28.740 Mhm . 06:34.240 --> 06:35.240 Mhm . 06:37.840 --> 06:38.260 Mhm . 06:48.140 --> 06:48.460 Mhm 07:26.240 --> 07:29.040 retire the colors . Yeah . 07:30.440 --> 07:31.440 Yeah . 07:46.640 --> 07:50.050 Platform ready to Yeah , 07:51.740 --> 07:52.740 yeah . 07:55.540 --> 07:57.707 Ladies and gentlemen , chaplain Daniel 07:57.707 --> 07:59.596 will now deliver the invocation . 08:06.140 --> 08:08.560 Good morning . Let us pray . 08:11.540 --> 08:14.680 Holy Father . We have arrived this week 08:14.690 --> 08:17.120 in ways of care and concern , 08:17.130 --> 08:20.230 obligation and experience from various 08:20.230 --> 08:22.580 homelands and odysseys that are now 08:22.580 --> 08:24.880 crashing upon this one vessel of 08:24.880 --> 08:27.560 american diplomacy and forged steel . 08:28.040 --> 08:31.260 We have paused now to honor you 08:31.940 --> 08:33.773 though our times and affairs and 08:33.773 --> 08:37.110 concerns churn and change in the stormy 08:37.120 --> 08:39.750 basin of human nature . You're ever 08:39.750 --> 08:42.610 faithful and true graciously guiding 08:42.610 --> 08:44.980 and providing for those who love and 08:44.980 --> 08:47.980 follow you . And so holy Father . We 08:47.980 --> 08:49.980 specifically thank you for bringing 08:49.980 --> 08:52.180 together the many hands that have 08:52.180 --> 08:54.080 skillfully crafted and dutifully 08:54.080 --> 08:56.760 supported this gorgeous gray lady 08:57.880 --> 09:00.460 Road in glory . 09:02.440 --> 09:05.490 All flowing from the vision of the late 09:05.490 --> 09:07.260 senior chief chuck black . 09:09.340 --> 09:11.451 Now please road captain Course , Emma 09:11.451 --> 09:13.630 Commander Foster and command master 09:13.630 --> 09:17.580 Chief McGee , our chief's mess and 09:17.580 --> 09:21.030 wardroom in your truth and wisdom as 09:21.030 --> 09:23.470 neither resources nor right . Safeguard 09:23.480 --> 09:26.760 the human heart from temptation or evil . 09:27.340 --> 09:30.640 Please bond us all together as one Navy 09:30.650 --> 09:33.750 Marine Corps and family team for lives 09:33.750 --> 09:36.340 of service and mission that please you 09:36.350 --> 09:39.060 bless our homeland and bring honor to 09:39.060 --> 09:42.980 our families as together we fight under 09:42.980 --> 09:46.870 the name of Uss Fort Lauderdale . Amen . 09:48.340 --> 09:51.030 Thank you chaplain Daniel . We would 09:51.030 --> 09:53.086 like to thank elder Carolyn Thompson 09:53.086 --> 09:54.919 and the ceremonial dances of the 09:54.919 --> 09:56.974 chickasaw nation for the blessing of 09:56.974 --> 09:59.197 the ship and traditional stomp dance as 09:59.197 --> 10:01.363 well as the Navy and Southeast and the 10:01.363 --> 10:03.419 Fort Lauderdale Squadron , Sea Cadet 10:03.419 --> 10:03.090 Color Guard for their support this 10:03.090 --> 10:05.090 morning . Additionally , we wish to 10:05.090 --> 10:07.146 thank and acknowledge the support of 10:07.146 --> 10:09.312 Port Everglades and the Broward County 10:09.312 --> 10:11.257 Sheriff's office . Will the guests 10:11.257 --> 10:13.190 please be seated , Ship's Company 10:13.570 --> 10:14.960 Parade Rest . 10:17.940 --> 10:19.996 Ladies and gentlemen , the honorable 10:19.996 --> 10:20.960 Dean Trantalis . 10:28.740 --> 10:31.060 Good morning everybody . Welcome to 10:31.060 --> 10:33.500 Fort Lauderdale . Thank you all for 10:33.500 --> 10:35.444 being here today . My name is Dean 10:35.444 --> 10:38.050 Trantalis and very honored to be the 10:38.050 --> 10:40.161 mayor of the city at this very , very 10:40.161 --> 10:42.328 historic occasion of the commissioning 10:42.328 --> 10:44.494 of the USs Fort Lauderdale , beautiful 10:44.494 --> 10:48.490 ship . Right so distinguished guests . 10:48.750 --> 10:51.460 Secretary del Rio , Secretary burger , 10:52.340 --> 10:55.020 Captain James Kerr Asimo . The entire 10:55.020 --> 10:57.980 crew of the ship Debbie Wasserman 10:57.980 --> 11:00.091 Schultz are wonderful congresswoman . 11:00.091 --> 11:02.880 Vice Mayor Lamar Fisher . I thank you 11:02.880 --> 11:04.880 all for being here this morning and 11:04.880 --> 11:06.880 welcoming the beginning of this new 11:06.880 --> 11:10.170 journey on behalf of our great city is 11:10.170 --> 11:12.520 my privilege to welcome us S Fort 11:12.520 --> 11:15.970 Lauderdale here today , after six years , 11:15.970 --> 11:18.137 it was first announced that the Navy's 11:18.137 --> 11:20.490 newest amphibious transport dock would 11:20.490 --> 11:23.310 be named after our city . The USS Fort 11:23.310 --> 11:25.390 Lauderdale is now ready to serve our 11:25.390 --> 11:29.000 nation . This ceremony is a momentous 11:29.000 --> 11:31.056 occasion , not just for the military 11:31.056 --> 11:33.510 but for the almost 200,000 people who 11:33.510 --> 11:36.140 call Fort Lauderdale their home and 11:36.150 --> 11:38.090 this is the first time the city's 11:38.090 --> 11:40.120 namesake is being designated for 11:40.120 --> 11:43.010 service . But Fort Lauderdale is no 11:43.010 --> 11:45.600 stranger to the demands of maintaining 11:45.600 --> 11:48.370 our freedoms . A legacy of service to 11:48.370 --> 11:50.537 America can be traced to the beginning 11:50.537 --> 11:53.360 of our city , Fort Lauderdale is named 11:53.370 --> 11:56.410 after U . S . Army Major William 11:56.420 --> 11:58.364 Lauderdale from the namesake forts 11:58.364 --> 12:00.531 built in the area in the 19 and excuse 12:00.531 --> 12:03.600 me in the 18 thirties again during 12:03.600 --> 12:05.767 world war two , Fort Lauderdale became 12:05.767 --> 12:07.989 a major site of operations for the Navy 12:07.989 --> 12:10.070 and the Coast Guard . A base was 12:10.070 --> 12:12.237 established here at Port Everglades to 12:12.237 --> 12:14.570 support the Guard and Naval Air station . 12:14.570 --> 12:16.514 Fort Lauderdale was built to train 12:16.514 --> 12:18.590 pilots radar operators where Fort 12:18.590 --> 12:20.812 Lauderdale Executive airport now stands 12:20.812 --> 12:23.960 just up the road now . Following the 12:23.970 --> 12:26.081 four years of unyielding construction 12:26.081 --> 12:27.970 in months of rigorous testing and 12:27.970 --> 12:30.026 trials , the US says Fort Lauderdale 12:30.026 --> 12:32.210 will roar into life , beginning a new 12:32.210 --> 12:34.580 chapter in our city and the Navy's 12:34.590 --> 12:38.350 history . It has taken the time and 12:38.350 --> 12:40.128 dedication of hundreds , if not 12:40.128 --> 12:42.470 thousands of individuals to bring us to 12:42.470 --> 12:45.060 this moment . Well , I would be remiss 12:45.060 --> 12:47.230 if I did not acknowledge the work of 12:47.230 --> 12:49.341 the Navy League of Broward County and 12:49.341 --> 12:52.040 the United States . The late community 12:52.040 --> 12:55.480 leader and navy veteran Charles chuck 12:55.490 --> 12:58.400 black . The US has Fort Lauderdale 12:58.400 --> 13:00.900 commissioning committee , shipbuilders 13:00.900 --> 13:03.290 Huntington's ingalls Former Mayor Jack 13:03.290 --> 13:05.234 Seiler for all the work you did in 13:05.234 --> 13:07.346 bringing this together and the former 13:07.346 --> 13:09.580 Secretary of the Navy , Ray Davis 13:10.840 --> 13:13.210 Captain Core Asimo , As you and your 13:13.210 --> 13:16.060 crew embark on your mission guided by 13:16.060 --> 13:19.050 the motto . Together we fight , I know 13:19.050 --> 13:21.272 that the enduring american spirit , the 13:21.272 --> 13:23.383 same everlasting force that has built 13:23.383 --> 13:25.494 and defended this country , will lead 13:25.494 --> 13:27.910 you to victory in these unsettled times 13:27.910 --> 13:30.040 around the globe . This imperative 13:30.050 --> 13:33.560 cannot be understated as american 13:33.560 --> 13:35.616 freedoms and its peoples must remain 13:35.616 --> 13:37.880 vigilant , both at home and as a beacon 13:37.880 --> 13:40.160 to others who seek to emulate us 13:40.940 --> 13:42.996 through the merits of your service . 13:42.996 --> 13:45.218 The officers and crew of the USs . Fort 13:45.218 --> 13:47.273 Lauderdale will operate this cutting 13:47.273 --> 13:49.496 edge vessel with the level of expertise 13:49.496 --> 13:51.551 required to overcome any challenge , 13:51.551 --> 13:54.200 Your call to meet so on this special 13:54.200 --> 13:57.030 day . I welcome the USs Fort Lauderdale 13:57.030 --> 13:59.120 to the fleet and I wish you all who 13:59.120 --> 14:02.080 sail her fair winds and friendly seas . 14:02.090 --> 14:04.368 May God bless our servicemen and women . 14:04.640 --> 14:06.640 The city of Fort Lauderdale and its 14:06.640 --> 14:09.960 people , its leaders , its institutions 14:10.070 --> 14:12.570 and indeed may God bless America . 14:12.580 --> 14:16.520 Thank you everybody . Yeah , thank you 14:16.520 --> 14:19.590 Mayor Tantalus . Ladies and gentlemen , 14:19.730 --> 14:21.160 Miss Kari Wilkinson , 14:25.540 --> 14:27.960 Good morning ! What a gorgeous day to 14:27.960 --> 14:30.440 do something like this . So I will be 14:30.440 --> 14:32.900 breathed . I stand here this morning , 14:32.910 --> 14:35.130 a grateful shipbuilder With the 14:35.130 --> 14:37.352 privilege of representing the more than 14:37.352 --> 14:40.560 11,300 angle shipbuilders in 14:40.560 --> 14:43.730 Pascagoula Mississippi . What an honor 14:43.730 --> 14:46.010 it is to be here today . Invited to the 14:46.010 --> 14:48.177 commissioning of the Fort Lauderdale , 14:48.177 --> 14:51.100 LPD 28 . I must also express what an 14:51.100 --> 14:53.280 honor it is to be keeping such company 14:53.280 --> 14:55.860 here today . It is humbling to be 14:55.860 --> 14:58.250 standing on this platform , to each of 14:58.250 --> 15:00.361 you , to everyone in the audience and 15:00.361 --> 15:02.472 to all of our resilient and steadfast 15:02.472 --> 15:04.660 Fort Lauderdale sailors and marines . 15:05.040 --> 15:07.690 Thank you for having us here today . As 15:07.690 --> 15:09.746 shipbuilders . We are a community of 15:09.746 --> 15:11.890 diverse , passionate and tenacious 15:11.890 --> 15:14.720 people with sincere purpose and an 15:14.720 --> 15:16.887 important mission to build great ships 15:16.887 --> 15:18.720 for our nation and for those who 15:18.720 --> 15:20.720 dedicate their lives to protect our 15:20.720 --> 15:23.120 freedoms . Shipbuilding is a people , 15:23.120 --> 15:25.030 business and our collective 15:25.030 --> 15:27.820 participation here today reinforces the 15:27.820 --> 15:30.030 importance of the connection we share 15:30.040 --> 15:32.207 with one another in this way of life . 15:32.740 --> 15:35.020 That connection is important and I am 15:35.020 --> 15:37.242 beyond proud to be standing in front of 15:37.242 --> 15:39.242 this ship to represent and speak on 15:39.242 --> 15:41.690 behalf of those who built her people 15:41.690 --> 15:43.912 from every part of this country , bring 15:43.912 --> 15:45.857 their best selves to work each and 15:45.857 --> 15:47.801 every day to make a ship like this 15:47.801 --> 15:50.150 become a reality not just the 15:50.150 --> 15:52.206 shipbuilders at ingalls , but all of 15:52.206 --> 15:54.440 our suppliers and industry and customer 15:54.440 --> 15:57.480 partners . Everyone on this team 15:57.490 --> 15:59.212 leverages essential and unique 15:59.212 --> 16:01.920 abilities to design , estimate , 16:01.930 --> 16:04.780 engineer plan , procure fit , weld 16:04.780 --> 16:07.630 installed , test and ultimately deliver 16:07.640 --> 16:10.050 a ship that is so much more than just a 16:10.050 --> 16:13.400 product . And just like the extended 16:13.410 --> 16:15.466 shipbuilding family that built her . 16:15.940 --> 16:18.410 Her crew has come from all corners of 16:18.410 --> 16:20.970 our country to provide their very best 16:20.980 --> 16:23.202 to the Navy and Marine Corps . In order 16:23.202 --> 16:25.369 to protect and preserve our ideals and 16:25.369 --> 16:28.100 freedoms , it is a privilege to have 16:28.100 --> 16:30.156 been on this journey thus far and to 16:30.156 --> 16:32.350 provide this ship the focus of our 16:32.350 --> 16:34.630 professional and oftentimes very 16:34.630 --> 16:36.630 personal lives for the past several 16:36.630 --> 16:39.470 years , More than 10,000 of our angle 16:39.470 --> 16:41.820 shipbuilders touched this ship over the 16:41.820 --> 16:43.764 course of her life . To this point 16:44.140 --> 16:46.450 cutting and shaping thousands of raw 16:46.450 --> 16:49.190 steel plates , pulling and connecting 16:49.190 --> 16:51.430 millions of feet of cable and 16:51.430 --> 16:54.260 installing hundreds and thousands of 16:54.260 --> 16:56.790 feet of pipe And with nearly a million 16:56.790 --> 16:59.300 and a half discrete parts and pieces of 16:59.300 --> 17:01.450 equipment provided by more than 500 17:01.450 --> 17:04.190 suppliers across this great nation , I 17:04.190 --> 17:06.412 can say firsthand that this industry is 17:06.412 --> 17:08.412 indeed a partnership even before we 17:08.412 --> 17:10.750 forge our most important partnerships 17:10.750 --> 17:12.972 with the crew that will ultimately call 17:12.972 --> 17:15.530 her home . I believe I speak for our 17:15.530 --> 17:17.710 entire network . When I say how proud 17:17.710 --> 17:20.110 we are as a community , as we see this 17:20.110 --> 17:22.750 ship come to life under the command and 17:22.750 --> 17:25.560 care of America's best and brightest , 17:26.040 --> 17:28.040 knowing we have served you and will 17:28.040 --> 17:30.550 continue to do so Together we fight . 17:31.740 --> 17:33.796 We believe this ship is destined for 17:33.796 --> 17:35.950 greatness and your angle shipbuilders 17:35.950 --> 17:38.061 are proud to be a part of this legacy 17:38.061 --> 17:40.540 with you , A very special to you for 17:40.540 --> 17:43.560 thanks for welcoming us here today as I 17:43.560 --> 17:45.727 offered at our christening not so very 17:45.727 --> 17:47.690 long ago , a sincere and open 17:47.700 --> 17:50.140 outstretched hand to the crew of the 17:50.140 --> 17:52.700 soon to be uss Fort Lauderdale . We are 17:52.700 --> 17:55.290 here to support you , your families and 17:55.290 --> 17:57.346 your mission . We thank you for your 17:57.346 --> 18:00.150 service , your sacrifice and your 18:00.150 --> 18:02.206 steadfast commitment to our nation . 18:02.206 --> 18:06.080 Thank you . Thank you 18:06.080 --> 18:08.640 Miss Wilkins . Ladies and gentlemen , 18:08.650 --> 18:10.770 general , general eric smith . 18:16.940 --> 18:19.400 Hey , good morning . It is , it is a 18:19.410 --> 18:21.480 genuinely good day . I'm supposed to 18:21.480 --> 18:23.970 buy protocol . Call out each of the 18:23.970 --> 18:25.914 individuals up here on stage . I'm 18:25.914 --> 18:27.859 going to skip with that . That's a 18:27.859 --> 18:30.081 little bit of dicey proposition because 18:30.081 --> 18:32.081 one of them is my boss's boss , but 18:32.081 --> 18:34.137 he's a deck plate sailor and I think 18:34.137 --> 18:33.310 he's gonna let me get away with that 18:33.310 --> 18:35.310 this morning because there's only , 18:35.310 --> 18:37.310 there's only two V . I . P . S here 18:37.310 --> 18:39.366 that I'd like to talk about . one is 18:39.366 --> 18:41.520 the people of Fort Lauderdale And two 18:41.530 --> 18:43.863 is the crew of this magnificent warship . 18:50.440 --> 18:52.607 A lot of us don't have homes anymore . 18:52.607 --> 18:54.718 We've been in this business for 20 or 18:54.718 --> 18:56.940 30 or 35 years . We haven't been home . 18:56.940 --> 18:58.884 So in a place like Fort Lauderdale 18:58.884 --> 19:01.330 welcomes you and lets it be your home . 19:01.340 --> 19:03.650 That means something to us for those 18 19:03.650 --> 19:05.706 1920 year old sailors and marines at 19:05.706 --> 19:07.817 your seat behind you that'll man this 19:07.817 --> 19:09.890 vessel and bring her to life . It is 19:09.890 --> 19:12.057 greatly appreciated . You can smell it 19:12.057 --> 19:13.723 as soon as you walk into Fort 19:13.723 --> 19:16.057 Lauderdale . But it's a welcoming place . 19:16.057 --> 19:18.223 So today there's really just two kinds 19:18.223 --> 19:17.610 of people . There's people from Fort 19:17.610 --> 19:19.610 Lauderdale and people who wish they 19:19.610 --> 19:21.054 were in Fort Lauderdale . 19:25.040 --> 19:26.929 There's actually a subset of that 19:26.929 --> 19:29.630 second category which is people who are 19:29.630 --> 19:31.630 going to just say they're from Fort 19:31.630 --> 19:33.852 Lauderdale and I'm part of that today . 19:33.852 --> 19:35.908 But you don't hold that against me . 19:35.908 --> 19:38.241 The second piece , the second V . I . P . 19:38.241 --> 19:40.352 Is this magnificent crew . The vessel 19:40.352 --> 19:42.352 is fantastic , but the crew is what 19:42.352 --> 19:43.463 brings it to life . 19:49.140 --> 19:53.000 So from Captain Q . Down to command 19:53.000 --> 19:55.910 master Chief McGee to the most junior 19:55.910 --> 19:58.240 marine and sailor . They're owed our 19:58.240 --> 20:00.690 thanks because we don't pay them a lot . 20:00.700 --> 20:02.811 We work them hard and they're willing 20:02.811 --> 20:04.922 to go out and defend our constitution 20:04.922 --> 20:06.922 and defend your way of life and lay 20:06.922 --> 20:09.144 their lives down for you and they won't 20:09.144 --> 20:08.460 blink an eye by doing it . 20:17.980 --> 20:19.980 They come from every corner of this 20:19.980 --> 20:22.036 country and they're the best that we 20:22.036 --> 20:24.780 have and they are truly phenomenal . So 20:24.790 --> 20:27.240 when we talk about this crew and talk 20:27.240 --> 20:29.129 about this ship , I get to do the 20:29.129 --> 20:31.520 marine part very briefly , there's a 20:31.520 --> 20:33.990 saying that says nobody likes to fight , 20:34.000 --> 20:36.500 but somebody has to know how that's 20:36.500 --> 20:39.790 actually not our case for marines . We 20:39.790 --> 20:42.760 are ready to fight . And together we 20:42.760 --> 20:44.816 fight with this ship . And when it's 20:44.816 --> 20:46.930 fully ready to go , you'll see attack 20:46.940 --> 20:48.773 helicopters , you'll see assault 20:48.773 --> 20:50.607 support helicopters , You'll see 20:50.607 --> 20:52.662 landing craft , air cushion , you'll 20:52.662 --> 20:54.607 see landing craft , utility , high 20:54.607 --> 20:56.718 mobility artillery , rocket systems . 20:56.718 --> 20:58.718 You'll see intelligence operators , 20:58.718 --> 21:00.940 you'll see the ability to do everything 21:00.940 --> 21:03.107 that this ship needs to do . It is the 21:03.107 --> 21:05.162 Swiss army knife of the fleet . It's 21:05.162 --> 21:05.010 highly sought after . It is a national 21:05.010 --> 21:07.010 strategic asset that will be on the 21:07.010 --> 21:09.066 water for 40 years . It's a Navy and 21:09.066 --> 21:10.843 Marine Corps asset , but it's a 21:10.843 --> 21:12.843 national asset . And you're getting 21:12.843 --> 21:15.010 every bit of your money's worth out of 21:15.010 --> 21:14.980 this vessel for the next 40 years . And 21:14.980 --> 21:17.091 I've been doing this for 35 years and 21:17.091 --> 21:19.202 I've seen this ship or one that looks 21:19.202 --> 21:22.310 just like her whose strike lethal blows 21:22.310 --> 21:24.770 our adversaries in Syria and Iraq and 21:24.770 --> 21:27.240 Afghanistan . And I've seen a ship just 21:27.240 --> 21:29.410 like this one , evacuate americans out 21:29.410 --> 21:32.240 of Liberia and Albania and Lebanon and 21:32.240 --> 21:34.462 I've seen it bring aid to our allies in 21:34.462 --> 21:36.629 the Philippines Bangladesh and Haiti . 21:36.940 --> 21:39.107 This is the swiss army knife . We need 21:39.107 --> 21:41.700 it . Lieutenant General Dave Bell and 21:41.700 --> 21:43.930 Commander Marine Forces South said in a 21:43.940 --> 21:46.440 recent christening . We fight so hard 21:46.450 --> 21:48.394 for these ships because we have to 21:48.394 --> 21:51.420 fight from these ships . And this is a 21:51.420 --> 21:53.770 warship and that makes war less likely 21:53.770 --> 21:56.200 for us as americans . So to the people 21:56.200 --> 21:57.922 of Fort Lauderdale and to this 21:57.922 --> 22:00.256 magnificent crew of sailors and marines . 22:00.256 --> 22:02.422 Thanks for what you do the birthdays . 22:02.422 --> 22:04.422 You'll miss the birth . That you'll 22:04.422 --> 22:06.644 miss the anniversaries . You'll miss on 22:06.644 --> 22:08.700 our behalf . We are grateful . Thank 22:08.700 --> 22:11.220 you all simplified Ellis . Okay , thank 22:11.220 --> 22:13.490 you . General smith . Ladies and 22:13.490 --> 22:16.270 gentlemen . The honorable carla Stelter . 22:22.140 --> 22:25.810 Good morning Fort Lauderdale . Before I 22:25.810 --> 22:28.040 begin my official speech , five minutes 22:28.040 --> 22:30.207 standing in there about ready to begin 22:30.207 --> 22:32.373 the ceremony , I turned to the chaps . 22:32.373 --> 22:34.429 I said chaps , we got five minutes . 22:34.429 --> 22:36.540 Can you please play pray for a breeze 22:36.540 --> 22:38.596 and some shade . And I want to thank 22:38.596 --> 22:41.230 the chaps for coming through . And the 22:41.230 --> 22:45.090 Good Lord too . What a great 22:45.100 --> 22:47.156 day for our United States , Navy and 22:47.156 --> 22:49.378 Marine Court . What a great day for the 22:49.378 --> 22:51.044 great city and people of Fort 22:51.044 --> 22:53.378 Lauderdale . General smith at McConnell . 22:53.378 --> 22:55.322 General Richardson . Thank you for 22:55.322 --> 22:57.322 honoring us with your presence here 22:57.322 --> 22:59.600 today . I'd like to take a very brief 22:59.610 --> 23:01.777 moment to introduce someone who's very 23:01.777 --> 23:03.777 special to us . Very special to the 23:03.777 --> 23:06.090 United States , Ambassador of Macaron . 23:06.590 --> 23:08.920 Would you please stand Thank you for 23:08.920 --> 23:12.360 being with us here today and more so 23:12.840 --> 23:14.951 for your leadership during these very 23:14.951 --> 23:17.118 trying times for your nation , Ukraine 23:18.240 --> 23:19.860 our entire country , 23:32.740 --> 23:35.140 our entire country along with all the 23:35.150 --> 23:37.690 free and democratic nations around the 23:37.690 --> 23:39.880 world . Stand with you and Ukraine . 23:39.890 --> 23:41.723 Thank you and Madam Ambassador , 23:41.840 --> 23:44.200 Assistant Secretary burger . Thank you 23:44.200 --> 23:46.256 for serving a sponsor for this great 23:46.256 --> 23:48.478 vital warship . It's indeed an honor to 23:48.478 --> 23:50.589 serve with you in the pentagon as the 23:50.589 --> 23:52.756 acting undersecretary as the assistant 23:52.756 --> 23:54.756 secretary and now a sponsor of this 23:54.756 --> 23:56.811 great ship as well too , Congressman 23:56.811 --> 23:58.922 Schultz , Mayor Trantalis and all the 23:58.922 --> 24:00.867 leaders here today . Thank you for 24:00.867 --> 24:02.811 welcoming us to this beautiful and 24:02.811 --> 24:04.867 historic city . As we've said before 24:04.867 --> 24:06.811 during World War two . Many of the 24:06.811 --> 24:08.756 pilots who won the skies over both 24:08.756 --> 24:10.811 europe and the pacific trained right 24:10.811 --> 24:12.978 here , as was said by the mayor and it 24:12.978 --> 24:14.978 was a marine from Fort Lauderdale . 24:14.978 --> 24:17.144 Second Lieutenant William Willis , who 24:17.144 --> 24:19.367 earned the navy cross for his valor and 24:19.367 --> 24:21.200 his leadership in the amphibious 24:21.200 --> 24:23.033 assault on the pacific island of 24:23.033 --> 24:25.033 Peleliu . I just returned yesterday 24:25.033 --> 24:27.144 from touring the into pacific for the 24:27.144 --> 24:29.200 legacy of those World War two heroes 24:29.200 --> 24:31.440 continues in the peace and prosperity 24:31.450 --> 24:33.620 of that vast region . I had the honor 24:33.620 --> 24:35.564 of meeting with our allies and our 24:35.564 --> 24:37.731 partners in Singapore Thailand and the 24:37.731 --> 24:40.360 Philippines . They remember clearly how 24:40.360 --> 24:42.471 our sailors and our marines fought to 24:42.471 --> 24:44.304 help bring freedom to the in the 24:44.304 --> 24:46.527 pacific and they understand the need to 24:46.527 --> 24:48.720 defend that freedom today in the face 24:48.720 --> 24:50.942 of rising aggression from authoritarian 24:50.942 --> 24:53.600 states like china and Russia , we must 24:53.600 --> 24:55.860 stand with our allies and partners to 24:55.860 --> 24:58.510 defend the sea lanes and the shorelines 24:58.520 --> 25:00.576 with a credible and versatile allied 25:00.576 --> 25:02.560 force . During my trip , I joined 25:02.560 --> 25:04.727 leaders from across the pacific at the 25:04.727 --> 25:07.810 kickoff of rim of the pacific 2022 The 25:07.810 --> 25:10.110 world's largest international maritime 25:10.110 --> 25:13.670 exercise right now , over 25,000 25:13.670 --> 25:16.520 personnel on 38 ships . Three 25:16.520 --> 25:19.430 submarines from 26 nations continue 25:19.430 --> 25:21.486 working together to sharpen the edge 25:21.486 --> 25:23.652 and strengthen our combined integrated 25:23.652 --> 25:25.874 deterrents that the common alluded to . 25:25.874 --> 25:27.986 It was inspiring to see firsthand the 25:27.986 --> 25:29.850 level of cooperation and skill 25:29.870 --> 25:33.000 exhibited across our allied and partner 25:33.010 --> 25:36.410 force in all of my interactions with 25:36.410 --> 25:38.577 our allies and partners . It was clear 25:38.577 --> 25:40.521 how much they valued the agility , 25:40.521 --> 25:42.580 persistence versatility of our 25:42.580 --> 25:45.420 amphibious ships . I can assure you 25:45.430 --> 25:47.319 that the performance of the Mount 25:47.319 --> 25:49.374 Whitney the curse . It's the Gunston 25:49.374 --> 25:51.541 hall and the Baltic operating with our 25:51.541 --> 25:53.840 allies as one force spoke louder than 25:53.840 --> 25:55.951 ever regarding our commitment to NATO 25:56.250 --> 25:58.380 and our partner nations in europe and 25:58.380 --> 26:01.510 elsewhere . Our amphibious platforms . 26:01.520 --> 26:04.270 These ships indeed send a strong 26:04.270 --> 26:06.310 message to our friends and our 26:06.310 --> 26:08.330 potential adversaries that we are 26:08.330 --> 26:10.900 prepared to always maintain the peace 26:10.910 --> 26:13.130 and respond with forests from the sea 26:13.140 --> 26:16.280 when needed . As general smith detailed 26:16.290 --> 26:17.957 the speed , the lethality and 26:17.957 --> 26:20.280 capabilities of L . P . D . S like fort 26:20.280 --> 26:22.650 Lauderdale increase our capability to 26:22.650 --> 26:26.140 operate in any contestant or disaster 26:26.140 --> 26:28.900 stricken environment . Now to the 26:28.900 --> 26:30.789 sailors and marines who will sell 26:30.789 --> 26:33.011 overboard . The Fort Lauderdale , thank 26:33.011 --> 26:35.067 you and your families in advance for 26:35.067 --> 26:37.178 the service that you will fulfill and 26:37.178 --> 26:39.289 sacrifices that you will endure . And 26:39.289 --> 26:41.456 I'd like to ask all the family members 26:41.456 --> 26:43.622 of this crew to please stand up and be 26:43.622 --> 26:43.270 recognized 26:56.540 --> 26:58.207 the moment that we bring this 26:58.207 --> 27:00.429 amphibious transport dock to life . You 27:00.429 --> 27:02.151 will strengthen the integrated 27:02.151 --> 27:04.151 deterrence capability of our entire 27:04.151 --> 27:06.860 joint force . Revolutionary War . 27:06.860 --> 27:09.580 Captain john paul jones once said I 27:09.580 --> 27:11.770 wish to have no connection with any 27:11.770 --> 27:14.360 ship that does not sell fast for I 27:14.360 --> 27:17.810 intend to go in harm's way . Today's 27:17.810 --> 27:19.810 marines and sailors share that same 27:19.810 --> 27:21.977 intention . They are ready and willing 27:21.977 --> 27:23.921 to go in harm's way whenever their 27:23.921 --> 27:26.530 nation calls . It is our collective 27:26.540 --> 27:28.930 duty to ensure that they have the most 27:28.930 --> 27:32.800 agile ready capabilities possible . And 27:32.800 --> 27:34.911 that is why I am so grateful to every 27:34.911 --> 27:37.133 member of the team that brought us here 27:37.133 --> 27:39.189 today . From the shipbuilders to the 27:39.189 --> 27:41.078 plank owners , to our partners in 27:41.078 --> 27:44.030 Congress and most importantly to you , 27:44.030 --> 27:46.560 the american people for supporting our 27:46.560 --> 27:48.800 sailors , our marines , our Department 27:48.800 --> 27:51.133 of the Navy , our Department of Defense . 27:51.133 --> 27:52.967 We cannot thank you enough . The 27:52.967 --> 27:55.022 american people for the support that 27:55.022 --> 27:57.078 you provide our military . Thank you 28:02.040 --> 28:04.470 And I'm deeply thankful that one of our 28:04.480 --> 28:06.970 greatest congressional leaders is here 28:06.970 --> 28:09.110 today as chair of the house 28:09.110 --> 28:11.540 appropriations subcommittee on military 28:11.540 --> 28:14.360 construction and veterans Affairs . She 28:14.360 --> 28:17.040 has worked tirelessly on behalf of our 28:17.040 --> 28:19.820 military personnel , our veterans and 28:19.820 --> 28:21.709 their families and I have seen it 28:21.709 --> 28:23.950 personally throughout her career . She 28:23.950 --> 28:26.780 has fought for justice , equality and 28:26.780 --> 28:29.270 opportunity for all americans . She has 28:29.270 --> 28:31.437 been a staunch advocate for government 28:31.437 --> 28:33.780 reform , environmental responsibility 28:33.800 --> 28:36.060 and global leadership on climate change 28:36.440 --> 28:38.440 and it was her partnership with the 28:38.440 --> 28:40.384 late senior chief chuck black that 28:40.384 --> 28:42.384 helped decide the selection of Fort 28:42.384 --> 28:44.718 Lauderdale as the namesake of this ship . 28:44.718 --> 28:46.884 And thank you Secretary Mavis for that 28:46.884 --> 28:49.280 decision . So it is now my pleasure to 28:49.280 --> 28:51.391 introduce representative of florida's 28:51.391 --> 28:52.970 23rd congressional district 28:52.980 --> 28:55.258 congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz , 29:02.240 --> 29:04.590 Mr Secretary , thank you so much for 29:04.590 --> 29:06.970 that , very meaningful and kind 29:06.970 --> 29:09.830 introduction and welcome to Fort 29:09.830 --> 29:12.860 Lauderdale in front of the U . S . S . 29:12.860 --> 29:15.940 Fort Lauderdale , this is such an 29:15.940 --> 29:18.680 incredibly momentous occasion for our 29:18.680 --> 29:21.980 community . Um I think if you look 29:21.980 --> 29:24.970 around at the folks who helped make 29:24.970 --> 29:27.710 sure that we could reach this day , it 29:27.710 --> 29:30.870 isn't impossible to wipe the smiles off 29:30.870 --> 29:34.580 of the faces of the folks who dreamt of 29:34.590 --> 29:38.060 this day , who who fought for this day 29:38.540 --> 29:40.620 and who helped make this really 29:40.620 --> 29:42.700 incredible honor for our community , 29:43.840 --> 29:46.570 the ultimate , the ultimate possibility . 29:46.570 --> 29:48.848 And and we're just absolutely thrilled . 29:48.848 --> 29:51.230 I'm I'm thrilled to be able to be here 29:51.230 --> 29:54.270 today as your principal speaker . Um 29:54.740 --> 29:57.018 I'm trying to wrap my mind around that . 29:57.018 --> 30:00.420 You know , even in a personal aside , 30:00.430 --> 30:03.350 um it's just an honor to stand with 30:03.360 --> 30:06.370 those and stand up for those who defend 30:06.370 --> 30:09.480 our nation because today we officially 30:09.480 --> 30:11.647 commissioned the USS Fort Lauderdale , 30:11.647 --> 30:13.820 the navy's newest san Antonio class 30:13.820 --> 30:16.600 ship . It is an exciting day for the 30:16.600 --> 30:18.822 crew and their families who have such a 30:18.822 --> 30:20.878 critical job to do in protecting our 30:20.878 --> 30:23.160 nation . The USS Fort Lauderdale is a 30:23.160 --> 30:25.216 reminder of the special relationship 30:25.216 --> 30:27.216 between the sailors and marines who 30:27.216 --> 30:29.271 will work hand in hand on board this 30:29.271 --> 30:32.040 ship to complete thousands of missions 30:32.040 --> 30:34.590 to come and commander and to our 30:34.590 --> 30:36.930 sailors and and and marines that are 30:36.930 --> 30:40.150 going to make sure that you represents 30:40.160 --> 30:41.993 our community each and every day 30:41.993 --> 30:45.580 proudly . We are so thankful . That is 30:45.580 --> 30:48.330 why the ship's motto together we fight 30:48.370 --> 30:51.080 is so fitting . I'm proud of Fort 30:51.080 --> 30:53.191 Lauderdale's rich naval history and I 30:53.191 --> 30:55.247 will ask you all to indulge me for a 30:55.247 --> 30:57.480 few minutes while I share some 30:57.480 --> 30:59.660 additional highlights . Fort 30:59.660 --> 31:01.950 Lauderdale's ties to the US Navy dates 31:01.950 --> 31:05.440 back to the early 1830s . The first 31:05.440 --> 31:08.370 Navy troops in florida reinforced Major 31:08.370 --> 31:10.440 William Lauderdale's army troops who 31:10.440 --> 31:12.607 were stationed along the north bank of 31:12.607 --> 31:14.662 the new river where they constructed 31:14.662 --> 31:17.160 the first Fort Lauderdale . The city of 31:17.170 --> 31:18.892 Fort Lauderdale also became an 31:18.892 --> 31:21.059 important naval training center during 31:21.059 --> 31:23.170 world war two . Radar gunnery and 31:23.170 --> 31:25.170 parachuting schools operated at the 31:25.170 --> 31:27.170 naval air station Fort Lauderdale . 31:27.170 --> 31:29.580 That site today serves as Fort 31:29.580 --> 31:31.636 Lauderdale , Hollywood International 31:31.636 --> 31:33.636 Airport at Dania Beach , although I 31:33.636 --> 31:35.810 hear the T . S . A lines were a bit 31:35.810 --> 31:39.670 shorter back then . In addition , 31:42.040 --> 31:45.980 in addition what I read it , I don't 31:45.980 --> 31:49.610 necessarily write it . In addition 31:49.620 --> 31:52.150 West Prospect Airfield known today as 31:52.150 --> 31:54.317 Fort Lauderdale exit Executive Airport 31:54.320 --> 31:56.487 was an important training facility for 31:56.487 --> 31:58.530 naval aviators including former 31:58.530 --> 32:01.320 President George H . W . Bush naming 32:01.320 --> 32:03.431 this ship to Fort Lauderdale not only 32:03.431 --> 32:05.153 recognizes the city's longtime 32:05.153 --> 32:06.876 commitment to the Navy and its 32:06.876 --> 32:08.987 distinguished role in naval history , 32:08.987 --> 32:11.150 but it also honors the thousands of 32:11.150 --> 32:13.770 retired Navy sailors who call Fort 32:13.770 --> 32:15.870 Lauderdale and our surrounding areas 32:15.870 --> 32:18.070 home as your representative in 32:18.070 --> 32:20.237 Washington . I will continue to use my 32:20.237 --> 32:22.880 voice and my vote to ensure that you , 32:22.890 --> 32:25.200 your families and all military members 32:25.200 --> 32:27.311 have the tools and resources you need 32:27.311 --> 32:29.760 to successfully do your job protecting 32:29.770 --> 32:32.220 and defending our nation . And let me 32:32.220 --> 32:35.930 just give an important shout out to 32:35.930 --> 32:38.890 Secretary MEREDITH burger who I have 32:38.890 --> 32:42.890 known since before she was an adult and 32:42.890 --> 32:46.820 who I am so proud is the ship's sponsor 32:46.830 --> 32:50.160 and does a remarkable job even when 32:50.160 --> 32:51.938 she's testifying in front of my 32:51.938 --> 32:54.160 subcommittee and we don't necessarily a 32:54.160 --> 32:56.710 great , but that only happens 32:56.710 --> 32:59.170 occasionally . So mazel tov to you . I 32:59.170 --> 33:01.970 am so proud of you and I know that your 33:01.970 --> 33:04.400 family is beaming here in the front row 33:04.400 --> 33:06.840 and proud as well . You see my 33:06.840 --> 33:09.062 subcommittee is responsible for funding 33:09.062 --> 33:11.284 the infrastructure at our basis and the 33:11.284 --> 33:13.396 entire budget for the V . A system as 33:13.396 --> 33:15.173 well as our military cemeteries 33:15.173 --> 33:17.173 nationwide worldwide and our battle 33:17.173 --> 33:19.340 monuments . It's the only subcommittee 33:19.340 --> 33:21.451 in the Congress that makes policy and 33:21.451 --> 33:23.507 provides funding for the entire life 33:23.507 --> 33:25.562 cycle of an individual servants from 33:25.562 --> 33:27.618 their time in the military . So when 33:27.618 --> 33:29.618 they leave to join the ranks of our 33:29.618 --> 33:31.729 nation's veterans . In fact , we just 33:31.729 --> 33:33.673 passed a partial budget out of the 33:33.673 --> 33:35.507 house for fiscal year 2023 which 33:35.507 --> 33:37.673 includes the funding for this critical 33:37.673 --> 33:39.920 subcommittee . We steer $15.1 billion 33:39.920 --> 33:41.531 dollars to critical military 33:41.531 --> 33:43.587 infrastructure like new barracks and 33:43.587 --> 33:45.809 child development centers and we ensure 33:45.809 --> 33:48.120 family housing is clear of mold , lead 33:48.120 --> 33:50.790 and contaminants . We invest in climate 33:50.800 --> 33:52.744 and energy resilience projects and 33:52.744 --> 33:55.030 devote $200 million dollars to fast 33:55.040 --> 33:56.760 contamination cleanup at old 33:56.760 --> 33:59.710 installations . The quality of life of 33:59.710 --> 34:02.410 our servicemen and women is our top 34:02.420 --> 34:04.580 priority . We increased funding for 34:04.580 --> 34:06.247 NATO security and support the 34:06.247 --> 34:08.302 infrastructure necessary for wartime 34:08.302 --> 34:10.700 peace and deterrence operations . It is 34:10.700 --> 34:12.500 vital that we bolster training 34:12.500 --> 34:14.389 requirements to confront Russia's 34:14.389 --> 34:16.520 growing aggression and truly protect 34:16.520 --> 34:19.560 our european allies . Ambassador . It 34:19.560 --> 34:21.727 really is an honor to have you join us 34:21.727 --> 34:23.893 today in our community and our country 34:23.893 --> 34:25.893 stands with the people of Ukraine . 34:26.440 --> 34:28.607 Thank you so much for honoring us with 34:28.607 --> 34:32.170 your presence today critically . Our 34:32.170 --> 34:34.281 bill will improve the quality of life 34:34.281 --> 34:36.392 on military installations for service 34:36.392 --> 34:38.281 members and their families and it 34:38.281 --> 34:38.280 honors their service by making sure 34:38.280 --> 34:40.570 that after leaving the military , our 34:40.570 --> 34:42.681 veterans receive the care and support 34:42.681 --> 34:46.540 they have earned . Now it's 34:46.540 --> 34:50.120 my honor . I hope To make three brief 34:50.130 --> 34:53.190 presentations to honor the city of Fort 34:53.190 --> 34:55.468 Lauderdale and the ship named after it . 34:55.468 --> 34:57.634 I present Fort Lauderdale . Mayor Dean 34:57.634 --> 35:00.700 Trantalis with this flag which I had 35:00.710 --> 35:03.110 flown over the United States capitol in 35:03.110 --> 35:04.943 honor of this special occasion . 35:25.440 --> 35:26.773 But wait , there's more 35:29.940 --> 35:31.996 to the women and men of the USs Fort 35:31.996 --> 35:34.051 Lauderdale and honor your service on 35:34.051 --> 35:36.107 this magnificent vessel and for your 35:36.107 --> 35:38.273 service to our nation . I present this 35:38.273 --> 35:40.162 flag flown over the United States 35:40.162 --> 35:41.996 capitol in honor in honor of the 35:41.996 --> 35:44.107 special occasion to commander James , 35:44.107 --> 35:45.107 chorizo mo 35:55.040 --> 35:56.040 They want us to 36:16.530 --> 36:18.419 okay , I think I might need to go 36:18.419 --> 36:21.850 faster . Today's commissioning ceremony 36:22.430 --> 36:25.290 would not have been possible without 36:25.300 --> 36:28.160 the years long effort of chuck black . 36:28.930 --> 36:31.097 After serving in the Navy for 20 years 36:31.097 --> 36:33.360 Chuck made Fort Lauderdale his home In 36:33.360 --> 36:36.120 March 2016 the US Navy announced it 36:36.120 --> 36:38.400 would name a ship after the city and 36:38.400 --> 36:41.840 tragically we lost chuck that july 36:42.530 --> 36:44.530 in honor of the work he did to make 36:44.530 --> 36:46.530 this happen and everything that our 36:46.530 --> 36:49.030 community fought so hard to achieve . 36:49.040 --> 36:51.096 To accomplish this day , I'd like to 36:51.096 --> 36:53.318 present this flag flown over the United 36:53.318 --> 36:55.540 States capitol to chuck's wife , Lynn L 36:55.540 --> 36:55.540 Sasso , 37:27.230 --> 37:29.008 thank you for that indulgence . 37:31.130 --> 37:33.380 I know my support for the military is 37:33.380 --> 37:35.324 unwavering and I am so honored and 37:35.324 --> 37:37.269 proud to be a part of this special 37:37.269 --> 37:39.102 moment where we will add another 37:39.102 --> 37:40.880 chapter to the unique history , 37:40.880 --> 37:43.102 tradition , friendship and respect that 37:43.102 --> 37:45.213 we have established with the Navy and 37:45.213 --> 37:47.269 the community of Fort Lauderdale . I 37:47.269 --> 37:49.324 will always stand by all our service 37:49.324 --> 37:51.380 members and veterans and honor those 37:51.380 --> 37:53.436 who continue to serve as well as the 37:53.436 --> 37:55.324 memories of our fallen and to the 37:55.324 --> 37:57.380 commander and the remarkable crew of 37:57.380 --> 37:59.491 the USs Fort Lauderdale . I pledge to 37:59.491 --> 38:01.713 you that I will stand with you each and 38:01.713 --> 38:04.540 every day as together we fight . Thank 38:04.540 --> 38:06.707 you so much and congratulations to our 38:06.707 --> 38:08.651 community and to the United States 38:08.651 --> 38:07.950 Major . 38:14.720 --> 38:16.942 How about another round of applause for 38:16.942 --> 38:19.053 the chaplain for that little Sprinkle 38:22.720 --> 38:24.960 ladies and gentlemen , it is now my 38:24.960 --> 38:27.200 distinct honor as the Secretary of the 38:27.200 --> 38:29.410 Navy and on behalf of the President of 38:29.410 --> 38:32.080 the United States , I hereby place the 38:32.080 --> 38:34.530 United States ship , Fort Lauderdale 38:34.540 --> 38:37.270 into commission May God bless and guide 38:37.280 --> 38:39.900 this mighty worship and all the brave 38:39.910 --> 38:42.250 women and men who shall sail in her 38:42.520 --> 38:44.076 captain . Congratulations . 38:59.220 --> 39:02.340 It was a well placed little bit of rain 39:02.340 --> 39:04.673 shower to cool us off . Thank you again . 39:08.620 --> 39:10.564 Thank you . Secretary Del Toro for 39:10.564 --> 39:12.731 placing us in the commission executive 39:12.731 --> 39:14.620 officer , hoist the colors in the 39:14.620 --> 39:16.840 commission pennant , aye , aye , sir . 39:18.220 --> 39:21.710 Ship's company attention . The 39:21.710 --> 39:23.599 Commission pin it in professional 39:23.599 --> 39:25.821 national navies began to take form late 39:25.821 --> 39:28.043 in the 17th century . All ships at that 39:28.043 --> 39:29.988 time were sailing ships and it was 39:29.988 --> 39:32.043 often difficult to tell a naval ship 39:32.043 --> 39:34.154 from a merchant man . Navies began to 39:34.154 --> 39:36.321 adopt long narrow pennants to be flown 39:36.321 --> 39:38.488 by their ships at the main mast head , 39:38.488 --> 39:37.990 to distinguish themselves from merchant 39:37.990 --> 39:40.212 ships . The commission pennant will fly 39:40.212 --> 39:41.934 continuously until the ship is 39:41.934 --> 39:44.157 decommissioned . Ladies and gentlemen , 39:44.157 --> 39:46.268 please rise , I direct your attention 39:46.268 --> 39:48.212 to the ship's mast as we hoist the 39:48.212 --> 39:49.990 colors and commission pennant . 39:51.320 --> 39:53.320 Quartermaster poison the colors and 39:53.320 --> 39:55.700 commission pennant . I , sir , 40:07.510 --> 40:08.510 yeah , 40:13.310 --> 40:15.366 captain . The colors and commissions 40:15.366 --> 40:17.366 are flying proudly over us , esport 40:17.366 --> 40:18.754 Lauderdale . Very well . 40:22.110 --> 40:24.443 Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 40:26.310 --> 40:28.340 I will now read my orders from 40:28.340 --> 40:30.507 commander , Naval personnel command to 40:30.507 --> 40:32.507 Captain James , Fortissimo , United 40:32.507 --> 40:34.507 States Navy subject cooper's orders 40:34.507 --> 40:37.890 number 9580 of one april 2020 . When 40:37.890 --> 40:40.001 directed by reporting senior detached 40:40.001 --> 40:42.001 from present duty and report to pre 40:42.001 --> 40:44.223 commissioning unit Fort Lauderdale . As 40:44.223 --> 40:46.446 commanding officer . Upon commissioning 40:46.446 --> 40:48.612 of Uss Fort Lauderdale report for duty 40:48.612 --> 40:50.900 as commanding officer . Admiral Kado , 40:50.910 --> 40:53.021 United States ship Fort Lauderdale is 40:53.021 --> 40:55.240 in commission and I am in command . 41:07.810 --> 41:10.670 Executive officer set the watch II , 41:10.670 --> 41:11.200 Sir . 41:23.410 --> 41:23.830 Oh , 44:07.590 --> 44:08.868 ships comedy at east . 44:38.490 --> 44:39.490 Okay , 44:54.490 --> 44:56.110 ship's company attention 45:18.290 --> 45:20.234 video from the watch set the first 45:20.234 --> 45:21.420 Watch my eyes . 45:25.090 --> 45:27.400 Yeah , the office of the deck is the 45:27.400 --> 45:29.011 commanding officers . Direct 45:29.011 --> 45:31.067 representative and while on watch is 45:31.067 --> 45:33.178 responsible for the safe operation of 45:33.178 --> 45:35.289 the shipping crew . The long glass is 45:35.289 --> 45:35.160 the traditional symbol of an officer of 45:35.160 --> 45:37.271 the decks authority and a ship of the 45:37.271 --> 45:39.493 line . We are honored to have MS Linell 45:39.493 --> 45:41.438 Sasser with us today , Lynn's late 45:41.438 --> 45:43.438 husband , United States Navy Senior 45:43.438 --> 45:45.660 Chief retired Charles chuck Black was a 45:45.660 --> 45:47.827 driving force in the naming of the USs 45:47.827 --> 45:47.690 Fort Lauderdale . She will pass the 45:47.690 --> 45:49.857 long glass door . First officer of the 45:49.857 --> 45:51.690 deck to the commander , christal 45:51.690 --> 45:53.857 Mcfadden from Chicago Illinois heading 45:53.857 --> 45:55.579 off to the watches cryptologic 45:55.579 --> 45:55.490 technician , first class Jessica 45:55.490 --> 45:57.740 Kalinowski from Belton texas . The 45:57.740 --> 45:59.629 Messenger of the Watches Hospital 45:59.629 --> 46:01.796 Corpsman . 2nd class Jason Cheung from 46:01.796 --> 46:03.796 Brooklyn New York . And the most is 46:03.796 --> 46:05.796 made of the watch is Moses made 3rd 46:05.796 --> 46:07.740 class Ashley Wallace from san Jose 46:07.740 --> 46:08.740 California . 46:30.280 --> 46:33.790 Set the watch on Deck Section one . 46:34.580 --> 46:37.410 Yeah , what you said ? Very well . 46:39.280 --> 46:40.590 Yeah , right 46:54.680 --> 46:56.900 captain . The watch is set very well . 47:02.580 --> 47:04.747 The spirit of the U . S . Navy warship 47:04.747 --> 47:06.913 is the embodiment of her sponsor . Our 47:06.913 --> 47:09.136 sponsor , the honorable MEREDITH burger 47:09.136 --> 47:11.080 has imbued this , this ship with a 47:11.080 --> 47:13.136 sense of service and grace . She's a 47:13.136 --> 47:15.191 steadfast champion of our navy . And 47:15.191 --> 47:17.260 this ship and crew secretary burger 47:17.260 --> 47:19.260 christened the ship in Pascagoula , 47:19.260 --> 47:21.900 Mississippi on august 21st 2021 47:24.080 --> 47:26.247 madam . Secretary , I would be honored 47:26.247 --> 47:28.590 if you would give the order to man our 47:28.590 --> 47:30.500 ship and bring her to life 47:42.980 --> 47:46.570 together we fight our ship's 47:46.570 --> 47:50.230 motto , a forcing function , a battle 47:50.230 --> 47:52.300 cry , a commitment . 47:54.280 --> 47:57.330 Whenever we choose to fight , we're 47:57.330 --> 48:00.910 making a commitment , it's taking a 48:00.910 --> 48:04.780 side taking a stance and it 48:04.780 --> 48:06.990 takes everything . You've got 48:09.160 --> 48:11.327 the USs Fort Lauderdale started with a 48:11.327 --> 48:14.930 fight one of the best kinds , the good 48:14.930 --> 48:18.280 fight . CN chief chuck black , 48:18.880 --> 48:21.080 this mighty band of warriors , 48:22.980 --> 48:25.790 they came together and they steadily 48:26.170 --> 48:29.720 consistently advocated for a ship name 48:29.730 --> 48:33.500 for this great city as he mounted 48:33.500 --> 48:35.760 his fight , he found an ally in 48:35.760 --> 48:39.220 Secretary Mavis . That's the thing 48:39.220 --> 48:42.070 about the good fight when you're doing 48:42.070 --> 48:44.770 the right thing , you get the attention 48:44.850 --> 48:47.200 and support of the right people . 48:49.070 --> 48:52.500 And luckily for me , Secretary Mavis 48:52.970 --> 48:55.340 thought that a member of his staff from 48:55.340 --> 48:59.190 Fort Lauderdale , just mike . Be able 48:59.190 --> 49:02.070 to do this fine ship Justice as its 49:02.070 --> 49:05.960 sponsor . I'll tell you , it 49:05.960 --> 49:08.400 is one of the greatest honors for this 49:08.400 --> 49:11.590 hometown girl and I've got a healthy 49:11.590 --> 49:15.020 amount of fighting me . It is said , as 49:15.030 --> 49:16.850 the captain mentioned that the 49:16.850 --> 49:18.794 character and spirit of the ship's 49:18.794 --> 49:21.330 sponsor enriches guides , protects the 49:21.330 --> 49:24.420 ship and her crew and Fort Lauderdale , 49:24.870 --> 49:28.750 we're scrappy . Another honor of 49:28.760 --> 49:30.649 my life is to get to serve in the 49:30.649 --> 49:32.790 Department of the Navy first 49:32.800 --> 49:36.270 Undersecretary Mavis now undersecretary 49:36.270 --> 49:39.900 del Toro and alongside General smith 49:40.000 --> 49:42.820 and Admiral Coddle and every person 49:42.820 --> 49:46.120 that you see here in uniform today and 49:46.120 --> 49:49.590 wherever you see them each day , we 49:50.970 --> 49:53.303 and that's the people up here behind me . 49:53.303 --> 49:55.470 Whether they're in uniform or not , we 49:55.470 --> 49:58.120 fight for our sailors and marines who 49:58.130 --> 50:01.640 fight for us . We fight to keep our 50:01.640 --> 50:04.030 Navy and Marine Corps the best fighting 50:04.040 --> 50:06.920 force the world has ever known . We 50:06.920 --> 50:09.720 fight to give our war fighters every 50:09.830 --> 50:13.410 advantage and every single 50:13.560 --> 50:16.890 person is part of this site . You're 50:16.890 --> 50:20.280 part of this fight together . 50:20.860 --> 50:23.120 We fight to enhance quality of life 50:23.130 --> 50:26.710 because we value our people together . 50:26.720 --> 50:28.980 We fight climate change because we 50:28.980 --> 50:32.700 value our future . Together we fight 50:32.710 --> 50:35.280 for equality and inclusivity because we 50:35.290 --> 50:37.830 value our differences , they make us 50:37.830 --> 50:41.490 stronger and when we include we're 50:41.490 --> 50:45.020 home and together we 50:45.020 --> 50:48.160 fight to remove barriers enable our 50:48.160 --> 50:50.049 warfighters , our marines and our 50:50.049 --> 50:52.990 sailors and maintain that superiority 50:53.000 --> 50:55.700 so that your marine corps and your navy 50:55.710 --> 50:57.980 can fight to defend these values . 50:59.660 --> 51:01.660 And that's what the Fort Lauderdale 51:01.660 --> 51:04.080 will do . Your sailors and marines 51:04.960 --> 51:07.590 fight the good fight wherever that 51:07.600 --> 51:11.290 fight may bring them . Now . One of my 51:11.290 --> 51:13.940 favorite parts of a commissioning 51:13.940 --> 51:16.780 ceremony is when the ship comes to life , 51:18.560 --> 51:21.300 I'll give the order and it will happen 51:21.300 --> 51:24.990 right before your eyes . It's magic . 51:26.660 --> 51:28.980 Watch as the sailors and marines run 51:28.980 --> 51:32.390 aboard the lifeblood of the ship , 51:33.460 --> 51:36.060 listen to their footsteps and their 51:36.060 --> 51:39.230 medals clink against their chest . The 51:39.230 --> 51:42.310 heartbeat of the ship here the 51:42.310 --> 51:46.070 technology hum were and sound 51:46.660 --> 51:50.080 the eyes ears , the voice of the ship 51:51.260 --> 51:53.810 and see the decks illuminate and the 51:53.820 --> 51:57.630 flags fly proudly , the face of the 51:57.630 --> 52:01.400 ship and I can think of no better 52:01.400 --> 52:04.370 officer to be at the home . The Captain 52:04.370 --> 52:07.910 Carlesimo , I know that the 52:07.910 --> 52:10.210 sailors and marines aboard the USs Fort 52:10.210 --> 52:12.250 Lauderdale are in your most capable 52:12.250 --> 52:15.450 hands . Fort Lauderdale boasts a 52:15.460 --> 52:18.480 talented and determined crew 52:19.350 --> 52:21.620 and under your leadership , you've 52:21.620 --> 52:23.980 formed a team and together you've 52:23.980 --> 52:27.950 cultivated a culture of excellence . If 52:27.950 --> 52:30.640 my spirit makes them scrappy , your 52:30.640 --> 52:34.550 leadership makes them strong and to the 52:34.550 --> 52:38.520 crew every time you have set a 52:38.520 --> 52:41.220 high bar and you've exceeded it . 52:42.250 --> 52:44.680 Keep knocking down targets and banking 52:44.680 --> 52:47.980 winds . I'm so proud to be part of you . 52:48.650 --> 52:52.560 Yeah , so to the officers and crew of 52:52.560 --> 52:55.650 the mighty Fort Lauderdale together we 52:55.660 --> 52:59.090 find next to the people of Fort 52:59.090 --> 53:02.020 Lauderdale and our love florida join in 53:02.030 --> 53:05.910 with the crew together . Five and 53:05.920 --> 53:09.760 finally everybody together we 53:09.770 --> 53:13.770 fight officers and crew of the USs Fort 53:13.770 --> 53:16.520 Lauderdale man our ship and bring her 53:16.520 --> 53:17.180 to life . 53:24.420 --> 53:25.420 Yeah . 53:40.250 --> 53:41.180 Okay . 53:44.050 --> 53:44.470 Mhm . 53:46.250 --> 53:49.560 Yeah . 53:57.650 --> 54:01.240 Yeah . 54:11.840 --> 54:15.250 Right . Mhm . 54:19.240 --> 54:20.240 Yeah . 54:54.940 --> 54:58.470 Mhm . Mhm . 55:10.540 --> 55:11.540 Right . 55:14.940 --> 55:15.940 Yeah . 56:08.830 --> 56:09.830 Mhm . 56:13.030 --> 56:13.540 Right . 56:19.930 --> 56:20.350 Mhm . 56:26.130 --> 56:29.240 Yeah . 57:20.230 --> 57:21.230 Yeah . 57:36.830 --> 57:37.830 Yeah . 57:51.230 --> 57:52.230 Yes . 58:32.620 --> 58:35.150 Ladies and gentlemen , the crew of Uss 58:35.150 --> 58:38.040 Fort Lauderdale salutes . Yo 58:41.020 --> 58:44.030 we are proud , we're proud to serve in 58:44.030 --> 58:45.919 America's Navy and Marine Corps . 58:48.720 --> 58:51.840 What Lauderdale ? Ready two . 58:53.320 --> 58:55.209 Will the guest please be seated . 59:03.020 --> 59:05.230 Captain Uss Fort Lauderdale is manned 59:05.230 --> 59:07.150 and ready . Very well . 59:09.020 --> 59:11.020 Follow us export water salesman and 59:11.020 --> 59:13.910 ready and reports for duty and like 59:13.910 --> 59:16.640 this . Yes sir . 59:20.420 --> 59:23.540 What together we fight . 59:25.620 --> 59:27.842 Secretary del Toro . Request permission 59:27.842 --> 59:30.240 to break your flag sir . Break 59:32.520 --> 59:34.631 executive officer . Break the flag of 59:34.631 --> 59:36.960 the Secretary of the Navy , aye , aye 59:36.960 --> 59:40.260 sir . Quartermaster . Break the flag of 59:40.260 --> 59:41.816 the Secretary of the Navy . 59:49.820 --> 59:51.987 Captain , the flag of the Secretary of 59:51.987 --> 59:53.987 the Navy is proudly flying over uss 59:53.987 --> 59:55.542 Fort Lauderdale very well . 59:57.620 --> 59:59.800 Ladies and gentlemen , Captain James 59:59.800 --> 01:00:02.022 Corsino , United States Navy Commanding 01:00:02.022 --> 01:00:03.940 Officer Uss Fort Lauderdale 01:00:15.210 --> 01:00:18.310 Julia for lunch today . Yeah , 01:00:19.110 --> 01:00:21.030 chips , company parade rest . 01:00:24.010 --> 01:00:26.232 Good morning everyone and thank you for 01:00:26.232 --> 01:00:28.454 being here . I'm certain that I'm going 01:00:28.454 --> 01:00:30.399 to miss some folks here today that 01:00:30.399 --> 01:00:29.960 should be recognized for the 01:00:29.960 --> 01:00:32.071 Lieutenant's . But first I'm going to 01:00:32.071 --> 01:00:34.238 thank my family for being here today . 01:00:34.238 --> 01:00:36.560 My wonderful wife Leann , my son James , 01:00:36.560 --> 01:00:38.560 my daughter man and my brothers and 01:00:38.560 --> 01:00:40.560 sisters for showing up here today . 01:00:42.210 --> 01:00:44.321 Apparently when you pay for people to 01:00:44.321 --> 01:00:46.510 come down , they'll do it . But thank 01:00:46.510 --> 01:00:48.621 you for showing up here today and for 01:00:48.621 --> 01:00:50.566 those of you that are out watching 01:00:50.566 --> 01:00:53.060 virtually and couldn't make it . Thank 01:00:53.060 --> 01:00:55.880 you . I cannot do what I do without all 01:00:55.880 --> 01:00:57.713 of you and all of your support . 01:00:57.713 --> 01:00:59.824 Secretary Del Toro , Secretary burger 01:00:59.824 --> 01:01:01.658 admirals , generals , members of 01:01:01.658 --> 01:01:03.658 Congress , local official community 01:01:03.658 --> 01:01:05.324 leaders and our ship building 01:01:05.324 --> 01:01:07.491 leadership from Huntington's ingalls . 01:01:07.491 --> 01:01:09.436 Thank you for being here today and 01:01:09.436 --> 01:01:11.269 thank you for making this day of 01:01:11.269 --> 01:01:13.213 reality . And of course I would be 01:01:13.213 --> 01:01:15.380 remiss if I didn't mention Pat Tillman 01:01:15.380 --> 01:01:15.070 for heading up our commissioning 01:01:15.070 --> 01:01:16.070 committee 01:01:21.110 --> 01:01:23.443 to our namesake city of Fort Lauderdale . 01:01:23.443 --> 01:01:25.660 Thank you for having us here . We are 01:01:25.660 --> 01:01:27.827 blessed to have so many honored guests 01:01:27.827 --> 01:01:30.030 and friends . We truly are forever 01:01:30.030 --> 01:01:32.141 bonded to all of you for we cannot be 01:01:32.141 --> 01:01:34.252 as good as we are without the support 01:01:34.252 --> 01:01:36.308 we're receiving from our friends and 01:01:36.308 --> 01:01:38.940 family here in our great city . Mhm . 01:01:43.610 --> 01:01:46.240 Today is what we call a great Navy Day . 01:01:46.610 --> 01:01:49.480 Today we introduce a new ship , your 01:01:49.480 --> 01:01:52.930 ship , the mighty United States 01:01:52.940 --> 01:01:55.440 ship Fort Lauderdale into the fleet . 01:01:56.310 --> 01:01:58.199 And I know this did not happen by 01:01:58.199 --> 01:02:00.088 accident . There were many people 01:02:00.088 --> 01:02:02.199 working behind the scenes to make Uss 01:02:02.199 --> 01:02:04.310 Fort Lauderdale reality ! Many of you 01:02:04.310 --> 01:02:06.421 are here today and unfortunately some 01:02:06.421 --> 01:02:08.421 have moved on from this world . But 01:02:08.421 --> 01:02:10.588 their impact is with us . Still , it's 01:02:10.588 --> 01:02:12.754 through the hard work . The members of 01:02:12.754 --> 01:02:14.977 the community like retired senior chief 01:02:14.977 --> 01:02:14.890 chuck black who dedicated years of 01:02:14.890 --> 01:02:16.890 planning effort to see a ship named 01:02:16.890 --> 01:02:19.057 Fort Lauderdale . His efforts were the 01:02:19.057 --> 01:02:20.946 catalyst that turned an idea into 01:02:20.946 --> 01:02:22.946 reality . Unfortunately chuck is no 01:02:22.946 --> 01:02:25.057 longer with us , but his anchors will 01:02:25.057 --> 01:02:26.946 sail with us forever as they were 01:02:26.946 --> 01:02:29.057 placed in the mass stepping box which 01:02:29.057 --> 01:02:31.168 is permanently mounted on board . His 01:02:31.168 --> 01:02:33.300 legacy will live with the ship for 01:02:33.300 --> 01:02:34.110 eternity . 01:02:41.500 --> 01:02:45.430 Ah , what a beautiful ship she is ready 01:02:45.430 --> 01:02:47.597 for action and it is vitally important 01:02:47.597 --> 01:02:49.652 that we always are as we look around 01:02:49.652 --> 01:02:51.763 the globe , there is much going on in 01:02:51.763 --> 01:02:53.819 the world right now that screams why 01:02:53.819 --> 01:02:55.986 navies are vital importance and having 01:02:55.986 --> 01:02:58.208 the best of the best is paramount . And 01:02:58.208 --> 01:03:00.374 that is what we have here today . When 01:03:00.374 --> 01:03:02.541 we talk about how important navies are 01:03:02.541 --> 01:03:02.030 one only need to look at the war in the 01:03:02.030 --> 01:03:04.197 Ukraine , multiple ships out of action 01:03:04.197 --> 01:03:06.308 on both sides and commercial shipping 01:03:06.308 --> 01:03:08.252 disrupted significantly . It bears 01:03:08.252 --> 01:03:10.419 remembering that with more than 90% of 01:03:10.419 --> 01:03:12.530 all trade occurring over the water is 01:03:12.530 --> 01:03:14.641 critically important that we maintain 01:03:14.641 --> 01:03:16.863 the sea lanes of communication open and 01:03:16.863 --> 01:03:18.586 free from encumbrances And our 01:03:18.586 --> 01:03:20.919 dependency on the sea continues to grow . 01:03:20.919 --> 01:03:22.863 In fact , over the past 25 years , 01:03:22.863 --> 01:03:24.752 global waterways have become more 01:03:24.752 --> 01:03:26.474 congested maritime traffic has 01:03:26.474 --> 01:03:28.586 increased by a magnitude of four over 01:03:28.586 --> 01:03:30.641 that time period . Additionally , we 01:03:30.641 --> 01:03:32.808 rely on the sea to carry nearly all of 01:03:32.808 --> 01:03:34.363 our digital information via 01:03:34.363 --> 01:03:36.086 transoceanic cables . I cannot 01:03:36.086 --> 01:03:38.308 overstate the importance of maintaining 01:03:38.308 --> 01:03:40.641 a strong naval presence . And as I said , 01:03:40.641 --> 01:03:42.808 I know it doesn't happen by accident , 01:03:42.808 --> 01:03:45.030 but it happens instead through the hard 01:03:45.030 --> 01:03:47.030 work of everyone here to ensure our 01:03:47.030 --> 01:03:49.030 nation has what it needs to conduct 01:03:49.030 --> 01:03:51.197 prompt and sustained combat operations 01:03:51.197 --> 01:03:53.419 in the harshest environments on earth . 01:03:53.419 --> 01:03:55.840 The sea that's right . There are no 01:03:55.850 --> 01:03:57.794 foxholes that see the slide into . 01:03:57.794 --> 01:03:59.794 There are no trenches and fortified 01:03:59.794 --> 01:04:01.794 defenses are comprised of the ships 01:04:01.794 --> 01:04:03.850 that you're sailing with . You fight 01:04:03.850 --> 01:04:05.510 and you win or you swim . 01:04:08.590 --> 01:04:10.812 We must be ready now . More than ever . 01:04:10.830 --> 01:04:13.052 As we looked at new challenges that are 01:04:13.052 --> 01:04:15.219 on the horizon , we are competing in a 01:04:15.219 --> 01:04:17.441 world of great powers and there is much 01:04:17.441 --> 01:04:19.663 at stake for the free world , china and 01:04:19.663 --> 01:04:19.630 Russia are the two biggest countries 01:04:19.630 --> 01:04:21.797 that seek to thwart Free world and are 01:04:21.797 --> 01:04:24.074 directly challenge us across the globe . 01:04:24.074 --> 01:04:26.019 But rest assured we will not allow 01:04:26.019 --> 01:04:28.400 those challenges to go unchecked for . 01:04:28.400 --> 01:04:30.456 We and the surface forces are in the 01:04:30.456 --> 01:04:32.678 business of being prepared to fight and 01:04:32.678 --> 01:04:34.789 win at sea . For it is the freedom of 01:04:34.789 --> 01:04:36.900 the sea that plays a critical role in 01:04:36.900 --> 01:04:38.700 global security , stability and 01:04:38.700 --> 01:04:41.330 prosperity . And the United States will 01:04:41.330 --> 01:04:43.108 continue to challenge excessive 01:04:43.108 --> 01:04:45.110 maritime claims around the world 01:04:45.120 --> 01:04:47.009 regardless of the identity of the 01:04:47.009 --> 01:04:49.009 claimant and we will support lawful 01:04:49.009 --> 01:04:51.520 uses of the sea to all nations . That 01:04:51.520 --> 01:04:53.242 is what we have done since the 01:04:53.242 --> 01:04:55.830 inception of our great nation and what 01:04:55.840 --> 01:04:58.100 a great nation . We are 01:05:05.090 --> 01:05:07.950 yes . We must maintain the freedom of 01:05:07.950 --> 01:05:09.728 the seas with that strong naval 01:05:09.728 --> 01:05:12.360 presence . And today we welcome the 01:05:12.360 --> 01:05:14.970 newest member of that presence , the 01:05:14.970 --> 01:05:18.900 mighty , the Fighting U . S . S . Sport 01:05:18.900 --> 01:05:22.870 Lauderdale with their keel certified 01:05:22.870 --> 01:05:25.170 to be truly fairly laid by our sponsor , 01:05:25.170 --> 01:05:27.003 the honorable MEREDITH burger on 01:05:27.003 --> 01:05:30.460 october 13th 2017 . Our Navy is 242nd 01:05:30.460 --> 01:05:32.460 birthday . It has been four years , 01:05:32.460 --> 01:05:34.293 eight months and 17 days since . 01:05:34.293 --> 01:05:36.293 Accumulating in the fighting , Fort 01:05:36.293 --> 01:05:38.430 Lauderdale is now fully complete and 01:05:38.430 --> 01:05:39.810 combat ready . 01:05:47.900 --> 01:05:50.011 Let me take just a minute to tell you 01:05:50.011 --> 01:05:52.590 about this lovely lady . You see when 01:05:52.590 --> 01:05:54.701 ships are built , they're designed as 01:05:54.701 --> 01:05:56.757 flights to identify when significant 01:05:56.757 --> 01:05:58.868 changes take place . Flight one being 01:05:58.868 --> 01:06:00.757 the first of the class . Although 01:06:00.757 --> 01:06:02.979 technically still a flight one , I like 01:06:02.979 --> 01:06:05.146 to think of her as a flight 1.5 as she 01:06:05.146 --> 01:06:04.850 is leading the way to transition to 01:06:04.850 --> 01:06:06.906 flight two ships to be built later . 01:06:06.906 --> 01:06:09.017 Fort Lauderdale is designed with many 01:06:09.017 --> 01:06:11.183 changes and improvements from previous 01:06:11.183 --> 01:06:13.350 ships in the class , whether operating 01:06:13.350 --> 01:06:15.517 as part of an amphibious ready group , 01:06:15.517 --> 01:06:14.990 an expeditionary strike force or 01:06:14.990 --> 01:06:16.990 independently . The capabilities of 01:06:16.990 --> 01:06:19.210 Fort Lauderdale are impressive . For 01:06:19.210 --> 01:06:21.680 Fort Lauderdale is american design . 01:06:21.680 --> 01:06:24.040 She is american built from american 01:06:24.040 --> 01:06:26.710 steel and she is crewed by heroes 01:06:33.880 --> 01:06:37.290 at 684 ft long and 100 and five ft wide . 01:06:37.290 --> 01:06:39.457 A sovereign U . S . Territory . She is 01:06:39.457 --> 01:06:42.430 a large ship displacing 25,000 tons on 01:06:42.430 --> 01:06:44.770 board . We have over 360 of the best 01:06:44.770 --> 01:06:46.937 women and men our country has to offer 01:06:46.937 --> 01:06:49.320 and she can embark roughly 650 marines 01:06:49.320 --> 01:06:52.100 for combat ashore . Those marines , 01:06:53.080 --> 01:06:55.660 those marines , they are our main 01:06:55.660 --> 01:06:57.960 battery . And trust me when I say with 01:06:57.960 --> 01:07:00.071 the enemy to their front and the seat 01:07:00.071 --> 01:07:02.071 of their back , there is no fiercer 01:07:02.071 --> 01:07:04.127 fighting force and those marines and 01:07:04.127 --> 01:07:06.238 with the speed of lightning the sound 01:07:06.238 --> 01:07:08.293 of thunder , our job is to transport 01:07:08.293 --> 01:07:10.349 land those marines , their equipment 01:07:10.349 --> 01:07:12.627 supplies by our embarked landing craft , 01:07:12.627 --> 01:07:14.738 air cushion , el CACS or conventional 01:07:14.738 --> 01:07:16.738 landing craft or L . C . U . S . Or 01:07:16.738 --> 01:07:18.960 amphibious assault vehicles , A B . S . 01:07:18.960 --> 01:07:18.710 And today in the steel belly of the 01:07:18.720 --> 01:07:20.831 fighting fort Lauderdale , I have two 01:07:20.831 --> 01:07:23.440 of our Great Navy's newest LCACS used 01:07:23.440 --> 01:07:26.260 for just that purpose . All of this 01:07:26.260 --> 01:07:28.560 will be augmented by the CH 53 or 01:07:28.560 --> 01:07:30.727 attack helicopters and we also carry a 01:07:30.727 --> 01:07:32.930 complement of MV 22 . Osprey is the 01:07:32.930 --> 01:07:35.152 vertical takeoff landing craft that you 01:07:35.152 --> 01:07:37.263 see on our flight deck today . All of 01:07:37.263 --> 01:07:39.374 this specifically designed to support 01:07:39.374 --> 01:07:41.430 those marines ashore were also built 01:07:41.430 --> 01:07:43.430 with reduced radar cross section to 01:07:43.430 --> 01:07:45.486 make us more difficult to detect and 01:07:45.486 --> 01:07:45.080 were equipped with state of the art 01:07:45.080 --> 01:07:47.440 combat systems controlling to rolling 01:07:47.440 --> 01:07:49.551 airframe missile launchers to protect 01:07:49.551 --> 01:07:51.607 us from air threats . We employed to 01:07:51.607 --> 01:07:53.662 mark 46 30 millimeter guns both fore 01:07:53.662 --> 01:07:55.840 and aft and no less than 9 50 caliber 01:07:55.850 --> 01:07:58.072 machine guns for the close in fight and 01:07:58.072 --> 01:07:59.961 look out because we have the best 01:07:59.961 --> 01:08:03.120 gunners in the whole fleet . Wow ! 01:08:08.170 --> 01:08:09.948 Our ship is designed to support 01:08:09.948 --> 01:08:12.170 amphibious assault , special operations 01:08:12.170 --> 01:08:14.337 or expeditionary warfare missions . We 01:08:14.337 --> 01:08:16.281 also serve as a secondary aviation 01:08:16.281 --> 01:08:18.337 platform for all types of amphibious 01:08:18.337 --> 01:08:20.448 operations . Although our warfighting 01:08:20.448 --> 01:08:22.670 capabilities at the forefront , we also 01:08:22.670 --> 01:08:24.726 support humanitarian missions around 01:08:24.726 --> 01:08:27.290 the globe . We are with a fully 01:08:27.290 --> 01:08:29.670 equipped hospital , 24 beds including 01:08:29.670 --> 01:08:31.970 six ICU units along with two medical 01:08:31.970 --> 01:08:33.692 operating rooms and two dental 01:08:33.692 --> 01:08:35.914 operating rooms . We can easily support 01:08:35.914 --> 01:08:38.026 people in need around the globe , for 01:08:38.026 --> 01:08:39.914 we are as compassionate as we are 01:08:39.914 --> 01:08:40.914 lethal . 01:08:47.270 --> 01:08:50.690 Our ship's motto together , 01:08:51.170 --> 01:08:53.290 together 01:08:53.300 --> 01:08:56.880 together , Julia 01:08:56.890 --> 01:09:00.510 represents the unstoppable power of our 01:09:00.510 --> 01:09:02.890 Navy Marine Corps team , supported by 01:09:02.890 --> 01:09:05.250 our family and friends at home and 01:09:05.250 --> 01:09:08.390 that's you and you and you . 01:09:09.670 --> 01:09:11.837 Although we have an impressive variety 01:09:11.837 --> 01:09:13.781 of aircraft , amphibious craft and 01:09:13.781 --> 01:09:16.003 advanced technological systems on board 01:09:16.003 --> 01:09:18.170 the driving force of the ship's crew , 01:09:18.170 --> 01:09:20.114 these dedicated , proud , talented 01:09:20.114 --> 01:09:22.281 sailors and marines represent the best 01:09:22.281 --> 01:09:24.448 our nation has to offer . We truly are 01:09:24.448 --> 01:09:26.670 getting the best of the best . They are 01:09:26.670 --> 01:09:28.614 born in the eye of a hurricane and 01:09:28.614 --> 01:09:30.837 rocked in the cradle of the way they're 01:09:30.837 --> 01:09:33.003 made of salt water and excellence . Oh 01:09:33.003 --> 01:09:35.059 yes , King Neptune would be proud of 01:09:35.059 --> 01:09:37.059 these sailors and marines Among our 01:09:37.059 --> 01:09:38.781 crew are many first generation 01:09:38.781 --> 01:09:40.892 Americans who proudly serve our great 01:09:40.892 --> 01:09:43.114 nation and since I have taken command , 01:09:43.114 --> 01:09:45.226 I have had the privilege of promoting 01:09:45.226 --> 01:09:47.003 83 sailors to their new ranks . 01:09:52.270 --> 01:09:54.492 Additionally , in the span of less than 01:09:54.492 --> 01:09:56.603 three months on board the Mighty Fort 01:09:56.603 --> 01:09:58.826 Lauderdale . Our team has established a 01:09:58.826 --> 01:10:00.937 fully operating , combat capable city 01:10:00.937 --> 01:10:03.103 from high speed communication networks 01:10:03.103 --> 01:10:04.937 to a restaurant full of culinary 01:10:04.937 --> 01:10:07.103 specialists from damage control repair 01:10:07.103 --> 01:10:09.270 stations equipped to fight our way out 01:10:09.270 --> 01:10:11.048 of any battle damage to a fully 01:10:11.048 --> 01:10:13.048 operational well deck for launching 01:10:13.048 --> 01:10:14.992 reigns to a certified plate team , 01:10:14.992 --> 01:10:17.159 ready to launch aircraft that can rain 01:10:17.159 --> 01:10:19.214 hell from above , down upon an enemy 01:10:23.560 --> 01:10:26.190 to a chapel for finding peace . 01:10:29.260 --> 01:10:31.093 We have reached full operational 01:10:31.093 --> 01:10:33.204 capability in our sailors and marines 01:10:33.204 --> 01:10:35.371 have done it all with remarkable speed 01:10:35.371 --> 01:10:37.260 and efficiency , allowing for the 01:10:37.260 --> 01:10:39.482 certification of multiple warfare areas 01:10:39.482 --> 01:10:41.704 completely ahead of schedule . As plank 01:10:41.704 --> 01:10:41.550 owners are sailors and marines will be 01:10:41.550 --> 01:10:43.828 the first claim . Such accomplishments . 01:10:44.960 --> 01:10:46.900 Finally , if it's one thing that 01:10:46.900 --> 01:10:49.011 history has shown us from the days of 01:10:49.011 --> 01:10:51.011 antiquity is that the stakes of the 01:10:51.011 --> 01:10:53.233 competition for the control of the seas 01:10:53.233 --> 01:10:55.289 are high and for our part , uss Fort 01:10:55.289 --> 01:10:57.233 Lauderdale stands ready to deliver 01:10:57.233 --> 01:11:00.810 naval power to any place on any day at 01:11:00.820 --> 01:11:01.880 any time 01:11:09.960 --> 01:11:12.293 and those that may wish to challenge us , 01:11:14.060 --> 01:11:17.810 they should pause for 01:11:17.810 --> 01:11:20.300 we are equipped with America's 01:11:20.310 --> 01:11:23.140 unstoppable secret weapon that our 01:11:23.140 --> 01:11:25.930 enemies will never be able to duplicate . 01:11:25.940 --> 01:11:27.996 And that is the fierce , dedicated , 01:11:27.996 --> 01:11:30.218 unstoppable men and women of the United 01:11:30.218 --> 01:11:32.384 States , Navy and Marine Corps . Thank 01:11:32.384 --> 01:11:34.496 you , May God bless you all who serve 01:11:34.496 --> 01:11:36.162 and may . God bless America ! 01:11:59.560 --> 01:12:01.671 Will the guest please remain standing 01:12:01.671 --> 01:12:03.504 for the benediction that will be 01:12:03.504 --> 01:12:05.116 offered by chaplain , Daniel 01:12:09.450 --> 01:12:11.617 sir . I don't know that I could follow 01:12:11.617 --> 01:12:12.617 that . Mhm . 01:12:19.450 --> 01:12:21.970 Let us bow our heads and pray please , 01:12:23.250 --> 01:12:26.740 Holy Father . First of all , we ask 01:12:26.740 --> 01:12:28.970 your your good blessings and mercy and 01:12:28.970 --> 01:12:31.137 Lieutenant Commander Fat . And we pray 01:12:31.137 --> 01:12:33.248 that you would touch her and heal her 01:12:33.248 --> 01:12:36.760 in your name . And we also thank you 01:12:36.760 --> 01:12:39.390 for bringing us here today and for this 01:12:39.390 --> 01:12:42.160 joyous celebration . You have entrusted 01:12:42.160 --> 01:12:44.670 us with this beautiful vessel of power 01:12:45.230 --> 01:12:47.470 and peace , manned and ready with her 01:12:47.480 --> 01:12:50.940 crew . May we prove faith as we leave 01:12:50.940 --> 01:12:53.170 from here , whether by road or by sea . 01:12:53.750 --> 01:12:55.880 May we and our families know you and 01:12:55.880 --> 01:12:57.950 your good shepherd in hand , as the 01:12:57.950 --> 01:13:00.750 hymn writer composed Eternal Father 01:13:00.760 --> 01:13:03.330 Strong to save whose arm hath bound the 01:13:03.330 --> 01:13:05.890 restless wave , who bits the mighty 01:13:05.890 --> 01:13:08.360 ocean deep its own appointed limits ! 01:13:08.370 --> 01:13:11.850 Keep o hear us when we cry to thee for 01:13:11.850 --> 01:13:14.370 those in peril of the sin . 01:13:18.280 --> 01:13:21.160 Amen , mm right