WEBVTT

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Good morning ladies and gentlemen . It

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is my distinct honor and privilege to

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welcome you to Submarine Base New

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London and the commissioning of USS

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Iowa . I'm Lieutenant Commander Scott

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Carper , the ship's executive officer .

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On behalf of the crew of your Submarine

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Iowa , I'd like to express our sincere

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gratitude for you joining us here today .

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Before our celebration begins , please

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silence your cellphones . Thank you .

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We are here today to celebrate the

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commissioning of USS Iowa , the 3rd

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ship to bear the name of the Hawkeye

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State . The first USS Iowa was a

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pre-dreadnought battleship built for

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the United States Navy in the mid-1890s .

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The ship was designed to operate on the

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high seas and was armed with a battery

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of 4 12-inch guns and two twin gun

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turrets supported by a secondary

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battery of 8 8-inch guns . Upon

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entering service in June 1897 , Iowa

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conducted training operations in the

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Atlantic Ocean before moving to the

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Caribbean in early 1898 as tensions

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between the United States and Spain

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over Cuba grew . At the outbreak of the

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Spanish-American War , the ship took

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part in the bombardment of San Juan ,

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Puerto Rico , where Iowa assisted in

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the destruction of 3 of the 4 Spanish

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cruisers . Iowa was modernized between

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1908 and 1910 . She thereafter served

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as a training ship for naval midshipmen

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from the United States Naval Academy

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and for naval militia crews . Removed

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from service in 1913 and decommissioned

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in 1914 , she was reactivated after the

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United States entered World War One in

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April 1917 . She was decommissioned

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again in 1919 . The second commissioned ,

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USS Iowa , BB 61 , was the lead ship of

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her class . During World War II , she

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carried President Franklin D .

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Roosevelt across the Atlantic to meet

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with Prime Minister Winston Churchill

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of the United Kingdom and Joseph Stalin ,

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leader of the Soviet Union . When

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transferred to the Pacific Fleet in

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1944 , Iowa shelled beachheads at

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Quajalane and NOA took in advance of

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Allied amphibious landings and screened

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aircraft carriers operating in the

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Marshall Islands . She also served as

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the Third Fleet flagship flying Admiral

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William F . Halsey's flag at the

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Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay .

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During the Korean War , Iowa was

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involved in raids on the North Korean

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coast where she earned the nickname the

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Gray Ghost . After the Korean War , she

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decommissioned into the United States

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Navy Reserve Fleet . She was

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reactivated in 1984 as part of the 600

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ship Navy plan and operated in both the

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Atlantic and Pacific fleets to counter

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the recently expanded Soviet Navy .

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Iowa was decommissioned for the last

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time in October 1990 . We are delighted

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to have several former crew members of

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the 2nd Iowa here today . Gentlemen ,

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please stand and be recognized .

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Would all active duty , veterans and

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first responders please stand .

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Would all military and first responder

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families please stand ?

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Ladies and gentlemen , thank you for

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your service and sacrifice .

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Additionally , we are honored to have

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several Gold Star families with us

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today . Ladies and gentlemen , we

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recognize the significance of your

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loved ones sacrifice to our nation .

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Thank you .

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We are also excited to welcome members

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of the Royal Australian Navy .

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Please be seated . The new Iowa moored

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before you , affectionately referred to

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as a boat by members of the submarine

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community and the crew , will soon join

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America's silent service . SSN 797 is a

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Virginia class submarine , and with her

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sister ships , she represents a

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revolution in submarine design ,

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construction , and mission capability .

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Brimming with cutting edge technology

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and advanced engineering , this vessel

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brings versatility and firepower to the

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fleet . Iowa and the Virginia class are

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among the most effective platforms in

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the United States Navy , and this

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warship takes another step forward in

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advancing the superiority of our

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submarine force capable of operating in

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the far corners of the world's oceans

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undetected while connected to air , sea ,

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and land-based forces . These

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submarines are equipped to wage

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multi-dimensional warfare around the

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globe . Iowa's adaptability makes it

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highly responsive to changing mission

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requirements and provides the nation

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with the capabilities required to be a

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decisive factor in any conflict . In

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addition to anti-submarine warfare ,

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anti-surface ship warfare , and counter

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mine warfare , I will support

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surveillance , special operations , and

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covert strike missions . Construction

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began on the submarine you see behind

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me in August 2019 , and she was

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christened on June 17 , 2023 down the

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Thames River at General Dynamics

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Electric boat . Today , USS Iowa is

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tested and battle ready . We are all

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very proud to serve on the newest

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attack submarine in the United States

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Navy . Thank you for allowing each of

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us the privilege to serve our nation as

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a part of your navy .

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Oh yeah .

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The commissioning ceremony is a

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time-honored tradition that began with

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the commissioning of the Navy's first

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ship , a captured British schooner ,

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the Margaretta , in 1775 . Since then ,

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thousands of ships have undergone the

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transition from silent hall to a fully

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alive warship . My shipmates , our crew

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hereafter referred to as plank owners ,

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are in formation and ready . In just a

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few moments , Navy Band Northeast and

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the submarine-based New London saluting

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battery will render honors to the

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Honorable Richard Blumenthal and the

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Honorable Kim Reynolds .

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Will the guests please rise and remain

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standing for the arrival of our

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official party , honors , the

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presentation of colors , our national

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anthem , and the invocation .

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Ladies and gentlemen , our platform

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guests . Lieutenant Commander Joseph

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McGraw , Chaplain Corps , United States

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Navy , our ceremony chaplain .

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Commander Tim Shugart , United States

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Navy retired , our longlas presenter .

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Captain Doug McCray , United States

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Navy retired , Chairman , USS Iowa

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Commissioning Committee .

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Captain Mike Hollenbach , United States

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Navy Program manager , Virginia class

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submarine program .

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Captain Brian Heberly , United States

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Navy , supervisor of shipbuilding ,

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Grotton .

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Captain Jason Grizzle , United States

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Navy Commander , submarine squadron 4 .

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Mr . Mark Raja , president , General

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Dynamics , electric boat .

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Rear Admiral Jonathan Rucker , United

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States Navy program executive officer

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attack submarines .

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Vice Admiral Robert M . Goucher ,

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United States Navy Commander ,

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submarine forces .

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Admiral Darryl Caudle , United States

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Navy Commander US Fleet Forces Command ,

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Commander US Naval Forces Northern

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Command . Commander US Naval Forces

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Strategic Command . The

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Honorable John Phelan , the

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seventy-ninth Secretary of the Navy .

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The Honorable Marionette Miller Meeks ,

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United States Representative , State of

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Iowa , First District . OK .

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The Honorable Joe Courtney , United

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States Representative , State of

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Connecticut , 2nd District .

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The Honorable Kim Reynolds , Governor ,

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state of Iowa .

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Ladies and gentlemen , our ship's

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sponsor , Mrs . Christie Vilsack ,

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escorted by Master Chief Petty Officer

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Dexter Buckley , Iowa's chief of the

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boat . OK .

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Ladies and gentlemen , the Honorable

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Richard Blumenthal , United States

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Senator , State of Connecticut ,

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escorted today by Commander Greg Coy ,

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Iowa's commanding officer .

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Ladies and gentlemen , honors to the

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Honorable Richard Blumenthal and the

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Honorable Kim Reynolds . What I

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Platform Ready ? 2 .

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Advance the colors .

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Platforms

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Color Colors turn .

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Reset . Go .

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Oh , see , can you

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see by the dawn's

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early light what so

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proudly we hailed

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at the twilight's last gleaming

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whose broad stripes and bright

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stars through the

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perilous fight . Or

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the robots we watched

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were so gallantly

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streaming and the rockets

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red . The bombs bursting .

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Gave proof through the

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night that our flag was

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still there . Oh see

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dolls that star spangled

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banner . or

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the And of the free .

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And the whole of

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the bridge .

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Yeah .

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Retire the colors . the guard ,

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carry guns .

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Go , go this time .

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Platform 2 .

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We'd like to thank Navy Band Northeast ,

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Master Chief retired Larry Alger ,

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submarine-based New London saluting

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Battery , and the Submarine School

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Silver Dolphin Color Guard for their

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participation in our ceremony today .

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Ladies and gentlemen , Chaplain McGraw

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will deliver the invocation . Mhm .

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I invite you to join me in prayer .

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Gracious God , as we joyfully gather

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here to celebrate this commissioning .

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We give thanks for the freedom we enjoy ,

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the peace earned and defended by so

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many , and your goodness and blessing

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this nation so richly . What a fine

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Navy day , gray , cloudy .

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Windy , a little cold . Typically

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beautiful roton weather here at the

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submarine capital of the world , but at

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the same time , we are grateful that

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it's not raining . A poet once wrote

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that no man is an island , and it is

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true that alone we can do so little ,

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but together we are made strong . Here

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today are so many from the great state

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of Iowa , joining friends and family

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from across this great nation , allies

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from around the world , industry

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partners , a crew gathered from every

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place and background . In a boat which

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carries a worthy name . We thank you

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for this embodiment of what we strive

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for a unified team building something

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together , free people serving

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something greater than themselves , and

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sacrifice made in pursuit of peace and

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a bright future . But it's not just

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those who gather here today from whom

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we draw strength , for we stand on the

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shoulders of giants , the sailors who

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forged our navy and tested the depths

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of the sea , the minds that dreamed and

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the pioneers who made it possible , and

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all those who once sailed under the

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name of Iowa and forged the proud

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legacy which this new submarine

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continues . We thank you for the

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privilege to follow in their footsteps .

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And grant that we might all be worthy

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of the sacred trust they have passed

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down . We pray for continued peace .

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But when in your wisdom you ask us to

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sail into the storm , we pray for

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success in every mission and victory in

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every fight . May this boat and the

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entire US Navy defend those liberties

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we prize and ever serve as a deterrent

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to aggression and a promise of peace .

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I'm in . Thank you , Chaplain

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McGraw . Will the guests , please be

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seated . Iowa parade rest .

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Ladies and gentlemen , the Honorable

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Joe Courtney . Thank

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you , Lieutenant Commander , and good

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morning , uh , everyone . It's a great

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honor for myself and Senator Blumenthal

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today to welcome our many guests to

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Southeastern Connecticut in our

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nation's oldest submarine base , Naval

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Submarine Base , New London . Here ,

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commander , excuse me , here , base

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commander , Captain Kenneth Curtain and

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his able team oversee 15 attack

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submarines , 7000 sailors , and

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hundreds of civilian federal workers

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who are operating at a heel to toe

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tempo . With the most demanding skills

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and proficiency to protect our nation ,

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there is no better place to welcome USS

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Iowa , the 24th Virginia class

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submarine into the submarine force than

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this hallowed base which the Navy stood

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up in 1867 . And to Captain Coy and the

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crew , please know that the Navy's

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decision to homeport , Iowa here in

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Groton means that you are gonna be

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welcomed and honored at the submarine

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capital of the world for as long as you

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are stationed here . The presence today

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of our newly confirmed seventy-ninth

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Secretary of the Navy , Mr . John

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Phelan , also adds to the gravitas of

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today's event . As ranking member of

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the bipartisan House Sea Power

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Subcommittee , I want to publicly

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congratulate you on your critical new

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post , and I can assure you that the

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subcommittee will work with you to

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strengthen our nation's sea services

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whose mission today is of the highest

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importance . It is a pleasure also to

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welcome back to Grotin the outstanding

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energetic Iowa commissioning Committee

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led today by Governor Reynolds and the

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ships and the submarine sponsor ,

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Christie Vilsack . Whose lifetime of

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public service at home and abroad with

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USAID did so much to uplift our public

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our nation's public good and whose

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example inspired the sailors of Iowa

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for decades to come . Welcome also to

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her husband Tom Vilsack , who visited

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New England countless times as

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secretary of the agriculture to support

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our farmers and to support the food

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insecure . Thank you both for your

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outstanding work and finally , welcome

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to my colleague in the House ,

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Congresswoman Marionette Miller Meeks ,

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who I can personally attest is the most

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ardent fan of Iowa Women's College

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basketball and Caitlin Clark of anyone

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in the US House of Representatives . Of

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course that was a year ago and today

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Paige Beckers and the UConn women are

19:54.520 --> 19:56.969
now back in Sunday's final , and it

19:56.969 --> 19:58.949
will be my turn to drop the mic .

20:01.099 --> 20:03.266
Congratulations to the entire electric

20:03.266 --> 20:05.432
boat team , to Mark Raja , the new CEO

20:05.432 --> 20:07.599
of EB , and your partners from Newport

20:07.599 --> 20:09.729
News . Congratulations also to Iowa's

20:09.729 --> 20:11.673
commanding officer Greg Coy , your

20:11.673 --> 20:13.729
predecessors Matt Powell and Quentin

20:13.729 --> 20:15.785
James , who kept Iowa's crew working

20:15.785 --> 20:17.840
and believing over 6 long years from

20:17.840 --> 20:19.896
the Keel Lang to today's launch that

20:19.896 --> 20:22.007
this day would finally arrive . And I

20:22.007 --> 20:24.007
want to get . A shout out to Iowa's

20:24.007 --> 20:26.425
relentless ship manager Kamal Mohammed ,

20:26.505 --> 20:28.594
who's talented , cheerful leadership

20:28.905 --> 20:31.016
kept all the metal trades , designers

20:31.016 --> 20:33.238
and support teams on task , even in the

20:33.238 --> 20:35.984
darkest days of the pandemic caused by

20:35.984 --> 20:38.145
an airborne pathogen that made work

20:38.145 --> 20:40.104
inside of a submarine extremely

20:40.104 --> 20:42.584
difficult . Kamal , please stand up and

20:42.584 --> 20:43.584
be acknowledged .

20:51.160 --> 20:53.109
Iowa's successful has lots of good

20:53.109 --> 20:55.530
company . Last fall , the 23rd Virginia

20:55.530 --> 20:57.474
class submarine USS New Jersey was

20:57.474 --> 20:59.697
commissioned . After today , the 25th ,

20:59.750 --> 21:01.972
Massachusetts will be commissioned this

21:01.972 --> 21:03.861
fall , and in December , Idaho is

21:03.861 --> 21:05.750
slated for delivery . Next year ,

21:05.750 --> 21:07.861
Arkansas and Utah are on deck to join

21:07.861 --> 21:10.349
the fleet as well , numbers 27 and 28 .

21:11.130 --> 21:13.170
This torrent of post-pandemic

21:13.170 --> 21:15.530
deliveries is a powerful rebuttal to

21:15.530 --> 21:17.752
some who disparage the men and women of

21:17.752 --> 21:20.030
our nation's submarine industrial base .

21:20.030 --> 21:22.197
They are wrong . Since 2018 , Congress

21:22.197 --> 21:24.363
has stepped up investment in workforce

21:24.363 --> 21:26.530
facilities and supply chain all across

21:26.530 --> 21:29.000
the country , including Iowa . which

21:29.000 --> 21:31.359
today has over $50 million of submarine

21:31.359 --> 21:33.359
components coming in , some of them

21:33.359 --> 21:35.137
from Marionette's congressional

21:35.137 --> 21:38.209
district . In February I traveled with

21:38.209 --> 21:40.376
another Iowa congressman , Zach Nunn ,

21:40.376 --> 21:42.376
to the Indo-Pacific region , and we

21:42.376 --> 21:44.320
heard from Admiral Samuel Paparo ,

21:44.320 --> 21:46.542
commander of all US forces in that vast

21:46.542 --> 21:48.765
region , that attack submarines are the

21:48.765 --> 21:50.987
most critical instrument the US and our

21:50.987 --> 21:52.931
democratic allies have in order to

21:52.931 --> 21:55.042
deter aggression and keep the peace .

21:55.042 --> 21:56.709
In Australia , its leaders in

21:56.709 --> 21:58.820
parliament and government footstomped

21:58.820 --> 22:00.931
the critical importance of ACAS , the

22:00.931 --> 22:02.876
Trilateral Security Alliance whose

22:02.876 --> 22:05.042
centerpiece is . To sell and equip the

22:05.042 --> 22:06.876
Aussie navy with nuclear powered

22:06.876 --> 22:09.180
conventional armed attack submarines .

22:09.300 --> 22:11.356
We have no better friends and allies

22:11.356 --> 22:13.619
than the UK and Australia today we are

22:13.619 --> 22:15.786
honored to have the defense attache of

22:15.786 --> 22:17.859
the Australian embassy to the United

22:17.859 --> 22:20.369
States in Groton , Rear Admiral Ian

22:20.369 --> 22:22.591
Murray and also Commander Nick Stratton

22:22.591 --> 22:24.480
of the British Navy and embassy ,

22:24.540 --> 22:26.780
underscoring the importance of the AIS

22:26.780 --> 22:28.780
Agreement , and I would ask them to

22:28.780 --> 22:30.613
please stand and be recognized .

22:37.020 --> 22:39.180
Today's event is not only just a

22:39.180 --> 22:40.791
profound achievement of this

22:40.791 --> 22:42.791
technological marvel , but also the

22:42.791 --> 22:44.958
global importance of our commitment to

22:44.958 --> 22:47.180
supporting our democratic allies . Best

22:47.180 --> 22:49.069
wishes to Commander Officer Coy ,

22:49.069 --> 22:51.291
Iowa's crew , as you begin your journey

22:51.291 --> 22:53.458
to do amazing important things for our

22:53.458 --> 22:54.958
great nation . Thank you .

23:00.150 --> 23:02.261
Thank you , Representative Courtney .

23:02.261 --> 23:04.483
Ladies and gentlemen , Mr . Mark Raja .

23:10.989 --> 23:13.099
Good morning . On behalf of the

23:13.099 --> 23:16.619
24,168 employees of Electric boat , um ,

23:17.579 --> 23:20.060
congratulations and welcome to the

23:20.060 --> 23:23.660
submarine capital of the world . As you

23:23.660 --> 23:25.827
heard earlier , this is a COVID boat .

23:25.827 --> 23:27.938
You were introduced to Kamal Mohammed

23:27.938 --> 23:30.099
earlier . He led a team of many

23:30.099 --> 23:33.109
shipbuilders both at Newport News . And

23:33.109 --> 23:36.150
an electric boat to put together a boat

23:36.150 --> 23:39.310
during a time when masks fogged up

23:39.709 --> 23:42.260
eyewear became a thing of every day .

23:43.770 --> 23:45.714
But it is another testament to the

23:45.714 --> 23:47.930
perseverance and the dedication , the

23:47.930 --> 23:50.152
bravery of American shipbuilders , they

23:50.152 --> 23:52.374
pushed through it and they continued to

23:52.374 --> 23:54.486
build . We did not miss a day of work

23:54.486 --> 23:56.652
during COVID , and that is a testament

23:56.652 --> 24:00.569
to our shipbuilders . We

24:00.569 --> 24:03.329
endured a graving dock , uh , pontoon

24:03.329 --> 24:07.250
break . We also endured many other

24:07.250 --> 24:08.972
hardships during that time . I

24:08.972 --> 24:10.306
apologize . It's cold .

24:13.500 --> 24:15.667
But this this ship , another in a long

24:15.667 --> 24:18.130
line of great ships built by United

24:18.130 --> 24:21.770
States shipbuilders , 330 subs in

24:21.770 --> 24:25.400
total , over 200 nuclear powered subs .

24:28.250 --> 24:31.290
We're making history We're rebuilding

24:31.290 --> 24:33.859
an industrial base that had long been

24:33.859 --> 24:36.810
forgotten . Hard work ,

24:37.030 --> 24:39.430
manufacturing work have been left

24:39.430 --> 24:42.010
behind . We're rebuilding that today .

24:42.060 --> 24:44.579
The whole supply chain investment by

24:44.579 --> 24:48.199
the Congress , by the Navy , the

24:48.199 --> 24:49.866
entirety of the United States

24:50.579 --> 24:53.489
infrastructure is being put to work

24:53.489 --> 24:56.719
today . Matt Surman and his team . That

24:58.540 --> 25:01.609
have taken on an enormous task .

25:03.709 --> 25:07.199
But we're doing it . We're . Excuse me .

25:09.130 --> 25:11.520
So to the crew of the 797 .

25:13.109 --> 25:15.900
We work hard every day to make sure

25:15.900 --> 25:18.067
that you have the overmatch you need .

25:19.000 --> 25:22.760
When you go to battle . We have an you

25:22.760 --> 25:25.150
have an energetic sponsor , Ms .

25:25.160 --> 25:29.079
Christie Vilsack , who had a 500

25:29.079 --> 25:31.079
year career in education and public

25:31.079 --> 25:34.790
service . And to the

25:34.790 --> 25:36.859
command to the CEO of the boat .

25:38.520 --> 25:42.180
Commandery . We wish you and the crew

25:42.869 --> 25:44.900
of Iowa safe and distinguished tour

25:44.900 --> 25:48.609
duty , and may you . As you did your as

25:48.609 --> 25:50.910
a predecessor both the famous

25:51.400 --> 25:54.560
battleship Iowa , this generation of

25:54.560 --> 25:58.160
adversaries will learn what it means to

25:58.160 --> 26:00.000
fear the ghost . Thank you .

26:06.390 --> 26:08.900
Thank you , Mr . Raja . Ladies and

26:08.900 --> 26:10.956
gentlemen , the Honorable Marionette

26:10.956 --> 26:11.956
Miller Meeks .

26:16.780 --> 26:19.002
Thank you so much , Commander , uh , to

26:19.002 --> 26:20.502
my fellow representative ,

26:20.502 --> 26:22.669
Representative Courtney , thank you so

26:22.669 --> 26:24.836
much for the welcome and , uh , I , by

26:24.836 --> 26:27.058
my size I look like I would belong more

26:27.058 --> 26:28.891
on a nuclear submarine than on a

26:28.891 --> 26:31.189
basketball court , uh , but this Army

26:31.189 --> 26:33.189
veteran could not be more proud and

26:33.189 --> 26:35.819
more excited to be here today . We know

26:35.819 --> 26:37.875
that the legend that precedes , uh ,

26:37.875 --> 26:40.540
the 797 with the USSI with the

26:40.540 --> 26:43.859
battleship Iowa is a legend . Uh , that

26:43.859 --> 26:46.329
carries with it both excitement ,

26:46.500 --> 26:48.900
perseverance , resilience , valor ,

26:49.219 --> 26:53.160
victory , dedication . And that

26:53.160 --> 26:55.300
of a nation that loves freedom and

26:55.300 --> 26:59.180
liberty . And so with that it's

26:59.180 --> 27:02.250
our deep gratitude to all of those who

27:02.250 --> 27:04.859
uh were in the process of building and

27:04.859 --> 27:08.130
bringing the USS Iowa to us here today .

27:08.640 --> 27:10.807
I having heard Representative Courtney

27:10.807 --> 27:12.973
on the floor of Congress talking about

27:12.973 --> 27:15.196
the submarine capital of the world , we

27:15.196 --> 27:17.418
could not be more delighted to have the

27:17.418 --> 27:19.584
home port here in Groton , Connecticut

27:19.584 --> 27:22.069
and know it will be in good hands to

27:22.069 --> 27:24.699
the crew who tested , who persevered ,

27:24.780 --> 27:27.189
who are there . Remember that the

27:27.189 --> 27:30.540
legend has gone before you , but today ,

27:30.790 --> 27:34.459
as we hoist the colors man the boat as

27:34.459 --> 27:37.670
we bring life to the boat that your

27:37.670 --> 27:40.270
legend and the new legend of the US

27:40.270 --> 27:43.790
Iowa starts today . God bless you . God

27:43.790 --> 27:45.901
bless the great state of Iowa and God

27:45.901 --> 27:47.457
bless America . Thank you .

27:52.650 --> 27:54.983
Thank you , Representative Miller Meeks .

27:54.983 --> 27:57.094
Ladies and gentlemen , Admiral Darryl

27:57.094 --> 27:58.094
Caudle .

28:03.849 --> 28:05.738
Thank you , XO and good morning ,

28:05.738 --> 28:08.790
Groton . Let's get chilly out here .

28:08.869 --> 28:11.036
Let's get a little bit of life at us ,

28:11.349 --> 28:13.571
and good morning to the incredible crew

28:13.571 --> 28:17.150
of USS Iowa . I just love being back at

28:17.150 --> 28:19.372
the submarine capital of the world . It

28:19.372 --> 28:21.039
is like a homecoming for me ,

28:21.430 --> 28:23.650
reconnecting to the nation's center of

28:23.650 --> 28:27.310
gravity for the uh for the steely eyed

28:27.310 --> 28:30.250
killers of the deep . And today I take

28:30.250 --> 28:32.530
great pleasure and immense pride in

28:32.530 --> 28:34.586
joining you for the commissioning of

28:34.586 --> 28:36.697
the extraordinary warship in front of

28:36.697 --> 28:40.219
you , 377 ft of

28:40.219 --> 28:43.170
ruthless , silent , and unmatched

28:43.170 --> 28:45.839
American strength , built by the grit

28:45.839 --> 28:48.160
and determination of . Of American

28:48.160 --> 28:50.439
shipyard workers , I would like to

28:50.439 --> 28:52.800
welcome and give my sincere thanks to

28:52.800 --> 28:54.911
several very important people joining

28:54.911 --> 28:57.170
us today , our ship sponsor , Ms .

28:57.239 --> 29:00.040
Christie Vilsack , to our principal

29:00.040 --> 29:02.262
speaker , Governor Reynolds , thank you

29:02.262 --> 29:04.439
for your ardent support and homegrown

29:04.439 --> 29:07.219
Iowa pride . Senator Blumenthal ,

29:07.540 --> 29:09.596
Congressman Courtney , Congresswoman

29:09.596 --> 29:11.707
Miller Meeks , thank you for all your

29:11.707 --> 29:13.873
kind words and continued congressional

29:13.873 --> 29:16.469
support for America's lethal maritime

29:16.699 --> 29:20.180
fighting force . Commander Shugart ,

29:20.469 --> 29:22.670
you honor us today , sir , when your

29:22.670 --> 29:25.069
attendance is , you pass the mantle of

29:25.069 --> 29:28.589
Iowa to the next generation . Our

29:28.589 --> 29:30.700
Secretary of the Navy , the Honorable

29:30.700 --> 29:32.819
John Phelan , welcome , sir , and all

29:32.819 --> 29:35.041
of our distinguished guests . Thank you

29:35.041 --> 29:37.180
all for being here today for this

29:37.180 --> 29:40.050
monumentous and wonderful occasion . In

29:40.050 --> 29:42.910
this coming year , This crew of proud

29:42.910 --> 29:45.310
American sailors will put this warship

29:45.310 --> 29:48.630
to sea , carry the name Iowa to the

29:48.630 --> 29:50.729
far-flung corners of the globe ,

29:51.589 --> 29:54.290
projecting combat power for decades to

29:54.290 --> 29:57.719
come . It just feels natural for us to

29:57.719 --> 30:00.520
have a warship named Iowa back on the

30:00.520 --> 30:03.280
Navy register . For decades , the name

30:03.280 --> 30:06.400
Iowa reigned supreme amongst the high

30:06.400 --> 30:09.000
seas , bestowed upon the most powerful

30:09.000 --> 30:12.250
class of battleships of its time . So

30:12.250 --> 30:14.250
it is only fitting that our fleet's

30:14.250 --> 30:17.170
newest Iowa is similarly one of the

30:17.170 --> 30:19.770
most capable and lethal combat ships in

30:19.770 --> 30:22.000
our modern fleet , not to mention

30:22.000 --> 30:25.239
silent , deadly , and best part

30:25.239 --> 30:27.969
undetectable . During World War II ,

30:28.050 --> 30:30.000
the sight of the battleship Iowa ,

30:30.209 --> 30:31.876
looming high on the horizon ,

30:31.876 --> 30:34.380
intimidated our enemies , and rightly

30:34.380 --> 30:37.500
so . Now our adversaries will fear the

30:37.500 --> 30:40.270
ghost because they cannot see Iowa ,

30:40.619 --> 30:42.563
always aware that she is out there

30:42.563 --> 30:45.250
roaming the seas and stalking her prey .

30:45.869 --> 30:47.979
And now for the crew , the fearless

30:47.979 --> 30:50.540
warriors before me that make this piece

30:50.540 --> 30:53.219
of metal of almost 8000 tons with

30:53.219 --> 30:55.729
hundreds of miles of fiber optic cable

30:55.939 --> 30:58.569
and piping systems into a combat ship ,

30:58.780 --> 31:02.060
a warship designed to decisively win

31:02.060 --> 31:04.380
our nation's battles , I offer the

31:04.380 --> 31:06.547
following . What you have accomplished

31:06.547 --> 31:08.979
in your preparation and execution to

31:08.979 --> 31:11.146
get this ship to the commissioning day

31:11.146 --> 31:14.300
is nothing short of amazing . Since you

31:14.300 --> 31:16.619
completed fast cruise last October ,

31:16.989 --> 31:18.890
you have your schedule has been

31:18.890 --> 31:21.030
demanding a demanding whirlwind of

31:21.030 --> 31:24.630
Alpha trials , bravo trials , inser ors ,

31:24.790 --> 31:27.270
weapons system accuracy trials , UEM

31:27.270 --> 31:30.229
trials , and track X . Commander Coy ,

31:30.310 --> 31:32.310
you and your crew have answered the

31:32.310 --> 31:33.921
call every step of the way ,

31:34.030 --> 31:35.829
aggressively knocking out each

31:35.829 --> 31:38.189
challenge one after another . Great

31:38.189 --> 31:40.359
work , Captain . Your leadership ,

31:40.430 --> 31:42.829
drive , and execution has made all the

31:42.829 --> 31:45.260
difference . My charge to you and your

31:45.260 --> 31:47.859
team is keep that tenacity , toughness

31:47.859 --> 31:50.219
and grit going because the challenges

31:50.219 --> 31:52.560
are just going to keep coming . Gone

31:52.560 --> 31:54.770
are the days when our fleet's newly

31:54.770 --> 31:57.459
commissioned submarines head back down

31:57.459 --> 31:59.339
the river to elect boat for

31:59.339 --> 32:01.859
post-shakedown availability . Oh no ,

32:02.180 --> 32:04.236
be prepared for your ship to receive

32:04.236 --> 32:06.780
mission tasking before the boat enters

32:06.780 --> 32:10.339
PSA . We cannot afford any idle

32:10.339 --> 32:12.530
boats waiting on the next milestone .

32:12.739 --> 32:16.545
We need . of combat power at sea ready

32:16.545 --> 32:19.104
to answer the call . We need all hands

32:19.104 --> 32:22.094
on deck because tasking will come to

32:22.094 --> 32:24.785
those who are ready . Earn your

32:24.785 --> 32:27.305
dolphins every day because the future

32:27.305 --> 32:29.594
will be demanding , but this highly

32:29.594 --> 32:31.744
trained crew of our navy's finest

32:31.744 --> 32:34.625
sailors is ready to meet today's modern

32:34.625 --> 32:36.694
threats with overmatched stealth ,

32:37.415 --> 32:39.814
technology , toughness . As warriors ,

32:39.954 --> 32:42.814
you are our nation's enduring advantage .

32:43.439 --> 32:45.640
Your job is to make the ghost as

32:45.640 --> 32:48.199
valiant as its historic predecessors ,

32:48.520 --> 32:50.680
always ready to unleash the full

32:50.680 --> 32:53.260
potential of this ship's combat power

32:53.439 --> 32:56.000
by perfecting your fighting skills with

32:56.000 --> 32:58.119
mastery and most important , with

32:58.119 --> 33:01.089
boldness . For the team on board US

33:01.089 --> 33:03.250
Iowa , I know you can do it , and I

33:03.250 --> 33:05.139
thank you for your service , your

33:05.139 --> 33:07.083
dedication , and your war fighting

33:07.083 --> 33:09.160
spirit . May God bless our country .

33:09.449 --> 33:11.338
May God bless all of you and your

33:11.338 --> 33:13.530
families for the many voyages and

33:13.530 --> 33:15.770
victories to come . Thank you .

33:23.729 --> 33:25.951
Thank you , Admiral Caudle . Ladies and

33:25.951 --> 33:27.840
gentlemen , the Honorable Richard

33:27.840 --> 33:31.420
Blumenthal . Thank you .

33:32.579 --> 33:35.699
Welcome to the submarine capital of the

33:35.699 --> 33:39.209
world . Welcome to Spring in New

33:39.209 --> 33:42.849
England . And if you don't like it

33:42.849 --> 33:45.189
today , it'll be different tomorrow .

33:45.609 --> 33:49.050
And welcome to the home of the

33:49.050 --> 33:52.010
UConn Huskies , the best women's

33:52.010 --> 33:54.530
basketball team in the United States of

33:54.530 --> 33:58.400
America . You , you can clap for

33:58.400 --> 34:01.900
that . Uh , I want to

34:01.900 --> 34:05.099
offer my thanks to the

34:05.099 --> 34:09.060
24,168 men

34:09.060 --> 34:11.850
and women who make .

34:13.570 --> 34:15.681
Grotin , the submarine capital of the

34:15.681 --> 34:17.850
world who every day come to work and

34:17.850 --> 34:20.780
produce the stealthiest , strongest ,

34:21.370 --> 34:24.929
most versatile , and the most

34:24.929 --> 34:27.850
powerful weapons platform that we have

34:27.850 --> 34:30.330
in the United States of America are

34:30.330 --> 34:33.969
Virginia class submarines and soon to

34:33.969 --> 34:37.929
be the Columbia . A vital

34:37.929 --> 34:41.610
part of our nuclear triad . You are as

34:41.610 --> 34:45.000
important to America's national

34:45.000 --> 34:47.340
security as the men and women who wear

34:47.340 --> 34:50.689
a uniform as two of my sons have done ,

34:50.820 --> 34:52.987
one in the Marine Corps , the other is

34:52.987 --> 34:55.250
a Navy SEAL , and the work that you do

34:55.820 --> 34:59.600
every day makes us . The greatest

34:59.600 --> 35:01.656
nation in the history of the world .

35:01.669 --> 35:04.219
Thank you to everyone who works at

35:04.219 --> 35:06.590
Electric Boat for your great service to

35:06.590 --> 35:07.590
our nation .

35:13.979 --> 35:17.520
Today is a day of firsts .

35:18.520 --> 35:20.409
Uh , the Secretary of the Navy is

35:20.409 --> 35:23.709
attending his first commissioning . Of

35:23.709 --> 35:27.209
a submarine that is the first built to

35:27.209 --> 35:30.429
accommodate women sailors .

35:31.199 --> 35:34.879
And And that

35:34.879 --> 35:38.120
is a landmark and a milestone that we

35:38.120 --> 35:41.959
should celebrate . Now , of course , it

35:41.959 --> 35:44.709
was planned . The ban was lifted in

35:44.709 --> 35:48.590
2010 , only taken 15 years ,

35:49.070 --> 35:53.070
but it is a landmark , and I am very ,

35:53.159 --> 35:56.110
very proud to be here with the first

35:56.110 --> 35:59.239
woman governor of Iowa . I think I'm

35:59.239 --> 36:00.906
right about that , am I not ?

36:07.139 --> 36:11.000
And I would say it's a great day

36:11.000 --> 36:14.239
for public service , public service in

36:14.239 --> 36:17.080
the Navy , public service in our nation .

36:18.219 --> 36:21.629
And we're all proud to mark it today .

36:21.919 --> 36:23.863
I was on the floor of the Senate .

36:25.330 --> 36:28.979
Until 3 a.m. this morning , literally ,

36:29.639 --> 36:33.250
as we did the budget blueprint , the

36:33.250 --> 36:36.429
resolution for this coming year . And

36:36.429 --> 36:39.639
the reason I mentioned it is to say , I

36:39.639 --> 36:43.600
can attest that the support for

36:43.600 --> 36:46.810
our navy . Is as strong as ever . The

36:46.810 --> 36:49.179
support for our submarine undersea

36:49.179 --> 36:52.739
warfare force is as strong as ever

36:53.300 --> 36:56.340
because the need for it is more than

36:56.340 --> 36:59.830
ever important for our national

36:59.830 --> 37:02.939
security . We live in a world that is

37:02.939 --> 37:06.770
more dangerous . than any time in

37:06.770 --> 37:10.560
my life . And we

37:10.560 --> 37:13.560
need the men and women as much as the

37:13.560 --> 37:16.320
technological marvel that is the

37:16.320 --> 37:18.879
Virginia class submarine , the men and

37:18.879 --> 37:22.000
women who serve in our navy in our

37:22.000 --> 37:25.520
armed forces are as talented ,

37:25.639 --> 37:28.070
energetic , dedicated , and patriotic .

37:28.459 --> 37:31.030
And I salute you , every one of you in

37:31.030 --> 37:34.209
the crew of the Iowa and all who are in

37:34.209 --> 37:36.098
uniform here today and all of our

37:36.098 --> 37:38.979
veterans , thank you all for your

37:38.979 --> 37:42.389
service . And let me just say finally ,

37:44.399 --> 37:48.310
The The future ahead

37:48.719 --> 37:51.199
depends not only on our strength , but

37:51.199 --> 37:54.919
on our allies . So I thank the members

37:54.919 --> 37:56.989
of the British and the Australian

37:57.760 --> 38:01.030
navies who are here today . There is no

38:01.030 --> 38:03.550
question about America's force .

38:04.590 --> 38:06.889
There's no question about our ability

38:06.889 --> 38:08.889
to project it . There's no question

38:08.889 --> 38:11.820
that we will sustain it as long as we

38:11.820 --> 38:14.540
remain as dedicated to our alliances as

38:14.540 --> 38:17.409
we are to our own strength and power .

38:17.659 --> 38:20.989
Thank you all for being here today and

38:20.989 --> 38:24.899
let us also celebrate the the motto of

38:24.899 --> 38:28.790
this ship our liberties we prize . And

38:28.790 --> 38:32.550
our rights we will maintain our rights

38:32.550 --> 38:36.459
we will maintain . So fear the ghost .

38:36.590 --> 38:37.590
Thank you all .

38:44.129 --> 38:46.370
Thank you , Senator Blumenthal . Ladies

38:46.370 --> 38:48.314
and gentlemen , the Honorable John

38:48.314 --> 38:48.129
Phelan .

38:57.500 --> 38:59.556
Thank you . That's too tough acts to

38:59.556 --> 39:01.689
follow , but I will do my best . Um ,

39:01.780 --> 39:03.947
on behalf of the 47th President of the

39:03.947 --> 39:06.002
United States , it is my pleasure to

39:06.002 --> 39:07.836
welcome all the honored guests ,

39:07.836 --> 39:10.260
distinguished officers , shipbuilders ,

39:10.500 --> 39:12.620
crew , and proud Americans in

39:12.620 --> 39:15.590
attendance today . This marks my first

39:15.590 --> 39:18.500
commissioning ceremony at SECNAV and

39:18.500 --> 39:20.929
it's privileged to be here to introduce

39:20.929 --> 39:22.989
the newest attack submarine to our

39:22.989 --> 39:26.449
naval fleet , the USS Iowa SSN

39:26.449 --> 39:30.159
797 . And there's no better place than

39:30.159 --> 39:32.215
Groton , Connecticut , the submarine

39:32.215 --> 39:34.270
capital of the world , to commission

39:34.270 --> 39:36.239
the next warship to join our war

39:36.239 --> 39:39.360
fighting navy . Groton's rich maritime

39:39.360 --> 39:41.304
heritage is deeply embedded in the

39:41.304 --> 39:43.620
submarine community . I visited the

39:43.620 --> 39:45.731
yards yesterday and it was one of the

39:45.731 --> 39:47.810
most impressive things I have seen .

39:48.139 --> 39:50.780
The facilities , the workers , and the

39:50.780 --> 39:53.179
public-private partnership that exists

39:53.419 --> 39:56.080
is truly world class . Today's

39:56.080 --> 39:58.280
commissioning is a fitting tribute to

39:58.280 --> 40:01.199
Grotin's enduring legacy of maritime

40:01.199 --> 40:03.032
excellence and its long standing

40:03.032 --> 40:05.199
connection to the submarine industry .

40:05.689 --> 40:07.899
This is not just a milestone for USS

40:07.899 --> 40:10.969
Iowa , but a critical step forward in

40:10.969 --> 40:13.290
strengthening our navy and ensuring

40:13.290 --> 40:16.120
America's global maritime dominance .

40:17.090 --> 40:18.812
The president and I are deeply

40:18.812 --> 40:20.479
committed to revitalizing our

40:20.479 --> 40:22.534
shipbuilding and maritime industrial

40:22.534 --> 40:24.646
base , and this commissioning is just

40:24.646 --> 40:27.550
the beginning of that effort . We need

40:27.550 --> 40:29.383
to modernize our acquisition and

40:29.383 --> 40:31.469
procurement systems to deliver the

40:31.469 --> 40:34.100
capabilities our navy deserves without

40:34.100 --> 40:37.550
unnecessary delays or cost overruns .

40:37.709 --> 40:40.280
Our processes and decision making must

40:40.280 --> 40:43.459
be faster and more efficient . I see

40:43.459 --> 40:45.626
many esteemed members of Congress here

40:45.626 --> 40:47.792
today , and I know they share the same

40:47.792 --> 40:49.792
goals . I'm committed to partnering

40:49.792 --> 40:52.139
with all of you to deliver results for

40:52.139 --> 40:55.810
our navy and for our nation . Today is

40:55.810 --> 40:57.909
a representation of naval power ,

40:58.199 --> 41:00.239
readiness , our ability to maintain

41:00.239 --> 41:02.979
superiority in the unforgiving depths

41:02.979 --> 41:05.679
below the rolling waves . It is a

41:05.679 --> 41:07.735
reminder that the Navy's strength is

41:07.735 --> 41:10.469
forged by those who serve the values

41:10.719 --> 41:12.790
they uphold and the sacrifices they

41:12.790 --> 41:15.000
stand ready to make in defense of our

41:15.000 --> 41:18.389
great nation . The name Iowa has long

41:18.389 --> 41:20.167
been synonymous with strength ,

41:20.219 --> 41:22.386
resilience , and unwavering dedication

41:22.386 --> 41:24.350
to duty , and like the grit and

41:24.350 --> 41:26.620
tenacity of the Hawkeye State's early

41:26.620 --> 41:29.350
pioneers , as they set out across the

41:29.350 --> 41:32.540
sprawling plains of Iowa , the sailors

41:32.540 --> 41:34.820
of the USS Iowa will embark with a

41:34.820 --> 41:36.899
similar medal as they set forth on

41:36.899 --> 41:39.939
their mission . For nearly 250 years ,

41:39.969 --> 41:42.409
the sea has left an indelible mark on

41:42.409 --> 41:44.969
history and the character of our nation .

41:45.489 --> 41:48.120
Make no mistake , naval warfare is

41:48.120 --> 41:50.929
evolving where battleships once ruled

41:50.929 --> 41:53.330
the seas . It is a silent strength of

41:53.330 --> 41:55.570
submarines that provides our navy with

41:55.570 --> 41:58.770
an unmatched strategic advantage . The

41:58.770 --> 42:01.689
role of submarines in modern warfare is

42:01.689 --> 42:03.745
not just about strength , it's about

42:03.745 --> 42:06.120
deterrence . And as the Secretary of

42:06.120 --> 42:08.120
Defense and the president have made

42:08.120 --> 42:10.280
abundantly clear , peace through

42:10.280 --> 42:12.280
strength enabled by strategic

42:12.280 --> 42:14.360
deterrence remains a top priority

42:14.360 --> 42:16.471
mission for the Department of Defense

42:16.471 --> 42:20.260
and our nation . USS Iowa , a Virginia

42:20.260 --> 42:22.260
class submarine , will be a force

42:22.260 --> 42:25.129
multiplier capable of striking anywhere ,

42:25.300 --> 42:27.356
gathering intelligence and contested

42:27.356 --> 42:29.340
waters and ensuring that potential

42:29.340 --> 42:31.629
adversaries think twice before

42:31.629 --> 42:33.462
challenging American interests .

42:34.290 --> 42:36.649
Submarines ensure that no adversary can

42:36.649 --> 42:39.050
act with impunity , that our allies can

42:39.050 --> 42:41.161
rely on our strength , and that peace

42:41.161 --> 42:43.199
is preserved through our unwavering

42:43.199 --> 42:45.919
readiness . And the true power of

42:45.919 --> 42:47.800
submarines extends beyond their

42:47.800 --> 42:50.159
weaponry . It lies in the knowledge

42:50.159 --> 42:51.937
that they're always on patrol ,

42:52.280 --> 42:54.389
maintaining undersea superiority ,

42:54.719 --> 42:57.030
ready to respond at a moment's notice ,

42:57.320 --> 43:00.280
embodying the , the spirit of silent

43:00.280 --> 43:02.510
service . In times of peace ,

43:02.719 --> 43:05.120
submarines keep watch in times of

43:05.120 --> 43:07.320
conflict , they strike with lethal

43:07.320 --> 43:09.639
precision . As your secretary of the

43:09.639 --> 43:12.629
Navy , I am confident USSI will carry

43:12.629 --> 43:14.949
out this important mission with honor

43:14.949 --> 43:17.120
and excellence , adding to the proud

43:17.120 --> 43:20.340
legacy of her name . But no ship , no

43:20.340 --> 43:22.659
matter how technologically advanced or

43:22.659 --> 43:25.090
intricately designed , is defined by

43:25.090 --> 43:27.540
steel and machinery alone . It is the

43:27.540 --> 43:30.379
sailors , our undersea warriors who

43:30.379 --> 43:32.490
bring her to life , who will take her

43:32.490 --> 43:34.601
beneath the waves and who will ensure

43:34.601 --> 43:37.379
she lives up to her name and namesake .

43:38.110 --> 43:40.330
To the crew of the USS Iowa , your

43:40.330 --> 43:43.100
health , welfare , and training is one

43:43.100 --> 43:45.979
of my top priorities . You must be

43:45.979 --> 43:47.812
prepared to meet any challenge ,

43:47.840 --> 43:49.909
execute the mission with precision ,

43:50.199 --> 43:53.189
and return home safely to your families .

43:53.600 --> 43:56.239
Your dedication , skill , and warrior

43:56.239 --> 43:58.520
ethos will define the submarine's

43:58.520 --> 44:01.909
success . I have a personal mantra .

44:02.199 --> 44:04.590
You either own things or they own you .

44:05.159 --> 44:06.770
This applies to leadership ,

44:06.879 --> 44:09.350
responsibility , and the mission ahead ,

44:09.590 --> 44:11.800
and I know all of you will own your

44:11.800 --> 44:15.239
mission , own your success , own the

44:15.239 --> 44:18.120
fight , and meet the moment . You will

44:18.120 --> 44:20.550
carry forward a name already chronicled

44:20.550 --> 44:23.000
in the annals of history and will add

44:23.000 --> 44:25.056
to the history that through your own

44:25.056 --> 44:27.100
service . It also represents the

44:27.100 --> 44:29.419
unbreakable spirit of the warriors who

44:29.419 --> 44:31.141
serve our armed forces and the

44:31.141 --> 44:33.363
unwavering support of the people of the

44:33.363 --> 44:35.086
great state of Iowa . From the

44:35.086 --> 44:37.030
cornfields of the heartland to the

44:37.030 --> 44:39.030
depths of the world's oceans . This

44:39.030 --> 44:41.197
name carries with it pride of a nation

44:41.197 --> 44:44.139
that values hard work , integrity , and

44:44.139 --> 44:46.860
service to the builders of this fine

44:46.860 --> 44:49.090
submarine , your craftsmanship ,

44:49.260 --> 44:51.699
innovation , and dedication have

44:51.699 --> 44:54.250
created more than a vessel . You have

44:54.250 --> 44:56.939
forged the 377 ft ,

44:56.949 --> 45:00.389
7800 tons sentinel of the sea , which

45:00.389 --> 45:02.556
is equipped with Tomahawk missiles and

45:02.556 --> 45:05.350
can travel speeds in excess of 25 knots .

45:06.270 --> 45:09.310
It's what one worker said to me , a can

45:09.310 --> 45:12.959
of whoop . It's pretty impressive .

45:13.399 --> 45:16.120
Iowa is truly a testament to American

45:16.120 --> 45:18.800
ingenuity and enterprise . Every we ,

45:19.120 --> 45:21.360
every system , and every bolt on this

45:21.360 --> 45:23.679
warship reflects your commitment and

45:23.679 --> 45:25.840
skill , and your work drives our

45:25.840 --> 45:28.280
submarine force and strengthens the

45:28.280 --> 45:30.439
security of our great nation . As we

45:30.439 --> 45:32.661
celebrate this remarkable achievement ,

45:32.719 --> 45:34.608
I'm committed to reforming how we

45:34.608 --> 45:36.439
acquire and build our ships and

45:36.439 --> 45:38.959
submarines . We must ensure that the

45:38.959 --> 45:41.439
process is faster , more efficient ,

45:41.600 --> 45:43.822
and delivers the best technology to our

45:43.822 --> 45:46.520
sailors . I urge Congress to join me in

45:46.520 --> 45:49.199
pursuing the same goal , modernizing

45:49.199 --> 45:51.399
our acquisition system so that we can

45:51.399 --> 45:53.566
deliver the capabilities that our Navy

45:53.566 --> 45:56.280
needs when they need them without

45:56.280 --> 45:59.800
necessary delays or cost overruns . And

45:59.800 --> 46:02.199
as the USS Iowa joins the fleet and

46:02.199 --> 46:04.399
goes to sea , she does so with one

46:04.399 --> 46:06.840
mission to ensure that America's

46:06.840 --> 46:09.560
adversaries think twice before testing

46:09.560 --> 46:12.320
our resolve . Emboldened on the Iowa

46:12.320 --> 46:16.080
state flag , USS Iowa's motto remains a

46:16.080 --> 46:18.239
promise that she stands to defend the

46:18.239 --> 46:20.679
freedoms we cherish , our liberties we

46:20.679 --> 46:23.350
prize , our rights we will maintain .

46:23.919 --> 46:26.360
May she sell strong . May she sell

46:26.360 --> 46:28.479
proud , and she always return home

46:28.479 --> 46:31.909
safely . God blessed USS Iowa and her

46:31.909 --> 46:34.729
crew . God bless the US Navy , and God

46:34.729 --> 46:36.840
bless all of you in the United States

46:36.840 --> 46:39.370
of America . It is now my pleasure to

46:39.370 --> 46:41.481
introduce a leader with long standing

46:41.481 --> 46:43.426
record of public service to Iowa ,

46:43.449 --> 46:45.338
where she currently serves in the

46:45.338 --> 46:47.338
state's highest office . Ladies and

46:47.338 --> 46:49.560
gentlemen , please join me in welcoming

46:49.560 --> 46:51.338
the 43rd Governor of Iowa , Kim

46:51.338 --> 46:52.338
Reynolds .

47:00.280 --> 47:03.080
Thank you Secretary Phelan uh for your

47:03.080 --> 47:05.399
leadership and for your words and for

47:05.399 --> 47:07.830
that kind introduction and thank you

47:07.830 --> 47:10.919
for giving me the profound honor of

47:10.919 --> 47:12.975
speaking at the commissioning of the

47:12.975 --> 47:16.280
USS Iowa . It's a special privilege to

47:16.280 --> 47:18.600
do so here at the submarine capital of

47:18.600 --> 47:21.659
the world , Groton , Connecticut . In a

47:21.659 --> 47:23.689
place like this , America's rich

47:23.689 --> 47:25.939
tradition of shipbuilding and maritime

47:25.939 --> 47:29.250
prowess is not mere history , but also

47:29.250 --> 47:32.169
a dynamic present . It's truly

47:32.169 --> 47:35.429
remarkable to see firsthand . In that

47:35.429 --> 47:37.989
spirit of admiration for our host , I

47:37.989 --> 47:39.878
wanna acknowledge the Connecticut

47:39.878 --> 47:41.933
elected officials who are joining us

47:41.933 --> 47:43.750
today , Senator Richard Richard

47:43.750 --> 47:45.639
Blumenthal and Representative Joe

47:45.639 --> 47:48.520
Courtney , and I also wanna thank Iowa

47:48.520 --> 47:50.687
Representative Marionette Miller Meeks

47:50.687 --> 47:53.030
for being here too , as well as all of

47:53.030 --> 47:55.389
the other elected officials , the Navy

47:55.389 --> 47:57.550
leaders , and our veterans and their

47:57.550 --> 48:00.149
families in attendance . We are so

48:00.149 --> 48:02.889
honored by your presence . In

48:02.889 --> 48:04.929
particular , my thanks to Admiral

48:04.929 --> 48:07.330
Darryl Cottle , commander of the USS

48:07.330 --> 48:10.219
Fleet Forces Command , and Vice Admiral

48:10.219 --> 48:13.010
Robert Goucher , commander of submarine

48:13.010 --> 48:16.290
forces . These senior Navy Navy

48:16.290 --> 48:18.409
commanders , like countless others

48:18.409 --> 48:21.199
under their command , worked tirelessly

48:21.449 --> 48:23.770
to protect our nation and its interests

48:23.770 --> 48:26.810
at sea . Thank you for your honorable

48:26.810 --> 48:29.479
service . I also want to acknowledge

48:29.479 --> 48:32.080
the USS Iowa commissioning Committee ,

48:32.330 --> 48:34.290
the many volunteers and private

48:34.290 --> 48:36.570
companies who have contributed time and

48:36.570 --> 48:38.889
treasure , and the ship's sponsor

48:38.889 --> 48:40.889
Christie Vilsack , as well as her

48:40.889 --> 48:43.489
husband , former ag secretary , and

48:43.489 --> 48:46.719
Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack . On behalf

48:46.719 --> 48:49.310
of our entire state , I couldn't be

48:49.310 --> 48:51.969
more grateful to all of you for your

48:51.969 --> 48:54.489
many efforts to make this remarkable

48:54.489 --> 48:57.800
day possible . And remarkable is

48:57.800 --> 49:00.280
exactly the right way to describe it .

49:00.610 --> 49:03.409
After nearly 8 years as governor , some

49:03.409 --> 49:06.379
occasions stand out as special

49:06.379 --> 49:09.370
reminders of the great privilege it is

49:09.370 --> 49:12.479
to serve . These powerful sights and

49:12.479 --> 49:15.580
experiences can often seem surreal .

49:15.969 --> 49:18.399
They've moved me , humbled me ,

49:18.610 --> 49:22.090
inspired me . Often they've filled me

49:22.090 --> 49:24.409
with awe for the ideals and

49:24.409 --> 49:26.889
achievements of our great country , as

49:26.889 --> 49:29.620
well as a gratitude for the patriots

49:29.620 --> 49:33.040
who so bravely defend her . Today's

49:33.040 --> 49:35.550
ceremony is certainly one of those

49:35.550 --> 49:38.860
occasions , and in fact , it may very

49:38.860 --> 49:42.360
well top the list . This is a day that

49:42.360 --> 49:45.800
I will never forget . As an Iowan ,

49:45.840 --> 49:47.951
it's powerful to stand here with this

49:47.951 --> 49:50.370
cutting edge Virginia class submarine

49:50.370 --> 49:52.850
behind me as it prepares to begin its

49:52.850 --> 49:55.780
decades of service bearing the iconic

49:55.780 --> 49:59.350
name USS Iowa . Like that name ,

49:59.620 --> 50:02.949
this vessel embodies American ingenuity ,

50:03.080 --> 50:05.300
industrial might , which have so

50:05.300 --> 50:07.760
frequently been the means of winning

50:07.760 --> 50:11.000
wars , preserving peace and defending

50:11.000 --> 50:13.860
freedom throughout the world . In this

50:13.860 --> 50:16.100
case , countless people have set their

50:16.100 --> 50:18.939
minds and hands to writing this latest

50:18.939 --> 50:22.530
chapter of our nation's unmatched naval

50:22.530 --> 50:24.659
excellence , starting with the

50:24.659 --> 50:27.100
outstanding team at General Dynamics

50:27.100 --> 50:29.739
electric boat led by its president Mark

50:29.739 --> 50:32.989
Raja . That team in turn has been

50:32.989 --> 50:35.360
supported by numerous contractors in

50:35.360 --> 50:37.600
the Department of Defense Industrial

50:37.600 --> 50:40.709
Base which spans nearly every state .

50:41.320 --> 50:43.389
Quite a few of these organizations ,

50:43.479 --> 50:46.040
including many from Iowa , are with us

50:46.040 --> 50:48.679
today , so please join me in thanking

50:48.679 --> 50:51.649
them for their outstanding contribution

50:51.919 --> 50:54.389
to America's safety and security .

51:01.300 --> 51:03.969
President John Adams famously referred

51:03.969 --> 51:06.219
to the naval power he built , he helped

51:06.219 --> 51:09.620
build as America's wooden walls . Today

51:09.620 --> 51:11.969
those walls are no longer wooden but

51:11.969 --> 51:14.479
steel , and rather than rise above the

51:14.479 --> 51:17.260
surface of the sea , they often plunge

51:17.260 --> 51:19.939
deep beneath it , and yet they remain

51:19.939 --> 51:22.250
our nation's first line of defense ,

51:22.739 --> 51:25.860
the tip of its spear , it's stabilizing

51:25.860 --> 51:27.971
representative in a turbulent world .

51:28.360 --> 51:31.379
In just minutes , the new USS Iowa will

51:31.379 --> 51:34.100
officially begin carrying forward that

51:34.100 --> 51:36.739
proud tradition . It will do so through

51:36.739 --> 51:39.199
the skill and bravery of the American

51:39.199 --> 51:42.379
sailors , men and women alike who will

51:42.379 --> 51:44.739
make up its first crew . They've

51:44.739 --> 51:47.699
volunteered to defend us , yet most of

51:47.699 --> 51:50.060
us have little understanding of the

51:50.060 --> 51:52.570
challenges and dangers that they may

51:52.570 --> 51:54.681
face in the course of their service .

51:55.310 --> 51:58.310
Perhaps it's that very uncertainty that

51:58.310 --> 52:01.739
most clearly reveals the priceless debt

52:01.739 --> 52:04.590
of gratitude we owe them . It

52:04.590 --> 52:07.290
underscores their remarkable courage

52:07.290 --> 52:10.590
and daring and inspires us to pray for

52:10.590 --> 52:13.699
their safe return . As one of the great

52:13.699 --> 52:15.870
military heroes of American history

52:15.870 --> 52:18.989
once said , no man is entitled to the

52:18.989 --> 52:21.479
blessings of freedom unless he be

52:21.479 --> 52:24.189
vigilant in its preservation . The

52:24.189 --> 52:26.560
vigilance of these sailors will surely

52:26.560 --> 52:29.669
entitle them to all the blessings that

52:29.669 --> 52:32.030
freedom and a grateful nation can

52:32.030 --> 52:35.820
bestow . To Commanding Officer Greg Coy ,

52:36.300 --> 52:38.356
Chief of the boat , Dexter Buckley ,

52:38.356 --> 52:41.540
and the entire USS Iowa crew , on

52:41.540 --> 52:43.939
behalf of those you protect , fair

52:43.939 --> 52:46.969
winds and following seas , Godspeed ,

52:47.139 --> 52:49.709
and thank you for your selfless service .

52:50.879 --> 52:53.101
For Iowans , today's commissioning will

52:53.101 --> 52:55.268
spark memories of our state's numerous

52:55.268 --> 52:58.229
connections to the USS naval history .

52:58.840 --> 53:01.129
We learned these inspiring stories as

53:01.129 --> 53:03.560
school children . For some , they may

53:03.560 --> 53:05.909
have played a role in their own

53:05.909 --> 53:08.879
decision to enter the military , but

53:08.879 --> 53:11.510
for our entire state landlocked ,

53:11.719 --> 53:13.919
though it though it is , they've

53:13.919 --> 53:16.679
fostered a genuine sense of ownership

53:16.679 --> 53:19.189
and pride in America's great navy .

53:20.000 --> 53:22.167
They were , there were , for example ,

53:22.270 --> 53:24.830
the 5 Sullivan brothers , George ,

53:25.000 --> 53:28.639
Frank , Joe , Matt , and Al , who

53:28.639 --> 53:30.639
served and died together when their

53:30.639 --> 53:32.528
cruiser was sunk at the Battle of

53:32.528 --> 53:34.472
Guadalcanal . They had entered the

53:34.472 --> 53:36.195
service their service with the

53:36.195 --> 53:38.139
assurance that the 5 of them would

53:38.139 --> 53:40.306
remain together . And they did exactly

53:40.306 --> 53:43.750
that until the very end . These heroic

53:43.750 --> 53:46.189
young men were later celebrated when

53:46.189 --> 53:49.270
two destroyers were named USS the

53:49.270 --> 53:51.750
Sullivans in their honor . The joint

53:51.750 --> 53:54.350
motto of those ships , we stick

53:54.350 --> 53:56.969
together . In evoking the memory of

53:56.969 --> 53:59.209
those brave Iowa boys , it's a

53:59.209 --> 54:01.449
beautiful reminder of the enduring

54:01.449 --> 54:03.810
brotherhood that sets military service

54:03.810 --> 54:07.080
apart and as everyone here knows ,

54:07.209 --> 54:10.209
Iowa has left more than its share of

54:10.209 --> 54:13.159
other marks on naval history too .

54:13.729 --> 54:16.610
Starting in the Civil War , our state

54:16.610 --> 54:19.169
has given its name to no fewer than 5

54:19.169 --> 54:22.129
Navy ships , each with a fascinating

54:22.129 --> 54:25.919
story all its own . But none more so ,

54:26.149 --> 54:27.982
but none more so than the famous

54:27.982 --> 54:30.709
battleship Iowa , the only ship of its

54:30.709 --> 54:32.870
class to see action in both the

54:32.870 --> 54:35.469
Atlantic and Pacific theaters during

54:35.469 --> 54:38.949
World War II . Her long and fascinating

54:38.949 --> 54:40.782
career earned her nearly as many

54:40.782 --> 54:42.830
nicknames as decades in which she

54:42.830 --> 54:46.120
served . The mighty eye , the big stick ,

54:46.370 --> 54:48.537
the battleship of the presidents , and

54:48.537 --> 54:50.850
the great ghost , and this last one

54:50.850 --> 54:52.739
being the inspiration for the new

54:52.739 --> 54:56.290
ship's motto , Fear the ghost . In the

54:56.290 --> 54:59.209
40s , the former USS Iowa protected

54:59.209 --> 55:01.320
Allied shipping in the North Atlantic

55:01.409 --> 55:03.879
from the best that the Axis navies had

55:03.879 --> 55:06.570
to offer , carried President Roosevelt

55:06.570 --> 55:08.209
to the Tehran Conference and

55:08.209 --> 55:10.889
participated in the capture of several

55:10.889 --> 55:13.850
Japanese islands . Later , she served

55:13.850 --> 55:16.330
in the Korean War and wasn't and wasn't

55:16.330 --> 55:18.889
decommissioned for the final time until

55:18.889 --> 55:22.080
the late 1980s . Fear and

55:22.080 --> 55:25.100
bravery , loneliness and camaraderie ,

55:25.379 --> 55:28.600
tragedy and victory , all of this and

55:28.600 --> 55:31.840
more unfolded on the USS Iowa in her

55:31.840 --> 55:34.639
eventful life , which continues today

55:34.639 --> 55:36.979
as a museum ship in the port of Los

55:36.979 --> 55:40.560
Angeles . This history matters to

55:40.560 --> 55:43.790
Iowans . The countless crew members

55:43.800 --> 55:46.389
living and dead who wrote that history

55:46.719 --> 55:49.879
matter to us , and that's why so many

55:49.879 --> 55:51.790
from our state , including many

55:51.790 --> 55:54.389
veterans , have made the 1200 mile

55:54.389 --> 55:57.479
journey here to Groton , Connecticut to

55:57.479 --> 56:00.639
honor the much loved name of USS

56:00.639 --> 56:04.639
Iowa , to see her amazing legacy

56:04.639 --> 56:07.879
continue by a vessel so worthy of that

56:07.879 --> 56:11.540
name . And to assure her crew and our

56:11.540 --> 56:14.290
country of the enduring affection ,

56:14.560 --> 56:17.250
prayers , and goodwill of the state

56:17.459 --> 56:20.709
whose name she bears . May God bless

56:20.709 --> 56:24.010
the new USS Iowa and all who built her .

56:24.340 --> 56:27.370
May God bless her crew and give success

56:27.370 --> 56:30.250
to her mission and may God bless Iowa

56:30.250 --> 56:32.620
and the United States of America . God

56:32.620 --> 56:33.620
bless you .

56:46.409 --> 56:47.409
Mhm .

56:51.860 --> 56:53.638
Thank you , Governor Reynolds .

56:53.649 --> 56:55.649
Secretary Phelin , sir , I would be

56:55.649 --> 56:57.816
honored if you would now place Iowa in

56:57.816 --> 56:57.610
commission .

57:03.729 --> 57:05.618
On behalf of the President of the

57:05.618 --> 57:07.729
United States , I hereby place United

57:07.729 --> 57:09.860
States ship Iowa in commission . May

57:09.860 --> 57:12.199
God bless and guide this warship and

57:12.199 --> 57:13.790
all who shall sail on her .

57:24.379 --> 57:26.101
Thank you , Secretary Phelan .

57:26.320 --> 57:28.376
Executive Officer , hoist the colors

57:28.376 --> 57:30.431
and commission pennant . Aye , sir .

57:32.090 --> 57:33.639
Iowa , attention .

57:35.959 --> 57:38.126
The commission pennant in professional

57:38.126 --> 57:40.348
national navies began to take form late

57:40.348 --> 57:42.570
in the 17th century . All ships at that

57:42.570 --> 57:44.626
time were sailing ships , and it was

57:44.626 --> 57:46.681
often difficult to tell a naval ship

57:46.681 --> 57:48.737
from a merchantman . Navies began to

57:48.737 --> 57:50.903
adapt long narrow pennants to be flown

57:50.903 --> 57:53.070
by their ships at the main masthead to

57:53.070 --> 57:52.639
distinguish themselves from merchant

57:52.639 --> 57:54.959
ships . The commission pennant will fly

57:54.959 --> 57:56.681
continuously until the ship is

57:56.681 --> 57:58.903
decommissioned . Ladies and gentlemen ,

57:58.903 --> 58:01.015
please rise . I direct your attention

58:01.015 --> 58:02.959
to the ship's sail as we hoist the

58:02.959 --> 58:04.737
colors and commission pennant .

58:08.510 --> 58:10.629
Quartermaster , hoist the colors and

58:10.629 --> 58:11.796
commission pennant .

58:29.419 --> 58:31.419
Captain , the colors and commission

58:31.419 --> 58:33.419
pennant are flying proudly over USS

58:33.419 --> 58:36.129
Iowa . Ladies and gentlemen , please be

58:36.129 --> 58:37.129
seated .

58:43.330 --> 58:45.120
I will now read my orders from

58:45.120 --> 58:47.009
Commander Navy Military Personnel

58:47.009 --> 58:49.176
Command to Commander Greg Coy , United

58:49.176 --> 58:51.120
States Navy . Subject Buer's order

58:51.120 --> 58:55.110
number 7970 of April 2025 .

58:55.479 --> 58:57.479
When directed by a reporting senior

58:57.479 --> 58:59.646
detached from present duty and reports

58:59.646 --> 59:01.535
to pre-commissioning Unit Iowa as

59:01.535 --> 59:03.757
commanding officer . Upon commissioning

59:03.757 --> 59:05.590
of USS Iowa , report for duty as

59:05.590 --> 59:07.701
commanding officer . Admiral Caudle ,

59:07.701 --> 59:09.368
United States ship Iowa is in

59:09.368 --> 59:11.312
commission , and I am in command .

59:11.312 --> 59:13.535
Captain , congratulations . Thank you ,

59:13.535 --> 59:12.000
sir .

59:22.260 --> 59:24.593
Executive officer , set the first watch .

59:24.820 --> 59:25.530
Hi , sir .

59:44.409 --> 59:47.600
Of the deck , set the first watch . All

59:47.600 --> 59:50.629
right , sir . The officer of the deck

59:50.629 --> 59:52.573
is the commanding officer's direct

59:52.573 --> 59:54.740
representative , and while on watch is

59:54.740 --> 59:56.851
responsible for the safety and smooth

59:56.851 --> 59:59.018
operation of the ship . The long glass

59:59.018 --> 01:00:01.240
is the traditional symbol of an officer

01:00:01.240 --> 01:00:01.030
of the deck's authority in a ship of

01:00:01.030 --> 01:00:02.989
the line . We are honored to have

01:00:02.989 --> 01:00:05.100
Commander Tim Shugart , United States

01:00:05.100 --> 01:00:07.322
Navy retired , and former crewman on BB

01:00:07.322 --> 01:00:09.429
61 with us today . He will assist in

01:00:09.429 --> 01:00:11.596
setting the first watch by passing the

01:00:11.596 --> 01:00:13.596
long glass to our first ship's duty

01:00:13.596 --> 01:00:15.818
officer , Lieutenant Commander Vigorwor

01:00:15.818 --> 01:00:18.979
Maicum from Germantown , Maryland . The

01:00:18.979 --> 01:00:20.590
petty officer of the deck is

01:00:20.590 --> 01:00:22.479
electronics technician navigation

01:00:22.479 --> 01:00:24.699
seaman , Amber Alanis Gonzalez from El

01:00:24.699 --> 01:00:27.659
Paso , Texas . The topside Century's

01:00:27.659 --> 01:00:29.881
logistic specialist submarine 2nd Class

01:00:29.881 --> 01:00:31.881
Jacob Stevenson from Farnhamville ,

01:00:31.881 --> 01:00:32.881
Iowa .

01:00:37.669 --> 01:00:39.780
And the Boston's Maid of the watch is

01:00:39.780 --> 01:00:41.502
Boston's mate 2nd Class , Cody

01:00:41.502 --> 01:00:43.336
Shresbury from Pine Tops , North

01:00:43.336 --> 01:00:46.850
Carolina . Officer of the deck , with

01:00:46.850 --> 01:00:49.072
the passing of the long glass , you and

01:00:49.072 --> 01:00:52.639
the crew of the USS Iowa SSN 797

01:00:52.929 --> 01:00:54.929
are given the honor and duty of

01:00:54.929 --> 01:00:57.649
carrying out missions given to her with

01:00:57.649 --> 01:01:00.530
bravery and professionalism . May you ,

01:01:00.570 --> 01:01:03.290
the crew , and the boat always

01:01:03.290 --> 01:01:05.800
understand that the great state of Iowa

01:01:05.800 --> 01:01:06.919
and the heroic

01:01:09.649 --> 01:01:13.360
history of the battleship Iowa BB61 are

01:01:13.360 --> 01:01:16.790
with you all . May you always have fair

01:01:16.790 --> 01:01:19.750
winds and following seas , sir , you

01:01:19.750 --> 01:01:21.719
have a watch . You have the boat .

01:01:32.090 --> 01:01:35.800
Set the watch on deck , section

01:01:36.169 --> 01:01:36.649
one .

01:01:39.879 --> 01:01:42.750
Sir , the watch is set . Very well .

01:01:45.040 --> 01:01:45.510
Oh

01:01:58.610 --> 01:02:00.221
Captain , the watch is set .

01:02:03.540 --> 01:02:05.707
The spirit of a US Navy warship is the

01:02:05.707 --> 01:02:08.040
embodiment of her sponsor , our sponsor ,

01:02:08.040 --> 01:02:10.262
Mrs . Christie Vilsack , christened the

01:02:10.262 --> 01:02:12.879
ship here in Groton on June 17 , 2023 ,

01:02:13.000 --> 01:02:15.167
and imbued this ship and crew with her

01:02:15.167 --> 01:02:17.444
sense of devotion and grace . Christie ,

01:02:17.444 --> 01:02:19.500
I would be honored if you would give

01:02:19.500 --> 01:02:21.722
the order to man our ship and bring her

01:02:21.722 --> 01:02:25.479
to life . Officers and

01:02:25.479 --> 01:02:29.169
crew of the USS Iowa board our boat and

01:02:29.169 --> 01:02:30.330
bring her to life .

01:02:49.060 --> 01:02:49.379
Uh

01:06:27.199 --> 01:06:30.129
Ah Ah

01:06:59.969 --> 01:07:02.530
Ladies and gentlemen , the crew of USS

01:07:02.530 --> 01:07:06.489
Iowa salute you . We are proud to serve

01:07:06.489 --> 01:07:09.820
in America's Navy . Iowa , ready ?

01:07:10.149 --> 01:07:13.629
2 . Ladies and gentlemen , please be

01:07:13.629 --> 01:07:14.629
seated .

01:07:21.270 --> 01:07:23.548
Captain , the ship is manned and ready .

01:07:23.548 --> 01:07:27.209
Very well . Vice Admiral Goucher ,

01:07:27.449 --> 01:07:29.560
United States ship Iowa is manned and

01:07:29.560 --> 01:07:32.489
ready and reports for duty . Very well ,

01:07:32.580 --> 01:07:34.747
skipper . Congratulations . Welcome to

01:07:34.747 --> 01:07:36.939
the fleet . Now get out there and make

01:07:36.939 --> 01:07:39.106
anyone who will challenge America fear

01:07:39.106 --> 01:07:40.772
the ghost . Thank you , sir .

01:07:49.139 --> 01:07:51.250
Secretary Phelan , request permission

01:07:51.250 --> 01:07:53.361
to break your flag , sir . Permission

01:07:53.361 --> 01:07:55.472
granted break break break your flag ,

01:07:55.472 --> 01:07:59.469
aye , sir . Executive officer ,

01:07:59.719 --> 01:08:01.886
break the flag of the Secretary of the

01:08:01.886 --> 01:08:05.229
Navy . Aye , sir . Quartermaster ,

01:08:06.989 --> 01:08:09.156
break the flag of the Secretary of the

01:08:09.156 --> 01:08:08.860
Navy .

01:08:16.379 --> 01:08:18.546
Captain , the flag of the Secretary of

01:08:18.546 --> 01:08:20.546
the Navy is flying proudly over USS

01:08:20.546 --> 01:08:19.970
Iowa .

01:08:28.079 --> 01:08:30.190
Ladies and gentlemen , Commander Greg

01:08:30.190 --> 01:08:32.301
Coy , United States Navy , commanding

01:08:32.301 --> 01:08:33.468
officer , USS Iowa .

01:08:38.899 --> 01:08:40.669
Iowa parade rest .

01:08:43.250 --> 01:08:45.306
Ladies and gentlemen , distinguished

01:08:45.306 --> 01:08:47.472
guests , friends , family , and fellow

01:08:47.472 --> 01:08:49.528
shipmates , thank you for joining us

01:08:49.528 --> 01:08:51.639
today in the submarine capital of the

01:08:51.639 --> 01:08:51.169
world to proudly commission the Navy's

01:08:51.169 --> 01:08:53.450
newest Virginia class submarine , USA .

01:08:53.700 --> 01:08:55.811
Excuse me , USS Iowa . Can't get that

01:08:55.811 --> 01:08:57.978
name wrong already . Jeez . You know ,

01:08:57.978 --> 01:09:00.200
Vice Admiral Gouer told me not to screw

01:09:00.200 --> 01:09:02.533
it up and there it was . So , all right .

01:09:03.749 --> 01:09:05.527
Secretary Filin , thank you for

01:09:05.527 --> 01:09:07.749
presiding over today's ceremony and for

01:09:07.749 --> 01:09:10.027
your generous remarks . Admiral Caudle ,

01:09:10.027 --> 01:09:12.027
Vice Admiral Goucher , Rear Admiral

01:09:12.027 --> 01:09:11.708
Rucker , it's an honor to share the

01:09:11.708 --> 01:09:13.819
stage with you as we welcome the next

01:09:13.819 --> 01:09:15.875
member of our submarine force of the

01:09:15.875 --> 01:09:18.041
fleet . Thank you for being here today

01:09:18.041 --> 01:09:17.389
and for your years of steadfast

01:09:17.389 --> 01:09:20.648
leadership . Mr . Raja , Congressman

01:09:20.648 --> 01:09:22.759
Courtney , Congressman Miller Meeks ,

01:09:22.759 --> 01:09:24.648
Senator Blumenthal , and Governor

01:09:24.648 --> 01:09:24.278
Reynolds , thank you for your kind

01:09:24.278 --> 01:09:26.278
remarks and high , high praise . I

01:09:26.278 --> 01:09:28.389
especially appreciate the recognition

01:09:28.389 --> 01:09:30.500
of the accomplishments of the amazing

01:09:30.500 --> 01:09:32.556
crew that stands behind you . To our

01:09:32.556 --> 01:09:34.834
ship's sponsor , Ms . Christie Vilsack ,

01:09:34.834 --> 01:09:37.000
thank you for your years of dedication

01:09:37.000 --> 01:09:36.939
and service to our country . Your

01:09:36.939 --> 01:09:38.828
lifelong passion for education is

01:09:38.828 --> 01:09:40.883
fitting for a submarine sponsor , as

01:09:40.883 --> 01:09:42.939
continuous learning is a keystone of

01:09:42.939 --> 01:09:45.161
our profession . Thank you for your art

01:09:45.161 --> 01:09:47.328
and support of this ship , this crew ,

01:09:47.328 --> 01:09:49.328
and our families . To Doug McCray ,

01:09:49.328 --> 01:09:51.439
Matt Tanner , Tom Hudson , and all of

01:09:51.439 --> 01:09:53.383
the Iowa commissioning Committee .

01:09:53.383 --> 01:09:55.328
Thank you for your perseverance in

01:09:55.328 --> 01:09:54.560
seeing this event through from

01:09:54.560 --> 01:09:56.640
beginning to end . I appreciate

01:09:56.640 --> 01:09:58.696
everything you have done and hope to

01:09:58.696 --> 01:10:00.807
continue our special relationship for

01:10:00.807 --> 01:10:02.807
years to come . Sal Morales , Jason

01:10:02.807 --> 01:10:05.029
Lovell , the commissioning support team

01:10:05.029 --> 01:10:07.140
and the staffs of Submarine Readiness

01:10:07.140 --> 01:10:09.196
Squadron 32 , Submarine Squadron 4 ,

01:10:09.196 --> 01:10:08.520
Naval Submarine Based in New London ,

01:10:08.660 --> 01:10:10.827
and Naval Submarine School . Thank you

01:10:10.827 --> 01:10:12.827
for your incredible efforts to make

01:10:12.827 --> 01:10:14.882
today happen . Today , we will honor

01:10:14.882 --> 01:10:16.882
the Iowa and her current crew , but

01:10:16.882 --> 01:10:19.049
many came before . I would like to ask

01:10:19.049 --> 01:10:21.271
any former Iowa sailors to please stand

01:10:21.271 --> 01:10:23.310
and be recognized . on the ground .

01:10:23.430 --> 01:10:25.097
There we go , there's a cut .

01:10:33.799 --> 01:10:35.966
You stood the watch during some of the

01:10:35.966 --> 01:10:37.855
hardest times before sea trials ,

01:10:37.855 --> 01:10:39.910
before the ship was delivered to the

01:10:39.910 --> 01:10:42.243
fleet , before propulsion plant testing ,

01:10:42.243 --> 01:10:42.109
and even before she could float .

01:10:42.640 --> 01:10:44.862
There's nothing easy about serving on a

01:10:44.862 --> 01:10:47.084
pre-commissioning unit , but you did it

01:10:47.084 --> 01:10:49.084
with a view towards the future that

01:10:49.084 --> 01:10:48.660
someday Iowa would be a commissioned

01:10:48.660 --> 01:10:50.827
ship . I hope today that you look back

01:10:50.827 --> 01:10:53.049
on your service and your sacrifice with

01:10:53.049 --> 01:10:55.049
pride as you see the fruits of your

01:10:55.049 --> 01:10:57.049
labor before you . While I have the

01:10:57.049 --> 01:10:58.993
honor of being Iowa's plank owning

01:10:58.993 --> 01:11:01.216
commander commanding officer , the ship

01:11:01.216 --> 01:11:01.200
and the crew would not be here without

01:11:01.200 --> 01:11:03.200
those who came before me . Captain

01:11:03.200 --> 01:11:05.533
Quentin James and Commander Matt Powell .

01:11:05.720 --> 01:11:07.887
Quintin and Matt , you had the onerous

01:11:07.887 --> 01:11:09.942
task of building the Iowa , bringing

01:11:09.942 --> 01:11:12.053
together the pieces and the people to

01:11:12.053 --> 01:11:14.109
make a submarine and its crew . I am

01:11:14.109 --> 01:11:14.069
not jealous of your time in command ,

01:11:14.319 --> 01:11:16.430
but the impact of your dedication and

01:11:16.430 --> 01:11:18.652
leadership has long outlived your tours

01:11:18.652 --> 01:11:20.652
of duty , and I am grateful for the

01:11:20.652 --> 01:11:22.819
strong foundation you provided . Thank

01:11:22.819 --> 01:11:21.200
you .

01:11:28.419 --> 01:11:30.586
As any sailor knows , a well-supported

01:11:30.586 --> 01:11:32.419
family at home is crucial to our

01:11:32.419 --> 01:11:34.530
success at sea . Iowa's home front is

01:11:34.530 --> 01:11:36.752
fortunate enough to be shored up by two

01:11:36.752 --> 01:11:38.919
incredible women , Holly Trimmer , our

01:11:38.919 --> 01:11:38.779
ombudsman , and Brenna Magda , our

01:11:38.779 --> 01:11:40.723
family readiness group president .

01:11:40.723 --> 01:11:42.835
Ladies , if you could please stand so

01:11:42.835 --> 01:11:44.557
that we can recognize you . Oh

01:11:49.459 --> 01:11:51.570
Holly and Brenna , thank you for your

01:11:51.570 --> 01:11:53.348
tireless efforts to support our

01:11:53.348 --> 01:11:55.348
families and bolster morale at home

01:11:55.348 --> 01:11:54.850
while the Iowa is away . We are truly

01:11:54.850 --> 01:11:57.080
in your debt . While we're on the

01:11:57.080 --> 01:11:59.080
subject of families , I wanna thank

01:11:59.080 --> 01:12:00.969
every person who is here today to

01:12:00.969 --> 01:12:02.969
support one of the sailors standing

01:12:02.969 --> 01:12:05.191
behind me . Your dedication , courage ,

01:12:05.191 --> 01:12:05.000
and sacrifice matches and often exceeds

01:12:05.000 --> 01:12:06.556
theirs , but typically goes

01:12:06.556 --> 01:12:08.830
unrecognized . A sailor at sea is

01:12:08.830 --> 01:12:10.997
always busy with watch , maintenance ,

01:12:10.997 --> 01:12:13.163
drills , and training . There's little

01:12:13.163 --> 01:12:15.108
time for other things , and we are

01:12:15.108 --> 01:12:17.330
isolated in our little bubble . But for

01:12:17.330 --> 01:12:19.441
the sailor's family , life must go on

01:12:19.441 --> 01:12:19.160
as before . You still need to go to

01:12:19.160 --> 01:12:21.493
work , doctor appointments must be made ,

01:12:21.493 --> 01:12:23.271
soccer games and parent-teacher

01:12:23.271 --> 01:12:25.327
conferences must be attended . Lunch

01:12:25.327 --> 01:12:27.438
lunches must be packed , and children

01:12:27.438 --> 01:12:29.549
ushered to and from school . When the

01:12:29.549 --> 01:12:29.350
sailor once again steps their foot on

01:12:29.350 --> 01:12:31.072
shore , these things are often

01:12:31.072 --> 01:12:33.017
forgotten , overcome by the joy of

01:12:33.017 --> 01:12:35.183
being home . I am a repeat offender of

01:12:35.183 --> 01:12:37.239
this . My wife Maggie has stayed the

01:12:37.239 --> 01:12:39.183
course for the last 16 years , and

01:12:39.183 --> 01:12:41.294
she's never missed a beat , while I ,

01:12:41.294 --> 01:12:43.239
on the other hand , have missed at

01:12:43.239 --> 01:12:45.350
least a million thank yous . But I'll

01:12:45.350 --> 01:12:45.149
sneak one in here . Thank you for

01:12:45.149 --> 01:12:47.482
everything you do for me and our family .

01:12:47.482 --> 01:12:49.649
I wouldn't be here today without you .

01:12:54.830 --> 01:12:57.108
And to every spouse , partner , mother ,

01:12:57.108 --> 01:12:59.330
father , brother , and sister , and all

01:12:59.330 --> 01:13:01.552
others who support a sailor . Thank you

01:13:01.552 --> 01:13:03.386
for doing all the things that go

01:13:03.386 --> 01:13:05.497
unspoken . Now for the real reason we

01:13:05.497 --> 01:13:07.608
are here to welcome a new warship and

01:13:07.608 --> 01:13:09.719
her crew to the fleet . While writing

01:13:09.719 --> 01:13:11.830
this speech , I was overcome with the

01:13:11.830 --> 01:13:14.052
momentousness of the occasion and I had

01:13:14.052 --> 01:13:16.219
trouble figuring out what to say . But

01:13:16.219 --> 01:13:18.219
again , fix , again fixating on the

01:13:18.219 --> 01:13:17.970
order that our ship sponsor just gave

01:13:17.970 --> 01:13:20.303
us , man the ship and bring her to life .

01:13:20.890 --> 01:13:23.399
It is simple , concise , and perfectly

01:13:23.399 --> 01:13:25.732
represents the meaning of this ceremony .

01:13:25.732 --> 01:13:27.788
For what is a ship without a crew to

01:13:27.788 --> 01:13:29.843
operate it ? I can tell you a little

01:13:29.843 --> 01:13:32.010
about Iowa . She has over 7000 tons of

01:13:32.010 --> 01:13:34.177
steel , a maze of meandering wires and

01:13:34.177 --> 01:13:36.510
pipes , a visual cacophony of computers ,

01:13:36.510 --> 01:13:38.799
switches , gauges , and valves , deadly

01:13:38.799 --> 01:13:41.120
quiet , a marvel of engineering powered

01:13:41.120 --> 01:13:43.259
by a nuclear reactor , able to strike

01:13:43.259 --> 01:13:45.481
fear in the hearts of any foe , and all

01:13:45.481 --> 01:13:47.537
of that designed to sink beneath the

01:13:47.537 --> 01:13:49.481
ocean and come back to the surface

01:13:49.481 --> 01:13:51.481
again safely . If you tour the ship

01:13:51.481 --> 01:13:53.703
later today , you will be in awe of the

01:13:53.703 --> 01:13:53.680
organized chaos that is a modern

01:13:53.680 --> 01:13:55.847
submarine , and you will wonder how it

01:13:55.847 --> 01:13:58.640
all works . But she is a lifeless

01:13:58.640 --> 01:14:00.807
object . Left to her own devices , she

01:14:00.807 --> 01:14:02.918
will sit at this pier . The dust will

01:14:02.918 --> 01:14:05.084
gather , the paint will fade , and the

01:14:05.084 --> 01:14:07.029
metal will rust . Is the crew that

01:14:07.029 --> 01:14:09.084
brings her to life . These women and

01:14:09.084 --> 01:14:11.307
men standing before you , these sailors

01:14:11.307 --> 01:14:13.473
who volunteered to serve their country

01:14:13.473 --> 01:14:13.390
and then volunteered again to be

01:14:13.390 --> 01:14:15.629
submariners . These sailors who

01:14:15.629 --> 01:14:17.462
persisted through the trials and

01:14:17.462 --> 01:14:19.629
tribulations of building a warship and

01:14:19.629 --> 01:14:21.796
taking her to sea for the first time .

01:14:21.796 --> 01:14:21.750
These sailors who have faced the

01:14:21.750 --> 01:14:23.750
challenges of an uncertain future .

01:14:23.750 --> 01:14:25.972
They are the crew of the USS Iowa , and

01:14:25.972 --> 01:14:28.149
they are why we are here today . So to

01:14:28.149 --> 01:14:30.390
the crew , words can I express how

01:14:30.390 --> 01:14:32.740
proud I am of each one of you . When

01:14:32.740 --> 01:14:34.796
you cast off lines for Iowa's maiden

01:14:34.796 --> 01:14:36.684
voyage on November 4th , you were

01:14:36.684 --> 01:14:38.851
novices , unsure of yourselves as your

01:14:38.851 --> 01:14:40.962
sea legs wobble beneath you . But you

01:14:40.962 --> 01:14:43.129
were well trained and eager to succeed

01:14:43.129 --> 01:14:45.240
and succeed you did . Every challenge

01:14:45.240 --> 01:14:45.089
thrown in your direction was met with

01:14:45.089 --> 01:14:46.978
an insatiable desire to learn and

01:14:46.978 --> 01:14:49.145
improve . You grew by leaps and bounds

01:14:49.145 --> 01:14:51.367
through triumph and adversity . You are

01:14:51.367 --> 01:14:53.478
now what I would describe , borrowing

01:14:53.478 --> 01:14:55.589
the unmistakable words of our weapons

01:14:55.589 --> 01:14:57.700
officer , a crack team of top men and

01:14:57.700 --> 01:14:59.478
women , confident , competent ,

01:14:59.478 --> 01:15:01.811
efficient , and when necessary , deadly .

01:15:01.811 --> 01:15:03.867
You are the heart and soul of United

01:15:03.867 --> 01:15:06.089
States ship Iowa , and I wouldn't go to

01:15:06.089 --> 01:15:08.145
see you with anyone else . All of us

01:15:08.145 --> 01:15:10.256
here today should be overwhelmed with

01:15:10.256 --> 01:15:12.367
pride and brimming with confidence in

01:15:12.367 --> 01:15:12.060
the future of this mighty warship , the

01:15:12.060 --> 01:15:14.660
submarine force , and our navy . For I

01:15:14.660 --> 01:15:16.938
have no doubt that in a time of strife ,

01:15:16.938 --> 01:15:19.104
as Iowa is tossed about by tempestuous

01:15:19.104 --> 01:15:20.938
seas , this crew will ensure she

01:15:20.938 --> 01:15:23.160
steadies with upright keel and proceeds

01:15:23.160 --> 01:15:25.540
silently alone on a wide , wide sea to

01:15:25.540 --> 01:15:27.651
do the work that only submariners can

01:15:27.651 --> 01:15:31.399
do . Iowa , attention . Fight

01:15:31.399 --> 01:15:33.390
Iowa . Thank you .

01:15:42.339 --> 01:15:45.169
Will the guests please rise ? Chaplain

01:15:45.169 --> 01:15:47.280
McGraw will deliver the benediction .

01:15:52.279 --> 01:15:55.490
Let us pray . Eternal

01:15:55.490 --> 01:15:58.689
Father strong to save as this ceremony

01:15:58.689 --> 01:16:00.800
ends and a life of commission service

01:16:00.800 --> 01:16:03.250
begins , we ask you to bless this

01:16:03.250 --> 01:16:06.189
worship and all who will sail . May she

01:16:06.189 --> 01:16:08.750
be strong and true , worthy of her

01:16:08.750 --> 01:16:11.060
proud name and the nation's trust .

01:16:12.479 --> 01:16:15.319
Grant that in her silence , Iowa would

01:16:15.319 --> 01:16:17.830
allow many to hear the sounds of peace

01:16:17.830 --> 01:16:21.669
and prosperity . And let her unseen

01:16:21.669 --> 01:16:24.910
presence help all to see the blessings

01:16:24.910 --> 01:16:28.870
of freedom more clearly . May

01:16:28.870 --> 01:16:31.850
all adversaries learn to fear the ghost .

01:16:32.939 --> 01:16:35.330
And may she bring calm to troubled

01:16:35.330 --> 01:16:38.759
waters . And always come .

01:16:40.000 --> 01:16:42.209
Safe home . I