for which it is named have had few ties. The 30-year-old fast attack submarine has never been based here and rarely stops by.
They’ll bond on Tuesday, however, when the Navy League’sBremerton-Olympic Peninsula chapteradopts the Los Angeles-class sub and its 130-man crew.Cmdr. Caleb Kerr, the USS Bremerton’s commanding officer, and his wife Hilary will fly in from Pearl Harbor for the ceremony at Norm Dicks Conference Center.
“It’s a tremendous deal, the fact that there are people out there who are so patriotic and want to support our sailors,” Kerr said. “It fills everyone with pride and makes us feel so good about what we’re doing.”
The adoption grew from the USS Bremerton’sgoodwill visitin August 2009. The crew was taken to a Mariners game “and everybody in Bremerton just kicked in and showed those guys a good time,” said Gary Gunderson, president of the Navy League council and one of five locals who boarded the submarine for the final leg of its trip.
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Byron Faber, a Navy League board member, toured the submarine, met crew members and had a fun time. He and his pals got to thinking, “Wouldn’t it be a nice thing to give special support to something that is significant to this area?” Faber said.
The Kingston man volunteered to lead the effort and has served as the liaison between the city and the sub.
“I just have tremendous respect for the military, and since it’s named after our main city in Kitsap County, I thought it’d be a good thing to do,” Faber said.
The council, with help from donations, will support the submarine’s delayed holiday party, buy plaques for sailor honors, and send gifts like DVDs, books and gift cards to break up deployments, which last about six months.
The material things are appreciated, Kerr said, “But it’s more just knowing people out there appreciate what they’re going to go do.”
What they’ll be doing soon is going on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.
A resolution from the Bremerton City Council president will be read at Tuesday’s ceremony.
“We’re going to express our support and gratitude for their dedication and outstanding achievements,” said Mayor Patty Lent.
The local Navy League chapter already had adopted the Coast Guard’s Port Angeles station. When the Gig Harbor branch folded last year and joined with Bremerton, it brought along its adoptees — Bangor-based submarine USS Henry M. Jackson and the Coast Guard station in Seattle.
Adopting ships, units and military facilities is one of the most popular ways for Navy League councils to show their support for sea service men and women, drum up interest in their organization and spur membership. As of May 2009, councils had adopted 252 Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine ships, and 282 Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine stations, squadrons or units.
USS Ohio (SSGN 726) — Greater Columbus (Ohio) Council, Seattle Council
USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) — Bremerton-Olympic Peninsula Council
USS Nevada (SSBN 733) — Reno Council, Las Vegas Council, Elko Council, Carson City Council
USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) — Harrisburg Council, Philadelphia Council
USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) — Cornhuskers Council of Benet, Neb.
USS Seawolf (SSN 21) — Akron-Canton (Ohio) Council
USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23) — Atlanta Metropolitan Council, Lake Washington (Bellevue, WA) Council
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January 5, 2011 4:12 p.m. Suggest removal Reply to this post
HWSlachwrites:
Due to its age, the projected life span of the USS BREMERTON can't be very many years. As one of the earlier LOS ANGELES class of submarines it will someday join the 100+ that have had their reactor removed and sent to Hanford.
If the league truly wants to support the legacy of this ship, it will petition its decommissioning to only include the removal of the nuclear systems and then let it join the TURNER JOY on the Bremerton waterfront.
Some may argue that it can't be done but the SSN USS NAUTILUS is on display in Groton. There should be a similar submarine memorial to the nuclear Navy on the West Coast. Besides, it would be cheaper than disposal!
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