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Normandy Makes Port Visit to Annapolis

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081002-07
Release Date: 10/2/2008 3:53:00 PM

By Ens. Adam R. Cole, USS Normandy Public Affairs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) -- Norfolk-based cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) made a port visit to the home of the Naval Academy to support the academy's homecoming weekend, Sept. 19-21.

The ship conducted tours throughout the homecoming weekend, hosting an estimated nearly 750 midshipmen and their parents. The ship tours served as a way to familiarize midshipmen and their parents with the surface platform that they may potentially serve on.

Homecoming weekend is one of the rare times that midshipman are allowed to have parents visit. Specifically, parents of plebes (freshman) and first classes (seniors) come to enjoy the campus, game and other festivities over the weekend. Parents and midshipman participating in the ship tours said they enjoyed the ship tours available to them.

For much of the enlisted crew, the best part of the visit was receiving respect and appreciation from the midshipmen and their parents.

"I had several people tell me, 'Thank you for your service,'" said Cryptological Technician (Technical) Justin Hooker. "That felt really good, just to have people respect us in that way."

Members of the Normandy crew were given the opportunity to attend the game during the visit, where Navy beat Rutgers 23-21.

"The game was a lot of fun," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Dominic Griffith. "It was good to be able to talk to some of the midshipmen and hear their stories. I met someone who was prior enlisted who was pretty cool."

Also as part of the weekend, Sailors were able to enjoy liberty in both Baltimore and Washington D.C.

"It was good to get out and hang out with some of the people on the ship," said Seaman William Roberts, whose trip to Annapolis was his first port visit with the U.S. Navy. "Just was good to have good conversations and see some sights."

Normandy is an Aegis-class cruiser based in Norfolk and is commanded by Capt. Jeffrey Griffin.

For more news from USS Normandy, visit www.navy.mil/local/cg60.