Freedom Visits Cleveland During Inaugural Port Visit
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS081118-19
Release Date: 11/18/2008 11:20:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Kenneth R. Hendrix, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs
CLEVELAND (NNS) -- USS Freedom (LCS 1), the Navy's first littoral combat ship, made her first official port visit in Cleveland, Nov. 13, less than a week after being commissioned in Milwaukee.
LCS is a vital component of the cooperative strategy for 21st century sea power. The maritime strategy states that preventing wars is as important as winning wars and calls upon the Navy to project presence and power in the dangerous littoral areas where Sailors may face a broad spectrum of challenges.
The 378-foot vessel moved swiftly toward the Cleveland coastline at speeds exceeding 40 knots, as spectators pointed and waved at the ship in excitement of her arrival.
Once moored to the dock at the Cleveland Port Authority behind the Cleveland Browns Stadium, Frank G. Jackson, mayor of Cleveland, toured the new vessel and spoke highly of the visit, welcoming the ship and crew to Cleveland.
"I have only been on one other ship that was similar in size to this, but it was not equipped like this or shaped the way Freedom is, making it distinctly different."
Toward the end of the tour of the ship, Gunner's Mate 1st Class (SW) Daniel Albright, originally from Akron, Ohio, now assigned to the Freedom, presented a gift to the mayor - a Freedom ball cap and an autographed picture of the ship from the commanding officer.
"It's actually extremely exciting to meet the mayor," said Albright. "I never thought I would be able to come back home aboard a Navy ship."
Albright added that the port visit stop into Cleveland was sort of like a homecoming for him.
Freedom's commanding officer, Cmdr. Don Gabrielson thanked the mayor for allowing the ship and crew to come to Cleveland, sharing with the local media how great of a ship Freedom is because of her crew.
"We have seven women and 33 men on board, and they are just absolutely spectacular people," said Gabrielson.
"The most important thing I would tell you is that these Sailors have no preconceived notion that this is not my job or this is my job. They throw themselves at the problem and are trained to a much higher level than people would probably expect…they are just incredible," Gabrielson added.
The Cleveland Cavaliers also showed its support for the Navy by hosting 35 Sailors from the Freedom, during Thursday's night game against the Denver Nuggets at the Quicken Loans Arena.
"It was a thrill to see LeBron James play a good solid game of basketball in person," said Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW) Wali Jackson. "Cleveland fans supported and stood behind their team during the whole game and were very welcoming to crew from Freedom and me. It made you feel proud to be in the Navy."
Freedom's port visit in Cleveland is one of many to come as the ship will continue her journey through Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence Seaway and down the New England Atlantic coastline to Naval Amphibious Bass Little Creek in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
The name "Freedom" is dedicated to the basic ideal upon which the nation was born. It also honors American communities which bear the name, including towns in, California, Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Freedom is the first U.S. Navy ship to carry this class designation.
For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/clf/.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
