President Ronald Reagan Radio Address
24 September1988

USS Reagan Commissioned in Virginia

Saturday, July 12, 2003

NORFOLK, Va. — The highly anticipated USS Ronald Reagan (search) became an official naval vessel Saturday during a commissioning ceremony.

With the order "Bring her to life," former first lady Nancy Reagan (search) sent lines of sailors streaming onto the first U.S. carrier to bear the name of a living president.

Twenty thousand people ranging from sailors to dignitaries attended the ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station.

Vice President Dick Cheney (search) praised the former president, saying our modern navy is in many ways a monument to Reagan’s vision. By the time the two-term president left office in 1989, the Navy had nearly 600 ships — about twice the ships it has today.

"He came to the presidency with a clear understanding of the tools our Navy would need to protect the American people," Cheney told the crowd.

“For everyone who loves the Navy and honors its traditions, and for everyone who honors the name of our 40th president, this is truly a day for celebration,” Cheney added.

The former president, now 92, is battling Alzheimer's disease (search) and rarely appears in public. Nancy Reagan, who christened the ship in 2001, appeared in her husband's stead for the commissioning ceremony.

At nearly 1,100 feet long and towering 20 stories above the waterline, the Reagan is expected to serve the Navy for more than 50 years.

Based in San Diego, the ship will be home to 6,000 sailors and carry more than 80 aircraft. With two nuclear reactors, the carrier can travel faster than 30 knots and operate for 20 years without refueling.

"Quite frankly, there's not a better name for an aircraft carrier than Ronald Reagan," said the ship's commanding officer, Capt. Bill Goodwin.

Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Fulsom became the first sailor assigned to the Reagan when he was transferred from Bahrain three years ago after the birth of his daughter, who needed surgery.

He watched the carrier's construction over the years since reporting to the Reagan on May 26, 2000. That first day, "you could look from the hangar bay up to the sky," the 32-year-old said.

Fulsom, of Yakima, Wash., says he's proud to serve on a carrier named after the nation's 40th president.

"To have my name in the same sentence as the former president is an honor in itself," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Courtesy of Fox News

For more information about the USS Ronald Reagan
please visit the following sites:

http://www.reagan.navy.mil

http://www.foxnews.com/story

http://www.military.com

http://www.house.gov/cunningham/Press_Releases/san_diego_to_be_homeport_of_uss_reagan.htm

http://hrcnl.org/nl/commissioning_change.htm