On September 7, I joined area state representatives Tama Theis (St. Cloud), Ron Kresha (Little Falls) and Jeff Howe (Rockville) in witnessing history. As part of a delegation of two dozen lawmakers from Minnesota and other elected officials, we traveled to Norfolk, VA to attend the commissioning ceremony of the new USS Minnesota – the U.S. Navy’s most advanced fast-attack submarine.
Theis, Howe, Kresha and I paid our own way to Virginia because the naming of a U.S. ship after our state is a historical and rare opportunity. During the ceremony, the ship’s 135-member crew brought the ship to life – ready to defend our country and freedom whenever necessary. The Minnesota is the third ship to carry the name of the “North Star State.” The first was a wooden steam frigate during the Civil War, shortly after Minnesota became a state.
While we got to see one page of history being written, our trip brought us through other chapters of Minnesota and U.S. history.
Our first order of business upon arrival to the largest naval base in the world was to tour the Minnesota, taking a first-hand look at its incredible state-of-the-art technology and capabilities. Docked at the same pier as this 377-foot long nuclear submarine were also the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Arlington – two ships with Minnesota ties. The previous USS Minnesota was commissioned during Roosevelt’s presidency in 1906 as part of Roosevelt’s “Great White Fleet” which circled the globe to announce the US as a modern naval power in a changing world.
The roads of the past crossed with the present when our Navy hosts took us onboard the USS Arlington, commissioned just this year. The Arlington is one of three vessels commissioned by the Navy to commemorate the September 11, 2001 attacks, the other two are the USS New York and Somerset. Steel taken from the 2001 attacks at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA is displayed onboard the Arlington. The ship’s internal walkways are adorned with 184 stars, commemorating each live lost at the Pentagon on September 11.
As I recall this year’s September 11 anniversary, it feels even more important to remember the history we witnessed in Virginia and the connection these events still have on our modern way of life. They dramatically changed our military’s approach to global security in ways we will notice for years to come.
Our nation continues to face many changes in these dynamic times. New enemies and threats seem to be appearing regularly, seeking to undermine the America way of life and freedom. The nation faced similar uncertainties when the previous USS Minnesotas were called to service. The latest edition of the Minnesota will no doubt see its share as well.
As I reflect on the day of the USS Minnesota commissioning, I continue to have confidence in our armed forces knowing that morale is high among the strong men and women that we met in Norfolk. They demonstrate professionalism, love of country and remain dedicated to defending America and our way of life. We are a truly blessed nation.