The ship was commissioned at a ceremony on Saturday morning.
The USS Marinette is the first naval warship to be named after Marinette, WI and the third naval vessel named for the community.
“A U.S. Navy warship named after our community, it’s just unbelievable,” said the Mayor of Marinette, Steve Genisot. “It really is a big thing.”
“I think it just shows the workmanship, the workers here, the pride they put into these ships,” said Genisot.
Historically a logging town, Marinette now transforms raw steel into warships for the U.S. Navy.
“It just shows you a small community in Northeast Wisconsin, a hardworking community, we can be part of what’s represented worldwide in our Navy,” said Genisot.
The USS Marinette is one of three commissioned U.S. naval ships to ever be named in honor of the city where it was built.
“The large harbor-tug named Marinette from the 1960s,” said Russell Rumbaugh, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller. “The LST Marinette County from World War II.”
It’s also happens to be the only Navy vessel that has been built, christened and commissioned in its namesake city.
“Just an exciting day for the community and proud of what we do here in the community,” said Genisot.
The ship’s motto is “Freedom Done Wright.” This is a play on the trade name “shipwright,” also known as a shipbuilder. It’s a tribute to those who build these types of combat ships.
Chauncey McIntosh, Vice President and General Manager, Lockheed Martin Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors, says together, the company and U.S. Navy are building the fleet of the future.
“I, along with Lockheed Martin, and our industry partners are proud of what we are delivering to the U.S. Navy today,” said McIntosh.
The USS Marinette is part of the Freedom variant littoral combat ship fleet.
The ship was launched in October 2020.
It was christened a year later in November 2021.
Rambaugh says the Navy builds and maintains warships to advance the interest of the United States.
“So we need to be tied to the United States,” he said. “A powerful way to do that is to name them after cities of the United States.”
The warship started its journey needing repairs, after the Navy found a flaw in the ship’s gear system.
Now, three years after being launched, the USS Marinette is ready to set sail.
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