Navy League of the United States Reception in Support of the Upcoming USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Commissioning

On 29 May 2024, the Navy League of the United States held a reception at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach in support of the forthcoming Commissioning of the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). The U.S. Navy’s newest Ford Class carrier, Kennedy is scheduled to be commissioned in fall of 2025, Norfolk, Virginia.

With Lou Schager, CFE, Chairman of the Board, Navy League Hampton Roads as Master of Ceremonies, remarks included those of Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA 02) , Admiral Daryl Caudle, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command , RADM Doug Verissimo, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic , Bryan Caccavale, Vice President, Navy Programs, Newport News Shipyard and Captain Colin Day, Commanding Officer, Pre-commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and Maryellen Baldwin, President and CEO, Navy League of the United States, Hampton Roads (pictured below).

The reception featured a bourbon tasting, seven foot model of CVN 79 built with 15,000 LEGOS (pictured below) and unveiling of a commissioned portrait of USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). The evening honored President Kennedy's legacy, concluding by toasting the President on his birthday.

Honored to join all attending the reception, to include PCU Kennedy (CVN 79) crew, former Public Affairs Officer, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet, CAPT Kevin Wensing, USN (Ret) (pictured below, top) and Congresswoman Kiggans (pictured below, bottom).

President Kennedy once said, "I can imagine a no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy."

Upon Graduation from Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, R.I. in 1981, with my deep personal love and admiration for the President and what he said, I chose USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) as my first ship in the Navy. Serving onboard from 1981-1985, I obtained Surface Warfare and Officer of the Deck Underway qualification, returning to Kennedy in 1996 as ship's Public Affairs Officer.

Not a day passes that I miss serving with Kennedy (CV 67) shipmates from the early 1980s. Look forward to supporting our new generation of officers and sailors serving onboard CVN 79, both now and in the future.

From the Navy League Website, "The Navy League of the United States, founded in 1902 with the support of President Theodore Roosevelt, is a nonprofit civilian, educational and advocacy organization that supports America’s sea services: the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.flag Merchant Marine."

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