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Page 7 text:
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The Tradition of Commissioning a Navy Ship The commissioning ceremony signifies the acceptance for service and the entry of a ship into the active fleet of the United States Navy. At the moment of the breaking of the commis- sioning pennant, USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3) becomes a proud ship of the line. The Com- manding Officer, together with ship ' s officers and crew, then accepts the duties and responsi- bilities of making and keeping their ship ready for any service required by our nation, whether at peace or at war. The Naval commissioning ceremony has been a tradition of all navies for centuries and in the United States Navy since its beginning; it marks the formal entrance of a warship into the Naval forces of the United States. It is the final and perhaps the most signifi- cant event of the triad that brings a ship to life: keel laying, christening and commissioning. In early periods of our Navy ' s history, no exact procedure for the commissioning cer- emony was prescribed. Thus, a ship ' s date of commissioning was recorded as any one of a number of days when the colors were first raised, when officers and crew reported on board, when the first log entry was made, or when the ship fu-st put out to sea. Throughout the years, however, one visible and significant manifestation of the commissioned ship has remained constant: active ships of the United States Navy, Irom days of the handsome fiigates under sail to the era of the nuclear powered sliips, have proudly flown a commission pennant and the Stars and Stripes . The commissioning pennant is a red, white and blue streamer with seven stars represent- ing the seven seas. It has for centuries been the unique symbol of a warship. Today, as the distinctive mark of a ship in commission, it is flown except when displaced by the personal flag of an Admiral or Commodore flown when that officer is embarked aboard the ship. The origin of the commissioning pennant, like many of our traditions, can be traced to the British Royal Navy in the seventeenth century. After whipping the Dutch, the British thereafter hoisted a long, narrow commission pemiant in remembrance of the original horsewhip as its distinctive symbol of a warship a tradition adopted by many world navies. From its commissioning day forward, USS KEARSARGE will assume a unique person- ality, building upon the will, spirit and dedication of those who serve on this KEARSARGE and those who have served on the three previous KEARSARGEs. USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3) will embody the honor, tradition, and excellence of these KEARSARGEs as this magnificent ship sails throughout the world ' s oceans. We firmly believe that your presence here today will ensure us fair winds and following seas in all that lies ahead. We are honored to have you with us to share in this historic event.
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Page 8 text:
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Ship ' s Coat of Arms COAT OF ARMS USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3) SHIELD Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy and sym- bolize the sea and excellence. The green chevron suggests Mt. Kearsarge, a green peaked mountain in New Hampshire. The amphibious nature of the combat operations of the present USS KEARSARGE is represented by green and blue, alluding to land and sea. The arrow- heads, together with the white chevronel which represents a shore line, allude to assault land- ings. The stars commemorate the Battle Stars the third KEARSARGE received for Korean and Vietnam War service. CREST The wings symbolize the aviation capabilities of both the present and the third KEARSARGE; they are gold for honor and achievement. The white anchor recalls the round- the-world cruise of the second KEARSARGE of the Great White Fleet in 1907 and denotes the naval prowess of the USS KEARSARGEs. The blue and gray wavy bar highlights the Civil War service of the first USS KEARSARGE. SUPPORTERS The swords are crossed to denote cooperation and teamwork as well as the combined combat mission of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
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