Navy hasn't seen last of 'Enterprise' name
By Hugh Lessig,
hlessig@dailypress.com | 757-247-7821
4:21 p.m. EST, December 1, 2012
— The Navy bid farewell to one USS Enterprise on Saturday, but it promised to welcome another.
The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has borne the name Enterprise for 51 years. It was formally taken out of service Saturday at a ceremony that reflected on its decades of service, but the emotional high point came when talk turned to the future.
In a taped message, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that CVN 80, a Gerald R. Ford class carrier slated to be built at the Newport News shipyard, would be named Enterprise.
Thousands of people who had come from all over the country to see the "Big E" erupted in cheers.
Eric McCoy came from Ohio to see the ship he served on from 1962 to 1965. Now nearly 70 years old and recovering from quadruple bypass surgery, he vowed to return when the new Enterprise is welcomed into service.
I'll be here," he said, "with bells on."
CVN-80 will be the ninth ship to bear the name. Construction is not expected to begin for several years.
Nearly 12,000 people had been expected to attend the inactivation ceremony.
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Copyright © 2012, Newport News, Va., Daily Press
A good name.