Christening of the USS New Hampshire at Electric Boat Shipyard

On June 21st 2008 the United States Navy christened the USS New Hampshire (SSN 778). Christening is a ceremony were the ship officially becomes a part of the Navy, gaining the "USS" in its namesake. The keel was laid April 30, 2007 and the boat was launched into the water on February 2008.

The christening took place in Groton, Connecticut. Groton is the submarine capital of the world and the United States largest submarine base. The new attack submarines are built right down the road from the base at Electric Boat shipyard.

The weather was beautiful and sunny with about a thousand people lined up on the pier to witness the event. Every naval ship has a sponsor and Cheryl McGuinness from Portsmouth, NH was the sponsor of the submarine bearing the name of her state of residence. Mrs. McGuinness is the widow of Thomas McGuinness, co-pilot of American Airlines flight 11, which crashed into North tower during September 11.

A local revered blessed the boat and the crew of approximately 134 sailors, both officers and enlisted. After the blessing Mrs. McGuinness broke the ceremonial champagne bottle against the sail of the all black submarine. A Jumbotron broadcast the moment to guests packed around the pier of the vessel.

"Live free or die" is the motto of New Hampshire and the ship's logo bears that motto as well as a montage of the ships bearing the name of the granite state before the submarine. The submarine was named after New Hampshire in part due to a letter writing campaign by third graders at Garrison Elementary School in Dover. The letters went to members of Congress, the state governor, and the Secretary of the Navy.

Shipyard workers, members of Congress, and Naval officials were in attendance. Admiral Kirkland Donald, the director of the naval reactors, was present. Donald stressed the importance of the submarine and crew synergy, saying, "We'll soon depend on this crew to take this submarine into harm's way"

The USS New Hampshire is 377 feet long and can travel at speeds in excess of 25 knots. Sea trials are expected to begin this summer with the shipyard officially turning the submarine over to Navy in September of this year. The submarine came in under budget by $54 million dollars and hopes to be the trendsetter as the shipyards streamline the building process in hopes of eventually achieving two submarines a year.

A reception was held after the ceremony at the Mystic Marriott, were gifts were exchanged. Gifts included key chains made with the state's quarter and also official hats of the crew of the USS New Hampshire.