New Navy Litoral Combat Ship to be Named for Gabrielle Giffords

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords

The Navy newest Littoral Combat Ship will be named the USS Gabrielle Giffords in honor of the former Arizona Congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt one year ago. The USS Gabrielle Giffords will be the 17th ship to be named for a woman and the 13th to be named after a living person, according to the Defense Department.  The ship’s “sponsor” will be Roxanna Green, the mother of Christina-Taylor Green, the 9-year-old girl who was killed in the Tucson shooting that wounded Giffords in January 2011.  The Secretary of the Navy,  Ray Mabus, described Giffords and Roxanna Green as “sources of great inspiration” who “represent the Navy and Marine Corps qualities of overcoming, adapting and coming out victoriously despite great challenges.”

Navy ship to be named for Gabrielle Giffords

Gabrielle Giffords is married to Captain Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and a graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.   Mark Kelly’s twin brother, Scott, is also a NASA astronaut and is a graduate of the State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler.  The Kelly brothers are the first twins to fly for NASA, and no doubt, the first astronaut brothers to have both graduated from merchant marine academies.

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New Navy Litoral Combat Ship to be Named for Gabrielle Giffords — 1 Comment

  1. I was shocked when I herd about the shooting. I’M happy to see that Giffords has made agreat come back from that day .I’m pruod to say this USS Gabrielle Giffords. The ship will be a sign for every one that don’t matter what Giffords will speack for the ones you can not.This ship will be of peace for all had gone .I said this befor Christina Tyler Green the nineyear who wanted to meet Giffords now this ship is the voice for all. GOD BLISS THE USA!