U.S.S. SIOUX CITY NAMING CEREMONY HELD AT CITY HALL

U.S. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY RAY MABUS MADE IT OFFICIAL SATURDAY. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, A COMBAT SHIP OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY WILL SAIL AS THE U.S.S. SIOUX CITY.

MABUS SHOWED OFF A DESIGN OF THE LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP AT A PUBLIC CEREMONY AT CITY HALL.

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO LOCAL WAR HERO AND CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER COLONEL BUD DAY AS EXAMPLE OF THE SPIRIT AND PATRIOTISM OF SIOUX CITY RESIDENTS:

MABUS SAYS SINCE THE LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP IS MODULAR, IT WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PERFORMING A VARIETY OF MISSIONS:

IOWA 5TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN STEVE KING SAYS THE SHIP WILL CARRY SIOUX CITY'S PRIDE AND VALUES WITH IT OVERSEAS FOR YEARS  TO COME:

THE VERSATILE SHIP WILL BE FAST WITH A TOP SPEED OF 40 KNOTS.  THE SECRETARY SAYS CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHIP BEGINS NEXT YEAR WITH A COMPLETION DATE OF 2016.