THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 17, 1996 TAG: 9602170358
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
The Navy commissioned a $908 million fast-attack submarine Friday in honor of the small east Tennessee community that gave Davy Crockett to America.
The USS Greeneville, like the city that gave the boat its name, represents the spirit of American pride, hope and courage, Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist said at the Norfolk Naval Base ceremony.
``Today is the realization of a dream, an impossible dream for the people of Greeneville and Greene County,'' said Rep. Jimmy Quillen of Tennessee's 1st District. ``Today shows without any doubt what togetherness means. If we work together, we can accomplish any goal.''
Greeneville, with about 14,000 residents, began working seven years ago to get its name on a warship. It's the smallest U.S. community ever to have a submarine carry its name, Navy officials said.
About 150 people from the community, led by Mayor G. Thomas Love, turned out for the commissioning that was moved from pierside to an aircraft hangar because of snow and sleet.
Greeneville is named for Gen. Nathanael Greene, a Revolutionary War hero who served with George Washington at Valley Forge. It was the birthplace in 1786 of frontiersman Davy Crockett. President Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Abraham Lincoln, launched his political career there.
The Greeneville is the 61st of 62 nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class submarines ordered by the Navy. The last, the Cheyenne, will be finished later this year.
Navy Secretary John Dalton said the Greeneville is a ``stealthy instrument of future American political power'' that will support and defend U.S. forces wherever they're deployed, as now in Bosnia.
Frist and Tipper Gore, the ship's sponsor and wife of Vice President Al Gore, paid tribute to the vessel's crew of 16 officers and 126 sailors.
``I respect you all deeply for what you and your families are doing for this country,'' Gore said.
``The spirit and prayers of the people of Greeneville will be with you,'' the senator said.
Robert Knott, president of Tusculum College in Greeneville, said the 1,400-student school has created a scholarship fund that will be made available to the submarine's crew members and their families.
``It's a very proud community, and the college has long been a part of that,'' Knott said. ``This is a day of celebrating our civic pride.''
Despite the weather, about two dozen disarmament activists turned out at one of the Navy base's gates to protest the submarine.
``There's still time to convert this thing into plowshares,'' said Michele Naar-Obed of Baltimore, one of four activists who were arrested in an Aug. 7 demonstration on the Greeneville while it was under construction at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.
Seven of Friday's protesters briefly laid down in the road, blocking traffic going into the gate. They were issued letters barring them from ever entering base property but weren't arrested. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Sailors from the Los Angeles-class fast-attack sub Greeneville stand
at parade rest Friday at the sub's commissioning in an aircraft
hangar. The event was moved indoors because of bad weather.
KEYWORDS: COMMISSIONING SUBMARINE DEMONSTRATION PROTEST by CNB