 Good morning ladies and gentlemen It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to Cape Canaveral, Florida and to the commissioning ceremony of USS Indiana I am Lieutenant Commander Jason spray the ship's executive officer On behalf of the crew I would like to extend our sincerest. Thanks for joining us here today Before our ceremony begins. I would ask you to please silence your cell phones for the duration of the ceremony Thank you. We are here today to celebrate the commissioning of USS Indiana The fourth ship to bear the name of our 19th state The first indiana bb1 was the lead ship in her class and the first battleship in the united states navy commissioned in 1895 She played a pivotal role in the spanish-american war Where she took part in both the blockade of santiago de cuba and the battle of santiago de cuba She was responsible for the destruction of the spanish destroyers pluton and furor After the war she was a gunnery training ship and was decommissioned in 1919 The second ship to bear the name was bb 50 A south dakota class battleship whose keel was laid but never completed because of the washington naval treaty signed in 1922 Limited displacement of warships to 10,000 tons Deemed and effective by the late 1930s due to german and japanese aggression The treaty was abandoned and construction began on a new class of heavy battleships USS indiana bb 58 was commissioned in april 1942 Upon completion of her gunnery trials off the coast of main on november 9th 1942. She immediately steamed for the panama come now By november 14th. She was assigned as a flagship for task group two six During her service in the pacific she earned an impressive nine battle stars for service in the asiatic fleet She was decommissioned in 1947 We are honored to have several members of her crew with us here today These heroes served bravely in defense of this country and we are proud to share the unique bond of service and ship name with these fellow sailors Gentlemen, thank you for your service and protecting this great nation Please join me in recognizing these heroes and all veterans present Thank you ladies gentlemen The ship moored before you affectionately referred to as a boat by members of the submarine community will soon join america's silent service Indiana is the 16th submarine of the virginia class With its sister ships it represents a revolution in submarine design construction and mission capability Brimming with leading-edge technology and advanced engineering. This vessel brings versatility and firepower to the fleet Indiana and the virginia class are among the most effective platforms in the united states navy And this warship takes another step forward in advancing the superiority of our submarine force Able to operate in the far corners of the world's oceans undetected while connected to air sea Land-based forces as well as key shore facilities. These submarines are equipped to wage multi-dimensional warfare around the globe Indiana's adaptability makes it highly responsive to changing mission requirements And provides the nation with the capabilities required to be the decisive factor in any conflict In addition to anti-submarine anti-surface ship and counter-mine warfare Indiana will support surveillance special operations and covert strike missions Thank you for allowing each of us the privilege to serve our nation as part of your navy while proudly bearing the name indiana The submarine you see behind me was christened on april 29th 2017 in newport news virginia Today she is complete and battle ready. We are all proud to serve on the newest attack submarine in the united states navy Today's ceremony is a time-honored tradition that began with the commissioning of the navy's first ship A captured british schooner the margaretta in 1775 Since then thousands of ships have undergone the transition from silent hall to fully alive warship My shipmates our commissioning crew here after known as plank owners are in formation and ready Will the guests please rise and remain standing for the arrival of our official party Honors presentation of colors our national anthem and the invocation Ladies and gentlemen our platform guests Captain jerald pedicord united states navy retired Captain melvin underwood united states navy command chaplain commander submarine force atlantic Mr. Ray shearer chairman uss indiana commissioning committee Captain martin muckian united states navy commander submarine squadron six Ms. jennifer boykin president newport news shipbuilding Mr. jeffrey geiger president general dynamics electric boat The honorable bob hoag mayor city of cape canaveral florida Vice admiral chas richard united states navy commander submarine forces The honorable james geertz assistant secretary of the navy research development and acquisition Admiral frank coldwell united states navy director naval nuclear propulsion program The honorable jim banks united states representative third district state of indiana The honorable todd roqueta united states representative fourth district state of indiana The honorable bill posi united states representative eighth district state of florida Ladies and gentlemen our ship sponsor miss diane donald escorted by senior chief petty officer charles simons the chief of the boat Ladies and gentlemen the honorable eric holcomb governor state of indiana escorted today by captain jesse zembauer indiana's perspective commanding officer Ladies and gentlemen honors to the honorable eric holcomb advance the colors So proud the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight Or the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming And the rock the purdue chamber choir ensemble navy band southeast the air force station cape canaveral saluting battery The navy ordinance test unit color guard for their participation in our ceremony today Ladies and gentlemen chaplain underwood will deliver the invocation Let us pray Almighty and everlasting father in whom we live and move and have our being We humbly pray that you will bless us all here today With the comfort of your spirit as we gather to commission the uss indiana the fourth of her name Endow us with loyalty and devotion to mission And focus our hearts on the rich heritage of freedom Which has been handed to us from the patriots of our past and who are present with us Bless the officers and crew of this ship Giving them fidelity in their assignments As they represent their ship their shipmate our navy and their namesake state May they exemplify liberty and enlightenment and a far-reaching influence As they seek deterrence through strength As the state of indiana embodies the crossroads of america May the uss indiana embody the crossroads of power strength determination and deterrence Father grant them fair weather in all of their voyages And if dangers confront them in the midst of the sea May your presence abide with them as a strong tower of defense Preserving them from the dangers of our enemies Father make them fast make them powerful and make them lethal as they defend our home front Make these silent warriors silent victors should they be called upon to fight the good fight Father to those gathered here this morning. I ask that their attendance be blessed And marked as a joining of a family of support for this newest boat of the line May their continuing support thoughts and prayers for this ship and her crew continue long after this ceremony ends Let us now have a sense of your presence father as we celebrate in a moment of solemn dedication In your holy name Thank you chaplain underwood will the guests please be seated Ship's company parade rest Ladies and gentlemen the honorable bill posie. Thank you all and To our honored guests welcome to florida the sunshine state And more specifically welcome to the eighth congressional district home of america's space coast Hope that you can make time while you're here to enjoy some of our beaches And the other amenities our community has to offer. It's truly a special community and we love our military here Today we gather at port canaveral the second busiest cruise port in the united states of america Not to boast but we're surrounded by some of the hardest-working friendliest and talented men and women that you will ever meet Just a little bit to the north of us is the historic Cape canaveral air force station now known as Cape kennedy managed by the 45th space wing They support our nation's space missions NASA's kennedy space center Our nation's historic gateway to space and Our naval ordinance test unit Our us coast guard station and patrick air force base are close We're honored and blessed in our community to have over 77 thousand veterans Who have chosen to make our district their home We're grateful to them for their service We owe a tremendous amount of gratitude To those brave men and women in uniform And their families Who have made so many sacrifices And to the crew of the uss indiana All of our servicemen men and women present Thank you for your commitment to defending our freedom And thank you for your family's sacrifices It's all been given for freedom that too many of us Take for granted every day From Harris corporation to north of grumman Lockheed martin drs and bowing We're all proud In our support role of our warfighters As you can imagine We are honored to have the privilege of hosting this exciting commissioning of the us indiana here Thank each and every one of you for your participation today God bless you. May god keep you safe and may god continue to bless the united states of america. Thank you Thank you representative posie Ladies and gentlemen the honorable eric holcomb Thank you commander spray Good morning What a great navy day I bring Greetings from some 6.6 million of my fellow hoosiers who are Bremming as you described and beaming with pride this morning Pride for this boat and pride for her crew We are truly honored That the united states Navy's newest fast attack submarine is named after our home indiana And in getting ready for today's ceremony as A history buff i did a little Pre-reading of my history and as you described commander spray. I looked into the Previous ships named uss indiana and it just amazes me the leaps in Technology that have occurred over the last century plus since president benjamin harrison A hoosier i might add Attended that commissioning of the first uss indiana All the way back in 1895 The new york times headline On that day october 19th 1895 Said quote indiana a wonder highly successful speed test of the new battleship Indiana a wonder I mean i love that phrase and actually Come to think of it indiana a wonder could be the headline of today For lots of specific reasons when you think about it the first uss indiana had a top speed Of 15 knots This one 25 knots underwater Battleship number one united states steamship indiana had Two sets of vertical Inverted triple expansion reciprocating steam engines It's a lot under the hood back in the day But this uss indiana has a s9g reactor Which will operate for 33 years its life without refueling I need one of those for my truck The first uss indiana was armed with 42 guns one pounders and six pounders Six eight and 13 inches And four torpedo tubes for good measure This uss indiana Well, I think it's safe to say it has a little bit more firepower The first uss indiana was a first of its kind battleship A modern marvel That's symbolized to the growing power both military and industrial power of the united states And this virginia class Summarine is also a modern marvel Carrying on the proud tradition of Technological achievement that has come to define our courageous navy This boat is another example of indiana As was mentioned being at the crossroads or maybe even the cross waters of the world sailors from all over the country Will serve on this uss indiana In fact, I met a few Yesterday and again this morning Now I know you all aren't from all of you from indiana although there is one But I can assure you Now and forever more you will always be distinguished hoosiers So captain I hope that you Found room on the boat for a basketball hoop being a true hoosier even if it's a nerf But in fact our ties to this boat Grow deeper And we'll forever do so Much much deeper than our love for hoops Skipper as you mentioned last night Indiana is known for growing and for building things and distributing them So it should come to No one's surprise that hoosier hands Played a loving part a big part of building And then therefore being able to deploy This uss indiana with more than a hundred indiana companies From small mom and pop shops to international fortune 500 supplying parts for this ship Atheon and Rolls Royce Caterpillar high-end tech steel mills up in northwest indian in the region Furniture makers like miller veneer and high-tech veneer They all contributed Their love and care and their expertise To this uss indiana So as you all are serving on this boat Know that your crew Is a lot bigger than you may think In fact, i'd like to say this crew is 6.6 million strong Because there are in fact 6.6 million hoosiers who are proud of this uss indiana We're proud of And we pray for every sailor That makes up this crew Thank you all For answering the call Thank you all for your service and your sacrifice for your families as well Thank you for proudly representing the very best among us for the job that you do And may god continue to bless each and every one of you and of the united states of america Fair winds and following seas my shipmates Thank you. Thank you all Thank you governor holcomb Ladies and gentlemen the honorable bob hoag Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and i'd like to make a special welcome to the state of indiana I'm proud to be standing here today and welcome to cape canaryville port canaryville and the world's space coast It's a pleasure to be here and celebrate such an event today I'd personally like to welcome all the visitors to the area if you're from indiana or wherever This is a very very unique area We have the port like it's been mentioned no to cruise ships cargo Commercial fishing commercial entities commercial restaurants all throughout the port area It's a very diversified area We have canaveral air force station to the north of us kennedy space center Where we have put man on the moon and bought man back to this point right here Brevard county it's a very very unique I mean very unique county We have very high tech companies here throughout Brevard county from Titusville to palm bay, which is about 75 miles between And all that is right here at our doorstep I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome the uss indiana and this crew You're part of the reason why we're all here really it's we're here because of no to in the port It's been part of my past life no two. I used to Have some part of no two I'm proud to stand here today and Be proud to be part of this gathering We can all be proud of the event as american citizens We have a very very unique country that we live in I think I'd like to take this moment in closing. I'm going to be real short. I'm not Going to be long with you in closing. I'd like to thank Captain Zembar and his crew for their service to this country It's greatly appreciated. We all take this for granted that we live under freedom I'd like to wish them a safe command God bless them and god bless america. Thank you Thank you, mayor hoag Ladies and gentlemen miss jennifer boykin Good morning Distinguished platform guests ladies and gentlemen and especially our ship sponsor Diane donald I am honored to be here today to represent the women and men of newport news shipbuilding who helped build uss indiana commissioning is a special day in the life of this submarine It signifies the end of indiana's first chapter and the start of her new story Of the 16th virginia class submarine to join the us navy's fleet As we turn a symbolic page today I'm reminded of the expression. It is not the destination. It's the journey There are many people who have been part of the journey to bring this submarine to life For the more than 4 000 shipbuilders from newport news and electric boat and the thousands of suppliers Who supported indiana's construction? Shipbuilding isn't just a job These proud americans understand that what they do every day contributes to something greater than themselves They pour their hearts and their souls into their work It's a labor of love for our country and a demonstration of patriotic spirit Throughout this journey. We have had the honor and privilege of working in partnership with fellow patriots At indiana's christening dianne donald imparted her own sense of duty dedication and enthusiasm onto the submarine And I know her unwavering support will only grow throughout the submarine's service life We also experienced who's your pride firsthand From the state's leadership to the commissioning committee And the more than 100 supplier companies in indiana that build critical parts for virginia class submarines And last but certainly not least We partnered with indiana's able crew to bring this submarine their submarine to life And I can attest after riding alpha c trials that this crew is well equipped and well prepared Commander simbauer our support for your crew is strong You can feel confident knowing that the thousands of shipbuilders and suppliers Who worked on your boat have done everything they can to protect and serve you And we are confident that when the time comes You will do everything in your power to be our silent victors We wish you and your crew good luck and godspeed Congratulations Thank you, miss boykin ladies and gentlemen mr. Jeffrey geiger Good morning ladies and gentlemen On behalf of the men and women of general dynamics electric boat I'm honored to participate in the commissioning of indiana the 16th ship of the virginia class I'd like to begin by recognizing all of today's various distinguished platform guests And in particular indiana sponsor mrs. diane donnell Who has been an active member of the navy's submarine family for her entire adult life It's difficult to think of anyone better suited to be a submarine sponsored than diane With her husband retired kirkland donnell Retired admiral kirkland donnell diane has been involved and intertwined with our sailors and their spouses and families for many years They are a team long dedicated to the navy and its submarine force The officers and crew of uss indiana are fortunate indeed to have diane as their sponsor And just as the admiral and mrs. donnell form an awesome team Some to do so to do the shipbuilders of newport news shipbuilding and electric boat Along with the united states navy our supplier base and our supporters in congress Today's commissioning is an occasion of pride and fulfillment For everyone who played a part in getting this magnificent submarine to this point in its life To each of you who contribute to this massive effort. Thank you for your dedication And your hard hard work Our shipbuilding team is absolutely aligned in its purpose Working to ensure the virginia class program continues to produce the finest submarines the world has ever seen Our country demands and deserves no less Together with the other ships of the virginia class uss indiana embodies unprecedented Capabilities enabling it to play a pivotal role in our nation's defense And sustaining the navy's undersea dominance for many years to come Lastly and most importantly i want to acknowledge the contribution Of commander of captain jesse zimbauer and his outstanding crew who have given this submarine life Captain zimbauer your crew's level of performance is a testament to their tireless dedication to duty And relentless commitment to excellence I know i speak for everyone here today when i extend my best wishes to captain zimbauer and his ship's company For a safe and distinguished tour duty May the uss indiana serve you Our navy and our nation long and well Thank you Thank you, mr. Geiger Ladies and gentlemen the honorable todd rochita Thank you exo spray Governor thank you for those words congressman banks. Thank you for the words. You will say Thanks to all my friends from indiana who've joined us here today, especially those in the general assembly As the representative from a lot of the western part of the state of indiana I will be the first to tell you i've never been to a commissioning ceremony before So I didn't know what to expect ratio But let me tell you as we look at over the 5500 ticketed guests here today Representative posie mayor hoag What a great constituency you have Thank you for joining The great folks of indiana here today. Thank you all For joining us here today. I know you're not up here for us Well, let me at least speak for myself I know you're here because you love this country you love The men and women and uniform that protect us And you love and yearn for a continuation of the ideals The principles the freedoms that this country was found upon And as each of us looks upon this great submarine today A single thought must captivate our minds as it did mine my son's mind Yesterday when we toured the boat Only in the united states of america can a machine like this be made As it has been previously mentioned, there's over a hundred indiana companies that help make this happen But much more than that It's the hands. It's the hearts. It's the souls of hardworking hoosiers that are imprinted within the walls of this submarine That makes it great I know these people I've been in the factories The people who helped build This boat love america They will do anything for the men and women who serve on this boat. They will do anything for their country This submarine is just the latest of three to set sail with the name uss indiana It is a joining it is joining a legacy of greatness captain pedicord And with the greatness comes high expectations To perform with excellence to perform with grit and determination that our navy prides itself on every day For example, the last vessel to bear indiana's namesake was awarded nine battle stars during world war two We expect the same potency from this submarine and as it was crafted with hoosier pride and integrity I am confident that this vessel will not let america down Certainly our prayers will go with the brave men and women as they serve on this exemplary weapon But remember a weapon as it is It is not meant and will never occupy It is meant to save and protect the innocent And we all proudly support those who will serve to protect the freedoms we hold so dear But let us not forget the real reason why america builds these vessels and why great men and women choose to serve aboard them We build these machines to protect our freedom and our ideals of life liberty in the pursuit of happiness But more importantly We do it to safeguard the generations to come to keep our children Like my son ryan who's joining us here today To keep them defended and protected From those who wish to take away our god given freedoms We fight to give our leaders of tomorrow a future and maybe One day our children including my son ryan Will take on the duty to man a vessel Like the uss indiana And because it was made with so many indiana parts This vessel will be around for my son But for now our children's our children are the ones we protect so xo I am grateful. I am humbled. I am inspired by the service of our navy And to be here with you for the commissioning of the uss indiana Above all, thank you to those who have served And those who have the responsibility and duty to man this submarine god bless and god speed Thank you representative roquita Ladies and gentlemen the honorable james geertz Distinguished platform guests our wonderful sponsor diana donald and her husband arable donald My teammate admiral caldwell The crew and family of the uss indiana fellow veterans shipbuilders americans ladies and gentlemen welcome It's great to be back in florida not just because it's not the pentagon Um, but because florida has always been such a great supporter for our military families And and the uh the five thousand of you out here today supporting the military is just further Evidence of the great support you've always given us. Thank you very much As a son of a nuclear submarine plank owner Who was on a pier in the ceremony just like this about 54 years ago? It's my distinct pleasure to represent the secretary of the navy here at this ceremony with you commissioning ceremonies are a time-honored tradition of our navy And participating in these ceremonies Are the most rewarding part of my job because they represent two great strengths of our nation teamwork and commitment The teamwork and commitment of the wonderful commissioning team Who's been working for years to put this event together? Your hard work to arrange today's event and transition to submarine under construction To the navy's lethal fleet is quite impressive. Thank you for the great effort there The teamwork and commitment of the thousands of suppliers from across the country Most of which were small businesses mom and pop shops Who produced the millions of quality parts needed for this amazing submarine? These are the most sophisticated submarines in the world And they're only possible with the ingenuity and hard work of our suppliers And the teamwork and uh commitment of our shipbuilders the over four thousand women and men from newport news electric boat Who have literally spent millions of hours To bend and weld the steel assemble the parts test the systems and deliver this lethal platform to to the fleet To carry out our nation's bidding and to protect our way of life Your efforts to increase production to two of these wonderful submarines a year while cutting two years off of the production time Is really an incredible feat and one for which you should be very proud The teamwork and commitment of the crew standing before you Who trained so hard to get ready for this day and for the days to come Ready when the nation calls on them to protect our freedom The team and commitment of the congress Who this week passed a defense budget to enable us to continue and build and support the navy The nation needs to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow The teamwork and commitment of our military members operating in harm's way all around the world as we even speak here They're on watch to ensure our freedom And most importantly the teamwork and commitment of our military families For without their support. We would not have the world's best military The uss indian is our most advanced nuclear submarines. It's filled with the innovations. We need to compete and win She's lethal. She's capable. She's quiet She even has an xbox controller to control her periscope But even more impressive than all these great features We've given this submarine a secret weapon a weapon no other ship in the world has And that weapon is diane Oh, you're a weapon. All right Diane we're so thankful for all you've done for the for the ship and will do to guide this submarine inner crew as a sponsor The uss indiana will join the navy carrying on the proud tradition of her namesake indiana It pays tribute to the legacy of all the sailors who've gone before us Especially those generations of indiana crew members dating back to the spanish american war war and world war two This indiana guided by captain zimbabwe on his crew and those that will follow him will shape their own future I'm confident that this submarine with its well-trained crew And the support of indiana and all of america is ready to take on the many challenges She will face now and in the years to come Captain zimbabwe on the crew of the uss indiana. Good luck to you on the days ahead as you enter the fleet in a world's best navy God bless his submarine. God bless his crew and their families and god bless the united states of america. Thank you Thank you secretary girts Ladies and gentlemen admiral frank coldwell Good morning It is an absolute honor to be here today to commission our 16th virginia class submarine This is a great day for indiana It's a great day for our shipbuilders and it is a great day for the united states submarine force governor holcomb You know indiana has always supported our navy in a strong way and today indiana owns the bookends of us navy ships Crane indiana provides the timbers for our oldest commission ship us's constitution And today you've heard it already over 100 vendors have supported the construction of our newest submarine uss indiana And i think that's incredible We've heard about our weapon already miss diane donald Now diane your husband left an indelible mark on the nuclear propulsion program And your leadership of submarine families has continued that legacy Thank you for your years of faithful service to the united states navy And i know for certain that you will guide the families and crews Make them strong make them resilient so that uss indiana is always always ready to serve the nation Now ladies and gentlemen, we are living in a world of great power competition Our competitors seek to seek to take the advantage from us in the undersea domain It is important for our nation to continue to build the very best submarines in the world To find recruit and train the best sailors we can find and to man our ships with the best weapons systems and sensors that we can uss indiana and her sisters of the virginia class will maintain our edge in the undersea environment Soon indiana will deploy her stealth endurance And her flexibility to travel silently under the oceans Protecting our nation. She will be undetected collecting intelligence preparing for battle And if necessary striking from the deep swiftly without notice to defend our nation Now none of this would be possible without the great shipbuilding team of newport new shipbuilding and electric boat And the thousands of vendors around the united states I'm proud to be associated with these folks I've been to see on this ship with many of them and I would tell you that today We not only commission a submarine but we recognize and thank all of the vendors and all of the shipbuilders They build this ship with great skill With tremendous pride and great patriotism and i'm proud to be associated with them And finally to commander zimbauer and the awesome indiana crew Much has been demanded of you during final construction and at sea testing Today all of your work will bring this ship to life Stay true to your motto silent victors The nation the navy and all of us hoosiers are depending on you. Thank you and god bless indiana and all who sail in her Now ladies and gentlemen, I have the distinct pleasure of introducing our principal speaker today He is an esteemed hoosier He is a man who not only strongly advocates for our service members and our veterans in the house of representatives But he too has served he has deployed in the service of our country to afghanistan And he has served the nation well I can think of no one more appropriate to deliver our principal remarks today Than congressman jim banks ladies and gentlemen, please welcome congressman jim banks admiral caldwell Distinguished guest It is a great honor to be here with each and every one of you today What a fine navy day To commission the best named boat in the united states navy the uss indiana, right? Today though has historical significance In the relationship between congress and the armed forces On this date in 1789 it marked the final day of the very first Session of the united states congress That first congress passed an act to establish america's armed forces And from that day to this day We have stood on the shoulders of the men and women including those of us who are with us today Who have served in defense of this great nation? Today we commission a technological marvel That has been built by men and women who share in the spirit of indiana The hard-working hoosiers who embody the crossroads of america But the virginia class boat is the best attack submarine in the world Now some ask If china's type 095 can match it In case the chinese are listening today, and i hope this makes you very proud It can't Now i like to think in spite of our location geographically in the midwest That indiana is a navy state From our legendary statesmen former united states senator richard luger who served In the navy to our current and great governor eric holcomb Who by the way was an early influence on me to serve in the navy to begin with To send to united states senator todd yang who is a graduate of the naval academy To congressman larry bouchon from the opposite corner of the state of indiana and myself Who served as navy reserve officers before we got to congress? We have a lot of a lot of examples of navy leadership from the great state of indiana Indiana has historically been a leader in naval leadership and ingenuity The first modern battleship ever built in america was bb1 Also known as the uss indiana Commissioned in 1895 the battleship served in the spanish-american war near the turn of the century The second uss indiana was a planned battleship laid down in 1920 Construction was halted in 1922 following the adoption of the washington naval treaty The third uss indiana was a south dakota class battleship launched Just one month before the attack on pearl harbour in 1941 It saw action in numerous campaigns in the pacific to include in the mariana islands okinawa and iwajima The ship's anchor by the way Resides outside the allen county war memorial coliseum in fort wane indiana in my district This amazing submarine that is commissioned today has a crest That honors the heritage of uss indiana We see the nine silver stars which represent the battle stars uss indiana received from her per Pacific operations in world war two The crest of the indiana says much about the ties between our great state and this fine boat From the shape of the state in the background the color blue Which reminds us both of our flags? Color and one of the the traditional navy colors It is as the song goes Blue of the mighty deep gold of god's great son The checkered flag in the background denotes the racing heritage That we in indiana are so proud of Reminding us of the victories of the past and spurring us to future endeavors Just above the silver dolphin that stands for the essential navy enlisted submarineers You may be able to see one small star on the forward turret of bb 58 This represents naval support activity crane indiana the third Largest naval installation in the world The indiana is not only about places and things that demonstrate deep connection though It's about the hoosier spirit Many hoosiers have served in the navy admirably are serving today And will serve in the future and i'd like to just take a moment to point out A few of their contributions To begin with Admiral Jonas Ingram hailed from jeffersonville indiana He served in both world wars While getting his start at the naval academy ingram was a member of the school's rowing track and football teams Leading the latter team to the midshipman's first victory in six years by the way Over their bitter rivals the army By scoring the lone touchdown in the 1906 clash His athletic exploits earned him the academy's prestigious prestigious Athletic sword and induction into the college football hall of fame in 1968 According to the college football hall of fame. They called him the one armed admiral Because he often claimed i'd give my right arm to win this football game Even more amazing though were his pursuits on the battlefield On april 22 1914 he landed a very cruise mexico with the arkansas battalion And was later awarded the medal of honor for distinguished conduct in battle And skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machine guns During the second day's fighting the service performed by him was described as imminent and conspicuous Admiral you'd be proud this this was a man who understood the value of joint operations before the idea was embodied in our doctrine During world war one. He was awarded the navy cross for his services In the atlantic fleets battle force Between the wars though He returned to the naval academy to serve as both athletic director and football director from 1926 to 1930 To rally the team And excuse me for a moment quote He used to say The navy has no place for good losers The navy needs tough sons of a bitches who can get out there and win I think president trump would really like admiral ingram's fighting spirit His time during world war two was focused in the atlantic But on november 15 1944 he was appointed commander in chief us atlantic atlantic fleet He played a major role in assuring the steady flow of troops and materials to europe across the atlantic during the later phases of world war two He also directed atlantic fleet efforts and containing and destroying the german u-boat fleet For exceptionally meritorious service during his command. He was awarded a gold a gold award star In lieu of a third Distinguished service medal A near contemporary of ingram though was henry m molenex Molenex hailed from spencer indiana and graduated from the naval academy in 1916 He served in the atlantic during world war one conducting patrol and escort duty off the coast of ireland As part of a long line of navy engineers hailing from indiana He completed work in aeronautical engineering at both anapolis and at mit After flight training at naval air station pennsacola florida He was designated a naval aviator on january 11 1924 He was one of those mainly responsible for developing the air-cooled engine for naval aircraft He commanded the uss saratoga in april 1943 Saratoga was the operational us fleet carrier in the critical south pacific at the time After molenex was promoted to rear admiral. He was relieved by fellow hoosier captain john cassidy Who also hailed from spencer indiana? Cassidy would go on to become commander of in chief of us naval forces eastern atlantic and Mediterranean from 1954 to 1956 after serving as deputy chief of naval operations. He also served as sixth fleet commander from 1952 to 1954 While while not a sailor samuel woodfill also hailed from jefferson county indiana He was a veteran of the philippine american war world war one and world war two General john pershing called woodfill quote the most outstanding soldier in all of world war one He won the medal of honor by single-handedly neutralizing three german machine gun Implacements while suffering the effects of mustard gas Successfully leading his soldiers back to friendly lines without casualties These are some examples of fine and heroic hoosiers And they are the firm foundation that we benefit from today as we celebrate their legacies Now it was very formative for me though To have served in uniform as a navy reserve officer side by side with other service members in afghanistan There is a unique bond of trust that develops between service members when operating together under difficult and challenging circumstances For me that understanding of the importance of trust began years before as former sailors mentored me Introducing me to the virtues of public service For example, as I mentioned before Senator richard luger was one of those who spent time with me and inspired me to serve His own service as a naval officer included time as an intelligence briefer for admiral arlie berke Senator luger's lasting contributions to our nation both in uniform And in congress were a great model for me to serve in the navy And also to serve our great state In congress and at the state house. I'm thankful for the time I got to spend with senator luger And I want to thank him publicly today for his great public service to our state and nation Thank you senator luger I also want to thank my great friend and our governor eric holcomb For his encouragement for me to join the navy and serve our nation in the first place I appreciate your leadership for our great state And your many contributions to our national defense. Thank you governor eric holcomb Now i'm glad that the indiana's crew Has taken the opportunity to enjoy hoosier hospitality and spirit Indiana institutions continue to supply the navy with the finest men and women today For example Purdue university supplies the most engineers to the entire united states navy And the university of notardame supplies more nuclear officers than any other school in the country Now one final note from the crest Across the banner are the words silent victors This is taken directly from the indiana soldiers and sailors monument in indianapolis It is fitting for you sailors of the uss indiana today about to embark on your next chapter As this new chapter will be written by silent By the silent service many of us will not know the full extent of the sacrifices and dangers that you will undertake But without a doubt It will be written by victors You are those victors trained and ready for every mission designed for this amazing technological platform And essential in this age of strategic competition For whatever challenge you meet in a domain that most will never see Have confidence that you are backed by the faith of a nation that has stood strong for over 242 years The navy song ends with faith courage Service true with honor over honor overall May you maintain that faith have steadfast courage And serve with honor throughout all of your days godspeed and thank you for your service Fair winds and following seas Thank you representative banks Secretary Gertz I would be honored if you would now place indiana in commission On behalf of the secretary of the navy and for the president of the united states I hereby place the united stateship indiana in commission Hey god bless and guide this worship and all who sailor Thank you, mr. Secretary executive officer Hoist the colors and the commission pennant Aye aye sir Ladies and gentlemen, please rise I direct your attention to the boat as we hoist the colors and commission pennant Indiana 10 hut Quarter master hoist the colors and commission pennant Aye aye sir The colors and commission pennant are flying over uss indiana Very well Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated I will now read my orders from chief of navy personnel to captain jesse zimbabwe united states navy Subject bupers order number three four six three When directed detach present duty and proceed to pre commissioning unit indiana for duties in conjunction with fitting out Upon commissioning of uss indiana report for duty as commanding officer Signed ca cobble rear admiral united states navy commander navy personnel command USS indiana is in commission and i am in command Executive officer set the watch Aye aye sir Officer of the deck set the first watch Aye aye sir The officer of the deck is the commanding officer's direct representative and while on watch is responsible for the safety and smooth operation of the ship The long glass is the traditional symbol of an officer of the deck's authority and a ship of the line To assist in this tradition captain jerald pedicord united states navy retired a proud veteran of the battleship uss indiana bb 58 Will assist in setting the first watch by passing the long glass to our first officer of the deck lieutenant commander jeremy leisure from riverbank california The petty officer of the deck is petty officer first class alfred erdy allis from chicago illinois The topside sentry is petty officer second class austin parker from simpson adi ohio And the bosons made of the watch Is petty officer second class joseph barbara from queens new york? Watch on deck section one Sir the watch is set Very well captain the watch is set Very well We are delighted to have our sponsor miss diane donald with us today miss donald christen indiana on april 29th 2017 Dan i would be honored if you would join me and give me give the order to man our ship and bring her to life Today we celebrate the time-honored tradition of placing uss indiana into the service of our country It has been the privilege of a lifetime to have a role in bringing this ship to life But it is the sailors before you Who are the heart and soul of the ship? They helped build this modern marvel and are now ready to take it to sea as a member of the world's greatest navy To anyone who wish our nation harm take heed indiana is taking the watch Our new silent victors are indiana strong And take a moment to recognize this crew and their families for their service aboard the hoosier boat Officers and crew of uss indiana Men are shipping bring her to life The crew of uss indiana salute You we are proud to serve your great navy Ready ladies and gentlemen, please be seated the ship is manned and ready Vice admiral richard uss indiana reports for duty Welcome to the fleet. Aye sir Admiral caldwell request permission to break your flag Aye sir Executive officer break the flag of admiral caldwell. Aye. Aye sir Corner master break the flag of admiral caldwell. Aye. Aye sir The flag of admiral caldwell is flying over uss indiana very well Ladies and gentlemen captain jesse zimbauer united states navy commanding officer uss indiana Indiana parade rest. I have a little uh Rough voice this morning. We've been cheering for a couple days and uh the governor and I we did a bunch of shoutouts yesterday I woke up this morning. My wife said, uh, you sound like the singer berry white and I said, well, that's not really what i'm after I think it sort of gives me a little gravitas, you know at a moment like this. So Um, wow, let's just take a moment and uh, look at these sailors on this ship right here Hey, you wouldn't be out here if uh, you didn't have a good lethal dose of patriotism and uh, you cannot take a look at that Um, those sailors dressed in their whites on the backbone of the world's newest and most lethal submarine And not just stand up and cheer Unbelievable what this country can do So I owe everything to uh To my crew admiral richard I think that we have the best-looking crew and if there's an award for that put us in for it So a lot of people have been asking me, um, so how is it That a submarine crew that spent the majority of the summer beneath the waves has such remarkable tans And I for one have the best hand of my life And it's because we've spent the last week here in port canaveral one week in port canaveral and you can have a tan like this So it's just a great place. Uh, the sailors have had wonderful liberty We're all going local the other day I I did a tour and as I was kind of sneaking out I put flip flops on and And I put sunglasses on I think got a ron john t-shirt on And I was walking out and the tour group said hey, I think that's the skipper I said boy, he looks different and uh Absolutely, so I probably head back home and paint my house some pastels maybe Purple and turquoise pretty popular around here. So Um, but thank you very much. Um, we've got uh over 5 000 people in attendance today at the uh commissioning Wow You know, let me just say that none of this would be possible without the uh the work for years of the commissioning committee that commissioning committee Um actually existed before indiana existed even in name Uh, they worked on and petitioned the secretary of the navy Um to have a ship named indiana and after 71 years we have a new one So I thank them for everything that they've done and uh for bringing all of you good folks out We have uh over 5 500 personnel our people here We have thousands of people from indiana in the crowd today, which is amazing make that journey So last night, uh, it was a little overwhelming. We uh, the the ship has been provided with many heartfelt Gifts and things that are going to adorn this ship make it the best in the fleet. You saw some of those We've got a lot of handmade stuff from indiana We've got a quilt from a group We got a new tabletop that has been handmade 4000 hours is what I've been told Went into making that We got a cigar box Everything that we've gotten From indiana is handmade with love indiana itself 92 counties And every single county in indiana have contributed something to our crew in this commissioning. Isn't that amazing? wow So I have it on good authority governor that From people that attend a lot of commissionings that indiana has far and away exceeded any other commissioning state To date in your generosity and enthusiasm for this ship I'm no surprise, you know based on your support of the military and our veterans. So congratulations I've taken five. I think I've taken at least five trips to indiana Through the build process and commissioning this last year. I didn't get to make it out. We were pretty busy building the ship And mr. Shearer catalogs all that and I didn't even realize until he started to go down the list Some two dozen places that I visited in different communities throughout the state, you know If you're in indiana And they know that you're active duty military your money's no good there If you wear whites in indianapolis, you're not going anywhere. Don't have any plans It's a it's a state that loves their veterans and as congressman was talking about Right downtown they have the soldiers and sailors monument So the state capital has dedicated their prime real estate in the capital of the state And it's a grand monument if you've ever been there. It's a beautiful downtown And they've dedicated that real estate to the soldiers and sailors And on that monument it says it's dedicated to the silent victors And as was eloquently told, you know, the silent victors has some different meanings But in the meeting on the monument that is dedicated to the people who never got a parade Okay, they sacrificed everything so that we could be here today celebrating and carrying on with america and its greatness Those are the silent victors that are remembered right in downtown indianapolis And so when my previous chief of the boat, uh, master chief herring, he's now command master chief He approached me and he says hey captain Silent victors is on the soldiers and sailors monument. That means a lot to the people of indiana I think we should make that our motto and I said, you know what? chief of the boat Let's go ahead and do that. We're going to remember those silent victors right on our ship's crest So we have more heroes from that era today That's amazing um, so we have uh, 12 Original veterans from battleship 58 commissioned in 1942 fought In real battles in world war two helped us win that war from 1942, uh, she uh was decommissioned in 1947 joining us on the stage captain pedicord, um, is uh the uh Member of that crew and he's also a plank owner So captain pedicord. He's 99 years old today. Ask him next week. He's going to tell you he's 100 100 years old Just amazing When he was uh, told that he was going to be part of the commissioning. I got a picture of it. Um, he uh He immediately went and put on his uh dress blues that you see that he had those dress blues apparently 60 years old and uh So I got a I got a picture of it. He's sitting in his easy chair in his dress blues and uh, you know, what amazing dedication You know those sailors, um, they served and they never forgot and now here We are 71 years later and they are participating in our commissioning and they are vetting us like we're heroes And I gotta tell you they're the real heroes God bless you If they didn't do what they did when they did it, we wouldn't be doing what we're doing today I uh, give you one vignette. I had the occasion. I met with uh, the bb 58 sailors really due to the commissioning committee Have reunited them with the ship. Uh, I met with them three different times I got to talk with, uh, mr. Thurman jones, uh, at the bb 58 Reception that we did the other day. He's an hm 3 on bb 3 And uh, he told me a story. He enlisted Uh, uh, he turned 18 one month after pearl harbor and immediately Immediately enlisted in the navy um He joined the navy in, uh, norfolk And in those days, he had to take a little boat. So he took a little boat over to newport news, uh, where the, uh Battleship indiana was being constructed and uh being completed so That battleship was constructed one dry dock over from where the uss the current uss indiana Was rolled out launched and where we finished construction as a matter of fact I parked my car and I looked into that dry dock every day So that's a huge connection that brings the shipyard together A shipyard that won a war with the men that won a war and the new ship That's going to prevent one or win one if they end up starting one So the men of indiana Us few 140 We're made strong by the support of many So we're supported by, uh, the best contractors in the world the two premier, uh, shipyards electric boat in newport news The laboratories nulls and bettas Um, in fact, uh, I don't know if mr. Eppings here, but if he is I hope he is So mr. Eppings was our lead physicist When we initially brought the the ship to criticality and uh, he's from Notre Dame And uh, he'll let you know about it And uh, the three other scientists that came down They were from purdue. Um, so that lets you know where that power is All the contractors coming together The support of our chain of command and the rest of the navy community Ensuring we're well trained and have everything we need to be successful The 45th space wing right over here and all the satellites they put into space over the years allowing me and my crew To communicate gather intelligence giving me a strategic advantage if I've got to go into the fight But most of all it's the support of you It's americans that get it Americans with vision That will travel 1000 miles to be a part of an extraordinary event Americans from indiana commission a new submarine Admiral richards, did you know that we have over 650? Family and friends here at this today's commissioning. That's incredible That's one heck of a statement about family support and support of our sailors and really that's a real war fighting advantage that we have It's not the weapon system Alone and it's it's really about the support that are behind the sailors operating it So this week, you know, we'll finish the commissioning And uh sometime this week, uh, the crew is going to finish pre under ways Um, I'm going to do a piloting brief We're going to have a startup brief. They're going to start up the engine room and uh Somewhere sometime soon. We're going to cast off these lines that you see right here And i'm going to drift the ship out kind of got an idea how i'm going to do that We're going to be right out here in the basin and uh, we're going to get the ship underway and we're going to drive 25 30 miles off the coast and we're going to submerge those main ballast tanks are going to open and she's going to slip Dark and deep beneath the waters hundreds of feet. We're going to start making our way up north While we're surrounded by the deep She's going to be just us In the submarine there's going to be an engine room lower level. He's going to be taking logs There's going to be a quarter master and he's going to be Charting our course keeping us safe those sonarmen They're going to be looking at all those contacts on those green screens. Some of you got to see when you toured the ship Some of them are going to be dolphins. Some of them are going to be shrimp Some of them are going to be uh merchant ships and uh, we're going to be putting it all together Now imagine that there we are below the waves Making our own oxygen making our own water serving our meals going through our watches In our own little environment down there powered by nuclear power What are going to be on our thoughts? What are the sailors going to be thinking when we're underway? I can tell you what they're going to be thinking. They're going to be thinking about you They're going to be thinking about the 5 000 people who came out to see us They're going to be thinking about bb 58 and those veterans that thought it was important to come all the way out here to support those sailors And I got to tell you The support that we're getting from indiana is going to be long lasting in for 32 years And if that's the kind of support we get this is going to be the greatest ship it is with extreme honor That uh, we serve this great navy And I hope it is my sincerest hope That our crew and every crew that is going to serve on the uss indiana Will make the indiana name proud and indiana will be synonymous with the best submarine in the united states submarine force We truly salute you Indiana Well the guests, please rise Chaplain underwood will deliver the benediction Let us pray Oh lord, let your continued grace and mercy be shown upon us and let your love guide and strengthen our hearts Guide this crew to know your truth in their lives And assist them in the difficult decisions coming forward Father these officers and crews are gathered here with us all in a moment of significant effort and authority To keep this boat alive and to continue the great mission of freedom and liberty Bless them in their endeavors and strengthen their resolve for the days ahead Guide them to know your will at all times and fill their hearts with hope Purpose and the quiet confidence of the silent warrior For you are good and to you we ascribe all praise and glory May we find the courage and the path And the strength to walk it to serve you our great nation With integrity be fitting honor Amen