Senator Crowder Attends Christening of Submarine “Colorado”

A large Colorado contingency was on hand at Groton, Connecticut General Dynamics Ship Yard for the Christening of Virginia Class Submarine “Colorado”. The 377 foot nuclear powered vessel will undergo testing prior to her commissioning this coming summer. The Sponsor, Annie Mabus, daughter of the Secretary of the Navy, did the honors of breaking a bottle of Colorado Wine, manufactured by Balistreri Vineyards from Denver, across the bow of the submarine.

Far Right: Senator Crowder

Colorado Legislators on hand for this event were State Senator Larry Crowder from Colorado’s 35^th District which serves southeast Colorado, Hodge, U.S. Senator Cory Gardner, and former Senator Bernie Herpin.  Federal House member Mike Coffman spoke at the christening event.

Senator Crowder told The Prowers Journal there were several thousand persons on hand for the official christening of the submarine, which, he described, as the size of a blimp. The shipyard, which has produced submarines for the U.S. Navy for more than eight decades, employs several thousand workers from the Connecticut region.  Crowder said it was his understanding that at least 18 additional submarines have been contracted for, which will add to the defense of the country.  The shipyard is located at the mouth of the Thames River which allows the submarines, under construction or repair, close access to the Atlantic Ocean.  Crowder and a part of the Colorado contingency, toured the Coast Guard Academy, also situated along the Thames River, a maritime museum and visited several locations in Boston, Massachusetts.