Seventeen Sailors assigned to Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751) participated in the Biddeford-Saco Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 11.
USS San Juan Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Electronics Technician Gaylord Humphries expressed the importance of participating in the parade because it culminates nearly two successful years in the shipyard.
“San Juan has been in the shipyard for about two years and we have been participating in these types of events the entire time with our sponsoring city,” said Humphries.
San Juan and its crew of 13 officers and 121 enlisted personnel arrived at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard April 8, 2010. While at the shipyard, the submarine underwent an engineered overhaul consisting of various maintenance work and several system upgrades.
U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe served as guest speaker at the Biddeford-Saco Veterans Day parade.
“The relationship with the veterans of Biddeford and Saco has helped us better understand and appreciate the great sacrifices that have been made in all aspects of our Nation’s defense,” said Cmdr. Ollie Lewis , commanding officer, San Juan . “We are honored to take this opportunity to reflect during Veterans day and remind ourselves that our contributions are made while we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us.”
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to mark the victorious end of World War I, when the main hostilities were silenced at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Congress modified the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day Nov. 8, 1954.
[mappress] Source: navy, November 14, 2011