On November 9, 2013 Newport News Shipbuilding will christen the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. The Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the first of a new class of aircraft carriers, and has been under construction since 2005. It is named for the 38th President of the United States who was an Eagle Scout as a youth and served on the aircraft carrier Monterey in the Pacific Theater during WWII.
Ford's daughter Susan Ford Bales will perform the christening, and the program includes a parade of 78 US flags to be carried by Scouts from Colonial Virginia and Tidewater Councils, accompanied by a large contingent of Scouts from the Gerald R. Ford Council of Ford's hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The ceremony will include a color guard comprised of 5 Eagle Scouts from Colonial Virginia Council, and will be available via webcast at www.TheFordClass.com at 11:00 AM EST on Nov. 9th
In honor of the event a special Colonial Virginia Council shoulder patch has been commissioned by the Shipyard. Pictured above, the patch has a gray border and features the carrier and the Eagle rank emblem.
Thanks to Larry Johnson for the scan of the patch.
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They are issuing more of these without altering them...
ReplyDeleteFrom http://www.cvcboyscouts.org/ :
"In honor of the christening of the United States Navy’s newest generation of nuclear aircraft carrier – the Gerald R. Ford, CVN 78, the Boy Scouts of America are releasing a limited edition patch, commissioned by Newport News Shipbuilding, recognizing the carrier’s namesake, who was the only President to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout.
The patches, which were originally released in a limited edition run of 200, will be reordered as part of a special “take order” program, with all proceeds going to support the purchase of equipment for Bayport Scout Reservation, where area Scouts gain valuable skills in summer and year round camping and high adventure opportunities.
“Based upon the overwhelming demand and outpouring of support from the community, we are reordering these limited edition patches to ensure that every Scout has an opportunity to be a part of this historic event,” said Dick Collins, Scout Executive of the Colonial Virginia Council.
Patches, which will be available through an online only preorder sale. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the purchase of equipment for the Council’s Boy Scout Camp and High Adventure Base, Bayport Scout Reservation. Patches are a donation of $10 per piece, limit five per person. Take order sales will end November 25, 2013."