COMMISSIONING CEREMONY

USS Freedom will be commissioned on November 8, 2008 at 10 AM at Veterans Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The Principal Speaker will be the Honorable Donald Winter, Secretary of the Navy.

Briefly, the commissioning ceremony consists of a few speeches, the acceptance of the ship by the Commanding Officer, the hoisting of the commissioning pennant, the setting of the first watch, and the charge of the Ship's Sponsor to "Man our ship and bring her to life."  At that, the crew runs up the brow and mans the rail of the ship, radars start turning, lights and alarms go off -- you literally see the ship come alive.  

Following the approximately one hour ceremony, there will be a reception in Veterans Park with an OctoberFest theme. 

News & Events

Freedom's Crews

USS Freedom will have two crews - Blue and Gold - of 40 Sailors each.  The crews will rotate operating the ship for four month periods.  Because of the small crew size, Sailors are trained for multiple responsibilities.  Other crew saving measures have been incorporated such as self help laundry and stockroom draws.