At our brunch on 11 November, Companion CAPT David Todd (USN-Ret) gave us a great heads-up for the commissioning ceremonies of the USS PORTLAND (LPD 27), which will take place on 21 April 2018 in Portland, Oregon, the city for which it is named.
Tickets to the commissioning ceremony are on a first-come-first-served basis and can be requested HERE FOR YOUR INVITATION. Once redirected to that website, just click on “Request Your Commissioning Invitation.” David suggested that requests best be made prior to January. After that time, accessibility may become limited.
The Navy provides a brief summary of the LPD class of vessels which can be accessed by clicking HERE. Also, The Institute of Heraldry describes the plaque above: “The U.S. Navy Officer sword, U.S. Marine Corps Mameluke, and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps enlisted swords symbolize the synergy between the two services. Furthermore, the placement of the swords represents the leadership and direction provided by commissioned officers, combined with the strength and support of the senior enlisted cadre, forging the foundation of USS Portland’s crew and the Navy-Marine Corps Team.”
(The image of the ship’s coat of arms and quote above are taken from The Institute of Heraldry website which can be found by clicking HERE. {tioh.hdqa.pentagon.mil})
So be sure to get your request for tickets in soon and enjoy a truly memorable Portland Saturday morning in April. Maybe the cherry blossoms will still be in bloom!
Naval Order of the US - Northwest 