Navy rejects San Francisco for warship commissioning ceremony

San Francisco is only home port for faerie boats.
~~~~~ooOoo~~~~~

Navy rejects San Francisco for warship commissioning ceremony

The Associated Press
Dec 2, 2006 12:37 PM (21 hrs ago)

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Navy has rejected plans to commission its
newest and most powerful warship in San Francisco because of concerns
that the city doesn't support the military.

Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter vetoed plans this week for a
commissioning ceremony for the Makin Island in San Francisco, said
retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. J. Michael Myatt, chairman of the
citizens' commissioning committee.

Instead, San Diego will host the ceremony in which the crew formally
takes charge of the ship, Myatt said.

Navy leaders were concerned about San Francisco's refusal to offer a
homeport for the retired battleship Iowa, which would be turned into a
museum, as well as the school board's decision to abolish junior ROTC
training in city high schools, Myatt said.

Jean Smith...

Why would San Francisco steal Davenport''s pride? Wouldn't that
stick in Rock Island's craw?

Some city politicians also have publicly criticized the Pentagon. In one
instance, Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval said national defense should be
left to "the cops and the Coast Guard."

Myatt said the Navy had mistaken the views of some political leaders for
the views of the majority of Bay Area citizens.

The last ship to be commissioned in San Francisco was the frigate
McCampbell in the summer of 2002.