GROTON, Conn. (WTNH) — The First Lady made a stop in Connecticut on Saturday to christen a new submarine. Hundreds of people filled the bleachers at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard to see the ship. Michelle Obama is its sponsor. The submarine, Illinois, is named after her home state.
“The entire experience of serving as your sponsor has been beyond meaningful and so fascinating,” the First Lady said at the ceremony.
Leaders from Connecticut, Illinois and Rhode Island also came to see the ship. Illinois is the 13th in the Virginia class of submarines. It’s designed to carry out a range of missions. It can launch missiles, conduct surveillance and deliver Special Forces. Senator Richard Blumenthal says it is a technological wonder.
“It is unmatched in its strength, stealth, superiority,” he said.
Illinois is longer than a football field and weights nearly 8,000 tons. Though it may look impressive now, Mrs. Obama had a look at it in some of its early days. She was at the keel laying ceremony of the submarine last year.
The crew that will be working on the submarine is ready to go. They were a part of the christening ceremony too. The First Lady says she’s amazed by who they are and what they can do.
“I’m not going to lie but I love that my adopted boat is the overachiever of the fleet,” she said. “I like that!”
After she spoke, Mrs. Obama christened the submarine by smashing a bottle of champagne on the side.
It was a way to celebrate the new ship, the people who built it and those who will man it.
“Mrs. Obama, I speak on behalf of the citizens of Connecticut when we say we are extremely pleased that now you are forever part of Groton’s rich naval history,” said Congressman Joe Courtney, D-Conn.
First daughters Sasha and Malia are the ship’s maids of honor. They were not at the ceremony.
