NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Thousands of sailors call ships home for months at a time, and some of these ships, such as the USS George H.W. Bush, are named after certain people or places.
In this case, the USS George H.W. Bush was named after the 41st president, honoring his life, legacy and service.
All aircraft carriers in the United States Navy have rooms specially dedicated to their namesake. It showcases memories and artifacts from the president’s life, including when he enlisted in the Navy and became, at the time, the youngest naval aviator at 19 years old.
“He ended up serving in World War II and flew over 53 successful combat missions during that time, which came to a close while flying over the island of Chichijima in his TBF bomber, the Avenger, which we have over there,” said Stan Zaneski, a public affairs officer with the USS George H.W. Bush.
It’s part of the reason sailors on the ship call themselves ‘The Avenger.’
Bush was shot down and had to bail out from his aircraft.
Decades later, after a career as a businessman and in the government, and after serving as president, the 10th and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was named after George H.W. Bush.
It is a naval tradition that the first commanding officer is always a naval aviator. During construction, sections of the ship are built separately and then lowered together. The commanding officer will put their aviation wings underneath when the ship sections are lowered together.
“Because as a floating airport, a small floating city, we need an officer who is comfortable, confident and capable of being both an officer to a command and an officer to a floating airport,” Zaneski said.
10 On Your Side was there at the christening. George H.W. Bush was alive, and a piece of his career is now part of the ship.
“We had the express honor of not only putting our first commanding officer’s aviation wings but also George H.W. Bush’s, one of the first carriers to have their namesake alive and be a prior aviator,” Zaneski said.
Each part of the ship has a meaning, especially the ship’s coat of arms, which honors the legacy of naval aviation.
“The yellow aircraft is his TBF Avenger, which is seen as the past of naval aviation,” Zaneski said. “In the black is an F/A-18, which was at the time of christening the present. And at that same time, in red, is an F-35, which was seen as the future of naval aviation.”
There are 41 stars representing him as the 41st president, and words that reference his inaugural speech.
“Above we see that we know what works, freedom works, and below, we know what’s right. Freedom is right,” Zaneski said, including the blue and white lines as a symbol of the thousand points of lights.
“He talked about [how] every single one of us can be a single point of light that shines bright and brightens this night sky,” Zaneski said.
