AMERICA WILL SAIL AGAIN

Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter has announced that the new LHA(R) will be named AMERICA. This proud new ship will be designated USS AMERICA LHA-6 and is expected to come on line in 2012. The announcement was made June 27th 2008 during the reunion banquet hosted by the USS AMERICA Carrier Veterans Association in Jacksonville, Florida. Secretary Winter was the guest of honor at the banquet, which was also attended by Radm. Robert Fuller, AMERICA's 10th skipper, General Peter Pace, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and his wife Lynn and Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund.

In his speech, Secretary Winter reviewed the proud history of USS AMERICA CVA/CV-66 and applauded the patriotism and enthusiasm of AMERICA's former crewmembers. "AMERICA's veterans have much to be proud of and superb performance will always be associated with that name. It is with this extraordinary legacy in mind that I would like to take this opportunity to announce the name of what will be one of our crown jewels of our fleet. And so today, I am proud to announce that LHA-6, our newest assault ship, will carry on the proud legacy of her predecessor and be named AMERICA". Secretary Winter went on to announce that Lynn Pace, wife of General Peter Pace has accepted the invitation to serve as AMERICA's sponsor.

Secretary Winter's announcement successfully ended an almost four year effort by the USS AMERICA Carrier Veterans Association to have the name AMERICA once again sail the high seas. That effort began with the belief that the name AMERICA, above all others, should always be on a U.S. Navy ship. During this effort, we recieved input from many of the CVA membership, asking questions, making suggestions and helping to guide us in the right direction. Your contributions to this cause helped turn an idea into a reality. Four years from now, we will stand pier side and proudly watch as USS AMERICA LHA-6 is christened knowing that it was our unified effort that made it happen. This, more than anything else, reinforces our belief that together, we can accomplish just about anything, and it is you the membership, that makes the CVA work. The entire USS AMERICA Carrier Veterans Association offers our  collective thanks  to  Secretary Winter for making this happen. We appreciate his patience with us over the years and ultimately, his decision to once again put the name AMERICA on a great Navy ship.

AMERICA WILL RETURN TO SEA

Pictured above: To the left of the poster, Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Dr. Winters, with Mrs. Pace, the LHA's sponsor, to his right, are joined by the Board of Directors of the USS AMERICA CARRIER VETERAN'S .

LHA6 Has Been Named

Pictured above from left to right: Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Pace, USMC Ret. joins his wife Lynn, Rear Admiral Robert Fuller, USN Ret. his wife Mary Anne and the President of the CVA, Walter Waite.

The LHA6 was named by the Secretary of the Navy on Friday June 27, 2008 At the CVA'S REUNION 2008 In Jacksonville, FL. TheUSS AMERICA LHA6

Mission Patch and Challenge Coin

The USS AMERICA CARRIER VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION

is proud to present

THE FINAL MISSION PATCH

©

and

CHALLENGE COIN

©

Will go on sale in the CVA's Ship's Store in late July.

The Quarterdeck

The Quarterdeck has been redesigned and can now be accessed here.  You will be required to create a username and password to access the forum.

Important Information Regarding the USS America Website

As you are aware the CVA website crashed recently. We have attempted to recover as many of the files as possible. Please report any broken pages or links to the webmaster. Thank you for your patience and please check this home page for additional updates.

PLANKOWNER AND CREWMEMBER PLAQUES

These Plaques are available to Plankowners and Former Crewmembers who are members of the CVA only. The Plaques feature the ship name USS America CVA 66 and Plankowner or Crewmember engravings.

To order your plaque, contact Rich Fleischer, the ship store manager.

Personalized USS America Print

If you’d like to have a personalized print similar to the one pictured here, contact Mike Nicewicz at Military Gifts.

Vietnam Veterans & Proud Site Ring

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