Commissioning of the USS CLEVELAND (LCS-31)
The USS CLEVELAND LEGACY FOUNDATION set out in 2018 to do “what no other city has done before”, and the fruits of their work were evident during Commissioning Week for the USS CLEVELAND. On October 18, 2018, then Under-Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Thomas Modly, a Cleveland native, announced the authorization for the building of the USS Cleveland.
Soon thereafter, five citizens of Northeast Ohio set a goal to send the ship to the Fleet with as much support as possible. This commitment to support has extended beyond the ceremonial events to the service life of the ship and beyond. The Commissioning ceremonies and its celebrations closes out the first of three phases of support by the Legacy Foundation.
The USS CLEVELAND (LCS-31) is the last of the Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ships to be built. Built in the Mid-West by Fincantieri Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, she sailed to Cleveland via Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and then on to Lake Erie to become the first US Navy vessel to be commissioned in the state of Ohio. She arrived in Cleveland on May 9, 2026 to begin a week of festivities. A Community Day on May 10th kicked off the celebrations with community members and crew partaking. Tours of the ship were offered from May 10th to May 13th. The Legacy Committee showed extensive support to the crew including a baseball game at League Park. All meals during the week were catered to allow each crew member to participate in the celebrations. Charter flights were provided from Jacksonville (home port of Mayport) to Cleveland for the families of crew along with housing assistance for the weeks events.
This USS Cleveland is the fourth ship to carry that name. Earlier ships included USS CLEVELAND (CL-19), a Denver Class Protected Cruiser. Commissioned in 1903 she was reclassified in 1920 as PG-33 and in 1921 as CL-21 and decommissioned in 1929. USS Cleveland CL-55 was the lead ship of the Cleveland Class Light Cruisers and served from 1942 until 1947. The third USS CLEVELAND (LPD-7), an Autin-Class Amphibious Transport Dock, served from 1967 until 2011 and saw extensive duty during the Vietnam War. Her sponsor was Mrs. Thomas Moorer wife of Admiral Thomas Moorer.
Mrs. Robyn Modly has incorporated her experience as the wife of the Under-Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Navy to become a ship sponsor focused on the needs of her crew and their families. Professionally, she has worked in mental health counselling particularly with Attention Deficit Disorder. Her three daughters, Noelle Modly Ulman, Dr. Natalie Modly Schmidt and Dorian Modly, as well as her daughter in law Amanda Merkle Modly are serving as the ship’s Matrons of Honor. Robyn has endeavored to incorporate the warmth, generosity and caring of Clevelanders in representing the city throughout her sponsorship.
The Chairman’s reception On Friday evening May 15, 2026 was hosted at the Great Lakes Science Center where guests were treated to samples of the best of Cleveland’s food scene.
Guests and crew visited stations where they sampled everything from sliced filet mignon topped with shrimp to Reuben sandwiches with cheese melted on the spot with butane torches. The Legacy Chairman, Matthew (Matt) Previts, Lt. Commander (reserve) and Vice-Chair Dr. Karen Mihalik-Potoczak represented the extraordinary Commissioning Committee. The Committee gifted the ship and all dining areas with art murals decorating the ship with scenes from Cleveland, a fully equipped gym as well as plankowner commissioning mementos.
The commissioning ceremony, competing with a half- marathon, for road access, was conducted under blue skies. Over a thousand people attended the ceremony along the shores of Lake Erie. Mayor Justin Bibbs addressed the audience first, announcing that it was the 230th birthday of Cleveland. He and other speakers emphasized the role of Cleveland as an industrial center whose companies supplied many of the parts of the ship and even the paint as the home of the Sherwin Williams company. Admiral Carl Thomas, Commander Fleet Forces Command, highlighted the significance of the final ship, the 16th, of the Freedom Class, designed for lethality, speed and agility in the littoral waters around the world. The Honorable Hung Cao, the Acting Secretary of the Navy, gave the keynote address prior to placing the ship into commission. He spoke of the plankowners who would build the culture of the ship and whose legacy will last for decades. The Ship Sponsor, Robin Mocly, was then introduced. In her remarks, she spoke of the mast stepping ceremony which had occurred about a month before.
Ms. Modly chose to place in the metal box a very personal item. It was a brooch, worn by her mother every day. The brooch had written on it the words “It’s a Glorious Day!” These words express a sense of gratitude for the subtlest gifts life brings us even when not all is going perfectly. Commander Bruce Hallett, commanding officer of LCS 31, read his orders and the first watch was set. The long glass in a time-honored tradition was presented by Michael Gibney,
Plankowner of LPD 7, the third USS CLEVELAND. Robyn then gave the command: “Man our ship and bring her to life!” The crew responded in unison, “Aye, aye, ma’am!” and ran aboard as the ship officially came to life.
The first of the three phases of the Legacy Foundation had thus been completed as USS CLEVELAND was now a commissioned warship of the fleet. Phase two of the USS CLEVELAND LEGACY FOUNDATION will provide support to the ship and her crew throughout her service life. During this time, they will gift a welcome aboard seabag to each new crew member, adopt each sailor and appoint a sponsor organization for that sailor, and host an annual Thanksgiving dinner in Mayport Florida for Crew and their families. The Foundation will provide support by fulfilling hardship requests for scholarships, and other financial requests when needed. Upon separation from the Navy, crew will be offered career transition support and introductions to Cleveland businesses for potential employment. The third phase will look to place the ship, once decommissioned, back in Cleveland to serve as a Museum honoring all four ships named Cleveland. This truly embodies the ship’s motto:
“Forge a Legacy”
Submitted by Ann Zumwalt
