Christening of the USNS Cherokee Nation
CHRISTENING OF USNS CHEROKEE NATION (T-ATS 7)
As part of the celebrations for the christening of the future USNS CHEROKEE NATION (T-ATS 7), Bollinger Shipyards in Houma, Louisiana hosted a dinner in honor of the Honorable Victoria Mitchell Vazquez, the ship’s sponsor. Mrs. Vazquez has a rich background as a noted potter and Cherokee Nation leader. Following in her mother’s path, Victoria’s pottery has been exhibited and sold in festivals across the country and her work is displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. She was named a Cherokee National Treasure in 2012. She was first elected to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council in 2013 and she currently serves as the Deputy Speaker of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. She was accompanied at the dinner by her husband, Bruce, and her granddaughter, Kailey Rincher who is the ship’s Matron of Honor.
The dinner was held on Friday, June 7, 2024, at a lovely venue, the Robinson Ranch, which is the site of many large local events and celebrations. The event, hosted by Bollinger CEO Ben Bordelon, brought together leaders and members of the Cherokee Nation, the Navy, Bollinger Shipyards, Mrs. Vazquez’s family, and local community leaders to celebrate Mrs. Vazquez. Among the VIP attendees at the dinner and christening were the Honorable Franklin R. Parker, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower & Reserve Affairs), VADM Scott Gray USN, Commander, Navy Installations Command, representing the Chief of Naval Operations, RADM Thomas Anderson, USN, Program Executive Officer, Ships, CAPT Jamie Murdock USN, MSC Atlantic Commander, the Honorable Chuck Hoskins Sr., a Navy veteran, former member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and former Chief of Staff for the Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Joe Crittenden, the Cherokee Nation Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Joe Deere and Johnny Jack Kidwell, members of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council.
After dining on some wonderful food that included a local Gumbo and a crème brûlèe cheesecake, several speakers feted Mrs. Vazquez and presented her with several gifts on behalf of Bollinger Shipyard, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Chief of Naval Operations. Artist Peter Hsu unveiled his painting of USNS Cherokee Nation. Mrs. Vazquez deferred her comments until the christening ceremony but she presented the Military Sealift Command with a book, Cherokee Nation: A History of Survival, Self Determination, & Identity. The dinner also featured a traditional flute solo, Warrior Flutes, by Mr. Tommy Wildcat, a noted Cherokee musician and academic. He was designated a Cherokee National Treasure in 1995.
Saturday morning, June 8, 2024, dawned bright and sunny with the weather forecasting a scorcher of a day. By the time of the ceremony at 1000, the temperature was a balmy 98○ in the shade! The heat and humidity could not dampen the excitement of those attending the christening ceremony for the Cherokee Nation. The dais and audience seating were set up shoreside under a large canopy with portable cooling units and ample water stations to help the approximately 150 attendees beat the heat. This would be a shoreside christening as the ship had been launched in January.
The Cherokee Nation is the second ship in the Navajo-class of towing, salvage and rescue ships being built for the United States Navy. She is the first US Navy ship to bear this name. Four previous ships have been named USS Cherokee; the most recent of which was USS Cherokee (AT 66/ATF 66), a Navajo-class tugboat (1940-1946). This new class of ships will replace two prior classes of ships – the Safeguard-class of rescue and salvage ships as well as the Powhatan-class of ocean tugboats. The ship’s crest includes a Cherokee inscription which translates to “Water Warrior.”
Mr. Jeffrey Green, Bollinger Shipyards Executive Vice President of Government and External Affairs acted as the Master of ceremonies for the event which began with a flute solo by Tommy Wildcat followed by the arrival of the official party, ceremonial honors for Assistant Secretary Parker, presentation of the colors by the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 color guard and the National Anthem, played by a quartet from the Navy Band Southeast.
CDR Jeffrey Perry CHC, USN, who will be assigned as the command chaplain for the USS Bougainville (LHA 8), offered the invocation in which he noted the qualities of the Cherokee people and a blessing for “good luck and safe passage” for the crew as they carry out the ship’s mission. After the invocation, the Cherokee Nation dignitaries and citizens of the Cherokee Nation in attendance were recognized as well as local dignitaries, NAVSEA, MSC, and Society of Sponsors’ representatives and Bollinger Shipyard shipbuilders.
Bollinger Shipyards Houma CEO Ben Bordelon welcomed all hands to Bollinger Shipyards for the christening. He noted that the ship was built to the high standards of Bollinger Shipyards for the men and women of the Navy and in recognition of the Cherokee Nations’ contribution to our country and their spirit, courage, and sense of duty. He noted that the warrior spirit of the Cherokee nation will inspire the crew through “calm and storm
alike.”
VADM Scott Gray, Commander, Navy Installations Command, representing the Chief of Naval Operations, welcomed the ship’s sponsor and the principal speaker, The Honorable Chuck Hoskins Jr., Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, and thanked them for allowing the Navy to name a ship in honor of the Cherokee people and share in the “your community’s unshakable legacy of service.”
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (M&RA) Franklin Parker brought greetings from Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, and called on the attendees to celebrate the christening of the ship, showing our resolve to maintain our maritime dominance capabilities, competitive edge, and mission readiness. He noted the capabilities of this class of ship to contribute to our Navy across its multiple mission areas and praised the ship builders of Bollinger Shipyards for the essential cooperation between the Navy and our industrial partners. In speaking to the ship sponsor, ASN Parker spoke of the connection and relationship she will create and maintain between herself and the crew. He thanked Victoria and her matron of honor for sharing the day. He also recognized that the week was the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act which finally recognized that Native Americans were citizens of the United States. Invoking the Navy’s Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment, ASN Parker spoke of the Cherokee Nation’s embodiment of the warrior spirit, resilience and steadfast defense of our country.
The principal speaker, the Honorable Chick Hoskins Jr., Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, noted that the day was a special day in celebration of christening this ship. He spoke of what the ship meant to the Cherokee people and that it “stands for … the inextricable link to the Cherokee people from this day forward as long as it sails is resilience, and it is service and it is friendship.” He described the 500-year history of the Cherokee people and how their toughness and resilience has sustained them through the dark times such as the Trail of Tears of their forced relocation. In his remarks he talked about their “audacity to exist” and the strong alliance of the Cherokee Nation and the service of Cherokee people to the United States since the Civil War even when facing discrimination because of the actions of the government. He stressed the common values of “freedom, the ability to exercise our liberties, the ability to dream and achieve those dreams … the ability to have a free government.”
The ship’s sponsor, Victoria Vazquez, in her remarks, stated she represents all females who are serving and our ancestors and those who came before us. She spoke of the honor of being named as a sponsor of a US Navy ship and that she is looking forward to the relationship she will have with the ship’s crew going forward. She recounted the events leading up to the christening event, speaking of being asked to be a sponsor, participating in the keel laying, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the progress of the ship. She thanked the members of the Cherokee Nation leaders and staff who have supported her throughout this process. She explained to the crowd what a sponsor does, noting that she acts as a “mom or a sister” to the crew throughout a ship’s life. “When called upon to serve your community, your tribe or your country, giving of your time and sometimes years of your life, you realize that you are serving a purpose greater than yourself and in accepting its importance you are not doing this alone.” She then thanked her ancestors, her family, her community and all those who are serving.
The final speaker was the Honorable Joe Crittenden, a Navy veteran and the Cherokee Nation Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who offered a short prayer of thanks. Upon conclusion of the speeches, Victoria and the christening party made their way onboard to the christening platform. Upon going to the bow of the ship, Victoria proclaimed the time-honored words, “For the United States of America, I christen thee Cherokee Nation. May God bless this ship and all who sail her.”
Contributed by Paula Neira
