SENATE MEMORIAL 45

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

William H. Payne

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING JANUARY 30, 2014 AS "USS ALBUQUERQUE DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, the USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) is the nineteenth attack submarine in the Los Angeles class of submarines and the second ship in the United States navy to be named for Albuquerque, New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the contract to build the USS Albuquerque was awarded in October 1993; and

     WHEREAS, the USS Albuquerque's launch on March 13, 1982 was sponsored by Mrs. Nancy L. Domenici, and the ship was commissioned on May 21, 1983 with Captain Richard H. Hartman in command; and

     WHEREAS, at the ship's commissioning, the mayor of the city of Albuquerque presented a set of keys for a new Rolls Royce to the commanding officer, to be awarded to the first skipper to pilot the submarine up the Rio Grande to Albuquerque for a port visit; and

     WHEREAS, since commissioning, the USS Albuquerque has completed several deployments in both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean sea and has been awarded two meritorious unit commendations; and

     WHEREAS, commanding officer of the USS Albuquerque, Captain Trent Hesslink, a native of Greeley, Colorado, will be visiting New Mexico on January 29 and 30, 2014; and

     WHEREAS, three sailors will be accompanying Captain Hesslink to New Mexico: Chief Fire Control Technician Ramon Escalante from New Mexico; Lieutenant, Junior Grade Mike Guibas; and Electronics Technician Third Class Greg O'Neill; and

     WHEREAS, the USS Albuquerque's motto is "silent sentinel"; and

     WHEREAS, the USS Albuquerque is homeported at naval base Point Loma, in San Diego, California, and is assigned to submarine squadron eleven, which consists of six Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarines, two torpedo retrievers and a floating dry-dock;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 30, 2014 be declared "USS Albuquerque Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Captain Trent Hesslink.

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