The Navy’s first nuclear-power aircraft carrier, the famous USS Enterprise, was decommissioned in Virginia during a ceremony held in the ship’s hangar bay last week.
The ceremony not only marked the end the ship’s nearly 55-year career, it also served as the first decommissioning of a nuclear-powered carrier.
Capt. Todd Beltz, commanding officer of the Enterprise, addressed the ship’s company, former commanding officers and distinguished visitors and spoke of where the true spirit of “The Big E” comes from.
“For all that Enterprise represents to this nation, it’s the people that bring this ship to life,” said Beltz. “So as I stand in this ship that we all care so much about, I feel it’s appropriate to underscore the contributions of the thousands of sailors and individuals that kept this ship alive and made its reputation. We are ‘The Big E.’”
The Enterprise was the eighth naval vessel to carry the name. It was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and was christened Sept. 24, 1960. The ship was put to sea in 1961 and safely steamed more than 1 million nautical miles on nuclear power until being deactivated at the end of 2012.
The name Enterprise will live again when the third Gerald Ford-class carrier is launched in 2023.
