President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden received a warm welcome Saturday morning when they arrived at the Port of Wilmington to commemorate the commissioning of the USS Delaware, a fast-attack submarine that was sponsored by the first lady to “uphold the First State’s motto of liberty and independence.”
Military personnel, veterans and their friends and families were joined by members of the community for a long-awaited redo of the original ceremony in 2020, which was postponed due to the pandemic. A version of the commissioning took place underwater instead, making the USS Delaware the first boat to do so in the history of the Navy.
“Today’s celebration, like so many things in the past few years, is just a bit out of the ordinary,” Jill Biden said.
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The ceremony still honored tradition; cannons were fired, colors were flown and the Navy band played. Two planes flew by overhead after the flag of the commander in chief was raised on the submarine.
It’s the latest in a “long tradition of serving our nation proudly and strengthening our nation’s security,” the president said.
The first lady said she takes her role as the ship’s guardian very seriously.
“It’s difficult to put into words how much it means to be a part of the USS Delaware family …,” Jill Biden said. “I’ve seen the heart of this crew, and it makes me feel both proud and humbled to be your shipmate for life.”
Neither Biden addressed the war in Ukraine specifically in their remarks. However, the chaplain mentioned the conflict in the prayer that he led at the start of the ceremony. Gov. John Carney also mentioned the war in his speech, saying that while he hopes the USS Delaware never has to see active combat, “the events in Ukraine remind us that liberty still needs her defenders.”
Other speakers at the event included Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, USS Delaware Cmdr. Matthew Horton and Sen. Tom Carper.
Carper, a Navy veteran, was the keynote speaker at the commissioning. He introduced the people of Delaware to the ship and then told the crew members about their namesake. He also symbolically passed on the “watch” to the boat’s crew members.
“Don’t mess with the USS Delaware,” he told the world.
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The submarine is powered by a nuclear reactor, meaning it will never need to refuel in its approximately 30-year lifespan. It’s also equipped with advance sonar machines and torpedoes ready to fire at a moment’s notice.
The 130 men aboard the USS Delaware will not just be leaving land behind when they are underway, though, Jill Biden said, looking out into the crowd of military families and spouses.
“The families of this crew may not wear a uniform, but with your love and support and with your sacrifice and devotion, you are as critical to our mission as the rudder is to this submarine,” she said.
Read the full transcript of the Bidens’ speeches here.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
