GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The USS Gerald R. Ford will be commissioned Saturday, July 22, Virginia.
Construction on the $12.9 billion ship began in 2009. The USS Gerald R. Ford will be the first new class of aircraft carrier for the U.S. Navy since Ford was in office in 1975.
President Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales, is the ship’s sponsor and has been involved with the project since 2006.
“I’m excited for her to be deployed and for the country to count on her. And to be a part of whatever activities are going on.”
Zeeland Congressman Bill Huizenga will be in Virginia for the event too.”We get to celebrate West Michigan in a very unique way with President Ford’s name being on that new aircraft carrier. ”
West Michigan residents who would like to celebrate Ford’s namesake carrier are invited to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids between 9:30 a.m. and noon tomorrow for a free celebration. Attendees can watch the carrier be commissioned via live streamed footage starting at 10:00 a.m. More information can be found on the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation’s website.
Ford is the only President to be from Michigan, and also the only one to have never been elected President or Vice President.
