Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) sailors celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King and reflect on his message of service of during a ceremony held at Newport News shipbuilding.

King was instrumental in the civil rights movement and shard the undertaking with President John F. Kennedy. King, Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy aggressively fought for equality, regardless of race. 

According to the John F. Kennedy presidential library, on June 11, 1963, President Kennedy decided that the time had come to take stronger action to help the civil rights struggle. He proposed a new Civil Rights bill to Congress and went on television asking Americans to end segregation. 

"This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds, on the principle that all men are created equal." President Kennedy made it clear that all Americans, regardless of their skin color deserve the freedoms afforded to them by the constitution.   

PCU John F. Kennedy’s Multicultural Heritage Committee hosted the event which celebrated the life and legacy of King with a cake-cutting ceremony. During the event, committee chairman, Chief Master-At-Arms Rodger Decker discussed King’s legacy.

“His legacy of equality under the law, non-violent protest, and basic human decency are still valued today and core foundations our country is grounded in,” said Decker. “During January, and particularly today, please take some time to think of the incredible achievements Dr. King had and the lasting effects we are inspired by today.”

Command Master Chief Thaddeus Wright read President Kennedy’s televised address to the nation on civil rights and discussed his family’s personal contribution to civil rights movement of the 1960’s.

Martin Luther King Day was first celebrated as a national holiday in January 1986 and serves as an annual reminder of his contributions and dedication to the forward advance of our society. CVN 79 is the second aircraft carrier to honor John F. Kennedy for his service to the nation, both as a naval officer and as the 35th President of the United States.

CVN 79 incorporates more than 23 new technologies, comprising dramatic advances in propulsion, power generation, ordnance handling, and aircraft launch systems. These innovations will support a 33 percent higher sortie generation rate at significant cost savings when compared to Nimitz-class carriers. The Gerald R. Ford-class also offers a reduction of approximately $4 billion per ship in life-cycle operations and support costs, compared to the earlier Nimitz class.

The new technology and warfighting capabilities that John F. Kennedy brings to the fleet will transform naval warfare, supporting a more capable and lethal forward-deployed U.S. naval presence. In an era of great power competition, CVN 79 will serve as the most agile and lethal combat platform in the world, with improved systems that enhance interoperability among other platforms in the carrier strike group as well as with the naval forces of regional allies and partners.

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