Sailors aboard the USS Frank Cable (AS 40) celebrated the Navy's 242nd birthday at Vigor Shipyard in Portland, Oregon, Oct. 13.

The theme for the Navy's 242nd Birthday is "Sea Power to Protect and Promote." Adm. John M. Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations, said the men and women of the U.S. Navy are at their best when they draw inspiration from the Sailors that have come before them.

"Our history is rich with heroes that fought at Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal 75 years ago," said Richardson. "Today, we strive to operate and fight with the same integrity, accountability, initiative, and toughness as they demonstrated."

The day's celebration started with a bell ringing ceremony in the pilot house followed by a cake cutting ceremony. Traditionally, the bells signal the end and beginning of the watch rotation, but today they signified the end of the current birthday year and the beginning of a new year.

"Our history and heritage forms our identity, telling us who we are and what we stand for," said Chief Machinist's Mate Brady Brunvand, a native of Silverthorne, Colorado, during the ceremony. "To be a part of the lineage of 242 years of naval service, to carry on the traditions of yesterday, and building new traditions for the future is an awesome feeling and one I will always remember."

The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established October 13, 1775, by authorizing the procurement, fitting out, manning and dispatch of two armed vessels to cruise in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America.

"I think it's really important that we come together like this," said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Barrick Campbell, a native of Houston, who participated in the celebration. "We need to celebrate and show reverence to all the Sailors that came before us and for us junior Sailors to learn and carry on these traditions to future generations in the Navy."

Frank Cable, currently in Portland, Oregon, for a scheduled dry-dock maintenance availability, is home-ported in Guam and conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

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