Preserving the USS Olympia - a Protected Cruiser

The USS Olympia, which fought in the Spanish American War of 1898 has been preserved and is a valuable piece of US maritime history. Unfortunately, Olympia needs $10-15 million in repairs to keep her a viable museum for years to come. She has not been out of water for approximately 40 years. If you have connections or resources to help, please contact me at 612-599-1935 or bdskon@fedex.com.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Memorial Day - Remember Hero's far and near, history and current.

Pentago Memorial looking back at US Air Force Memorial - I took this on 5/19/2011

From US Air Force Memorial, looking over to Arlington National Cememtary (my photo on 5/19/2011)

PCU Arlington - US Navy Photo

The battlefields of Yorktown
British trenches in foreground, American trenches across the field (my photo, 5/20/2011)

Moore House
Where Cornwallis surrendered to Washington, effectively ending the Revolutionary War
This is where our great grand experiment of Democracy began
Much sacrifice has been required since then (my photo, 5/20/2011)

Commissioning Day CVN 77 (my photo)

From the Chapel at the American Cemetary in Normandy (my photo)

Missing Man Formation, US Air Force Memorial (my photo, 5/19/2011)

Murderers Row Ulthiti (US Navy Photo)

CVN 65 left, CVN77 right
Oldest and Newest Carriers - now serving in the 5th and 6th Fleets
USS Bataan LHD 5 is LHD on the left (US Navy Photo)

Inscription of US Army Air Corps Sergeant (my photo 5/19/2011)

Point Du Hoc - Normandy, France (my photo)

US Navy Blue Angels - Representing the best of the best (US Navy Photo)

USS Minnesota BB 22 - high speed run, builders trials (US Navy Photo)

US Navy Drill Team (US Navy Photo)

Fallen SEAL’s family grapples with pain, pride - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Fallen SEAL’s family grapples with pain, pride - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Sound of Freedom - the Blue's make history come alive each and every day.

(May 6, 2011) The U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, perform at the 2011 N'awlins Airshow at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Belle Chasse during New Orleans Navy Week, one of 21 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2011. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mark O'Donald/Released)


Welcome Home!


NORFOLK (May 16, 2011) Sailors man the rails as the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) returns to Naval Station Norfolk after completing a nine-month deployment. Kearsarge was the command ship of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and supported maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rafael Martie/Released)


Saturday, May 14, 2011

Sourpusses

Sourpusses

incredible............

National Naval Aviation Museum - New & Events

National Naval Aviation Museum - New & Events

Schedules for Art Exhibitions Released
From the museum's earliest days, aviation art has been a featured complement to the acclaimed aircraft collection, bringing to life on canvas and in vivid colors the historic people, places, ships, and aircraft in naval aviation history.  During 2011-2012, two exibitions continue this tradition.  The first takes place in May 2011 with a show by members of the American Society of Aviation Artists, who will be holding their annual meeting at the museum during celebrations for the Centennial of Naval Aviation.

A popular event for many years, the museum's biannual Naval Aviation Art Contest will take place in May 2012.  Those wishing to submit works of art for judging should contact Ms. Robbie Musgrove at 850-452-3604, ext. 3119 or robbie.musgrove@navy.mil.  Winning entries will be displayed at the museum from May 2012 through April 2013

Monday, May 9, 2011

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead, and his wife, Ellen, right, pose for a photo with Lt. Murphy's mother and ship's sponsor Maureen Murphy,

BATH, Maine (May 7, 2011) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead, and his wife, Ellen, right, pose for a photo with Lt. Murphy's mother and ship's sponsor Maureen Murphy, during the christening ceremony of the Arleigh Burke-Class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) in Bath, Maine. (U.S. Navy photos Chief Mass Communication Specialist Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst/Released)

Sunday, May 8, 2011

For Immediate Release

The Navy League of the United States, Twin Cities Council announces the Keel Authentication Ceremony for the future     
USS Minnesota SSN 783!

On Friday, May 20, 2011 at 12:00 noon the Keel Authentication Ceremony will take place at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Newport News, VA www.huntingtoningalls.com.

  • In July 2008, the United States Navy announced that our state would be honored by having a warship named ‘Minnesota.’  Not since 1922 have we had a US Navy warship named after our state.

  • Officially known as Precommissioning Unit (PCU) Minnesota, the Virginia-class fast attack submarine will receive its ‘USS’ designator once commissioned (estimated in June 2013).

  • The Keel Authentication Ceremony is a time-honored tradition that includes having the signature of the Ships Sponsor welded into the keel of this ship.  The Sponsor then announces that ‘the keel is truly and fairly laid.

  • This ceremony marks the first in three major milestones of bringing PCU Minnesota to the fleet.

  • PCU Minnesota is being built in the same shipyard as the previous two USS Minnesota’s, and just five miles from one of the most famous naval battles in history that prominently featured the first USS Minnesota in the Civil War (the famed ‘Minnesota’ connection we see in many news stories).


  • Attending the ceremony from the Twin Cities Council:

    • Dave Hutton,  USN Ret., President, Twin Cities Council, and Co-Chair of USS Minnesota Commissioning Committee (USMCC)
    • Brian Skon, Vice President, Twin Cities Council, Vice Chair USMCC
    • Mike Alteri, USN Ret., Board of Directors, Twin Cities Council and member USMCC
    • Jim Sillman, USN Ret., member Navy League and USMCC

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Inside bin Laden’s lair with SEAL Team Six - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Inside bin Laden’s lair with SEAL Team Six - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Second Sub in 2011 Ordered By U.S. Navy - Defense News

Second Sub in 2011 Ordered By U.S. Navy - Defense News

It's been said that the key weapon system in our military will be the fast attack sub in the 21st century. This is a weapon system we need more of.

We need a balance in our Navy - LHD's, CVN's, DDG's, cruisers, SSN's, SSBN's, and SSGN's.

But our fast attack submarine force should be as large as the DDG force, now at about 60 copies.

We need to be as hidden under the sea as we need to be visible on the surface with the DDG's playing 'gunboat' diplomacy.

Second Sub in 2011 Ordered By U.S. Navy - Defense News

Second Sub in 2011 Ordered By U.S. Navy - Defense News

U.S. Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps List $1B in Unfunded Needs - Defense News

U.S. Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps List $1B in Unfunded Needs - Defense News

Ex-Bush official: Don’t show bin Laden images - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Ex-Bush official: Don’t show bin Laden images - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

I don't know what to think...............there are benefits, there are drawbacks............what is more significant?

Virginia Beach can’t show its pride of SEALs - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Virginia Beach can’t show its pride of SEALs - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Sometimes it is just enough to know they're from your town.

BZ to the SEALS