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USS Milwaukee Mooring Itself to the City

A new U.S. Navy ship, named after Milwaukee, is spending the week in the city’s harbor. On Saturday afternoon, at Veterans Park, officials will commission the USS Milwaukee.

Workers in Marinette, Wisconsin built the vessel. They christened it - put it into the water nearly two years ago and since then, it has undergone comprehensive “sea trials.” Now it’s nearly time to send it into active service for the Navy, according to Alan Perlstein, who serves on the commissioning committee.

“There are very few ships that are built and commissioned in their namesake city, which makes it very special,” Berlstein says.

USS Milwaukee is one of the Navy’s new littoral combat ships. They can travel at high speeds and operate close to shore.

Perlstein says the Navy decided to name the vessel after Milwaukee because thousands of people here turned out for the commissioning of a different ship.

He says the crew will also establish ties with its namesake city.

“We will be working with this crew in creating scholarships long-term for crew members, as well as having the crew participate in STEM programs over the next thirty years with Milwaukee schools, both public schools and private schools, Perlstein says.

This week, the crew is meeting with interested students.

Former USS Milwaukee’s served during the Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War.