The following is mail sent to all hands regarding the scrapping of the Newport News 10/22/99

From: "The Peden Office"  peden@together.net

     She was born from the mines of the Midwest, raw ore smelted in the fires of the mills of Pennsylvania. Forged in the yards of Newport News, down the ways into the Atlantic. Before men stepped aboard her, she was nothing but a giant steel tub awaiting a mission. Then we joined her, and she became a mighty vessel of war. We scrubbed her decks, polished her brightwork,
cleaned her sides, stoked her boilers, manned her guns, plowed her through the oceans of the world.
     Without men aboard, she was lifeless, frozen at a pier. With us aboard, she was a living creature, serving her country with pride, dignity and honor.
     Then time passed, and the men left, one by one. When the last man left, she again became a lifeless object, serving nothing but our memory.
     In time, other men came, and transformed her. Today she still serves our nation as, perhaps, mighty bridge trusses or delicate surgical instruments. She's still out there, perhaps remembering us as we remember her. Together, and only together were we a mighty ship.
     So snivel not, shipmates. Old Thunder is not dead. Like us, she's doing different things now. In fact, I'm guessing she's a lot more valuable to this nation in her present role than this old sailor.......


Jim Peden