Sailors assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) celebrated the ship’s 23rd birthday on the US nation’s 236th birthday, Independence Day.
Sailors participated in a Fourth of July ceremonial reflection event on the ship’s flight deck, and afterwards shared a meal in celebration of the ship’s birthday.
The ship also celebrated its 23 years in commission while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.
Arleigh Burke is the lead ship of its class and is the only destroyer class currently active in the U.S. Navy. The ship was commissioned with Adm. Burke present at the ceremony, July 4, 1991 on the waterfront in downtown Norfolk, Virginia.
Arleigh Burke is currently underway on a scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
[mappress] Press Release, July 07, 2014; Image: US Navy