Ehlers: ‘Extremely pleased’ to see GR’s favorite son honored

      Ehlers said Congress approved a “sense of the Congress” motion as part of the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5122), which was signed into law by President George W. Bush Tuesday. The motion calls upon the Secretary of the Navy to designate the vessel for the former president.

      “I am extremely pleased that Congress has taken this step to honor President Ford,” said Ehlers, who represents essentially the same district that Ford represented from 1949-1973, before Ford was appointed as vice president to replace Spiro T. Agnew. “President Ford served his country honorably and faithfully for more than 60 years, first as a Navy officer during World War II, then as a Congressman, Vice President and finally as President and former President. I strongly urge the Secretary of the Navy to follow the Congress’ recommendation.”

      Ehlers noted that while in the Navy, Ford served on another aircraft carrier, the Independence-class light carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26), on which he served in South Pacific operations at Makin Island, Kwajalein, Truk, Saipan and the Philippine Sea. During his service, Ford received nine engagement stars and two Bronze Stars, Ehlers added.

      If approved, the USS Gerald R. Ford will be the first of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation carriers, which is currently being designed by Northrop Grumman Newport News and is slated to begin construction next year. U.S. Navy officials expect the vessel to be in service by 2014. Since it will be the first in a new class of aircraft carriers, by tradition, the line of carriers would be known as the “Ford class.”