November 20, 2008: The littoral combat ship USS Freedom sails under the Jacques Cartier Bridge as the ship heads to the Old Port of Montreal, November 20, 2008. She is on her way from Marinette, Wisconsin to Norfolk, Virginia. This is a nice photo aboard the ship. Photo credit: Petty Officer 3rd Class Kenneth R. Hendrix, USN
November 10, 2008 update: The USS Freedom (LCS-1) was commissioned at Veterans Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 8, 2008. Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter presided. Birgit Smith, the wife of Army Sgt. First Class Paul Smith, who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, was the ship's sponsor. The ship's two commanding officers, Cmdr. Donald Gabrielson, Blue Crew and Cmdr. Michael Doran, Gold Crew, took command, set the first watch and raised the ensign. The first ensign flown over the ship had previously been flown over Baghdad. Freedom was constructed at Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisconsin, and was the first naval vessel to be built and commissioned on the Great Lakes since World War II. Photo credits: MCS2 Katherine Boeder, USN.
