{"id":101720,"date":"2021-10-03T17:06:54","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T17:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/10\/03\/destroyer-named-for-sen-carl-levin-christened-in-maine\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:25:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:25:45","slug":"destroyer-named-for-sen-carl-levin-christened-in-maine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/2021\/10\/03\/destroyer-named-for-sen-carl-levin-christened-in-maine\/","title":{"rendered":"Destroyer named for Sen. Carl Levin christened in Maine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BATH, Maine (AP) \u2014 The future USS Carl M. Levin<\/a> was christened Saturday by the Michigan senator\u2019s daughters, who simultaneously smashed bottles of sparkling wine against the warship\u2019s bow at Bath Iron Works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daughters Erica Levin, Laura Levin and Kate Levin Markel honored their late father, the longtime Armed Services Committee chairman, who died at 87 on July 29 after battling cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afterward, they waved from the ship\u2019s deck \u2014 about 30 feet above the assembly \u2014 as a band played \u201cAnchors Aweigh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Naval officers pose in front of a warship named for Sen. Carl M. Levin, D-Michigan, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer was christened on Saturday. (AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Levin\u2019s nephew, U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., said his \u201cUncle Carl\u201d was \u201coverwhelmed by the honor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can honestly say, amidst all the accolades he received in fifty years of public service, this one meant most to him, and it truly captures his devotion to our nation,\u201d said the congressman, who was joined at the event by other family members, including Carl Levin\u2019s wife, Barbara, and Levin\u2019s older brother, former U.S. Rep. Sander Levin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The warship\u2019s namesake served for 36 years in the U.S. Senate and served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, becoming an expert on defense matters. Before that, he was an attorney and member of the Detroit City Council, serving four years as president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was universally praised by those who spoke at the event for his work on behalf the military, service members and veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, called him a \u201cfearless, selfless leader.\u201d Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who counted Levin as a \u201ccherished friend,\u201d called him a \u201cmodel of integrity, intelligence and commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others attending the event included Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, Gov. Janet Mills and Maine\u2019s other U.S. senator, Angus King; and Navy officials including the ship\u2019s prospective skipper and crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a smaller-than-normal ceremony. Because of the pandemic, it was an invitation-only event with several hundred guests instead of a typical gathering of several thousand people. Shipbuilders were encouraged to watch a livestream of the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Levin died before Saturday\u2019s milestone, he had visited the shipyard a couple of times to meet with shipbuilders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He attended a ceremony that marked construction of the ship in 2019, when he and his daughters donned visors and participated in welding their names on a plate that went on the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kate Levin Markel told the crowd that her father\u2019s connection to the ship \u201ckept his spirits high through his last days\u201d and that he had even prepared a speech before he passed away. Another sister, Erica Levin, read the address in which Levin thanked shipbuilders and spoke of the \u201cincredible honor\u201d of having a ship bearing his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christening of a Navy warship marks a milestone in construction. More work must be completed before sea trials are conducted and the Navy takes ownership before formal commissioning. The warship will eventually be based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers<\/a> like the future USS Carl Levin are the workhorse of the U.S. fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 510-foot-long destroyers can easily top 30 knots while simultaneously waging war with enemy ships, submarines, missiles and aircraft. They\u2019re also built to withstand chemical attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is a great honor to join @SenJackReed<\/a>,\u00a0VCNO Adm. Bill Lescher, the Levin family & the ship\u2019s crew to\u00a0commemorate the contributions of Sen. Carl Levin as the @Navy<\/a> christens the future DDG 120. His legacy will\u00a0sail wherever this ship & crew travels in defense of our nation. pic.twitter.com\/puE8FM4ZH3<\/a><\/p>— Archive: Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SecNavPhelan) October 2, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>