HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 24 - U.S. Navy Ship - USS Fort WorthApproval of a resolution in support of naming a US Navy Ship - USS Fort Worth
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, SUPPORTING THE NAMING OF A
U.S. NAVY SHIP AS THE USS FORT WORTH AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, Fort Worth was established as a frontier outpost in 1849 on the
banks of the Trinity River by U.S. Army Maj. Ripley Arnold, who named the installation
in honor of his recently deceased commanding officer, Maj. Gen. William Jenkins Worth;
and
WHEREAS, when the U.S. Army left four years later, residents living around the
military fort decided to stay and, over the decades, the outpost has grown into the City
of Fort Worth, ranked one of America's "Most Livable Communities"; and
WHEREAS, for 157 years, Fort Worth has maintained a strong bond with the
U.S. military, supporting and contributing to the protection of the American people and
the defense of freedom; and
WHEREAS, during World War 1, Fort Worth was home to Camp Bowie, a U.S.
Army installation that trained thousands of young men for battle in Europe, while also
hosting three training airfields; and
WHEREAS, during World War II, Fort Worth's donation of land provided
incentives for the U.S. military to construct Carswell Air Force Base, resulting in a
decision by a private aircraft manufacturer to build a bomber plant near the air base that
today still produces outstanding military aircraft under the corporate banner of
Lockheed -Martin Aeronautics, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Carswell Air Force Base was transformed in the 1990s into a Naval
Air Station/Joint Reserve Base (NAS/JRB) that today is one of the military's premier
facilities and home to all branches of the military; and
WHEREAS, Lockheed Martin as well as Bell Helicopter Textron, plus many other
local companies, make up Fort Worth's defense industry sector, renowned for
manufacturing the best military equipment in the world of America's women and men in
uniform; and
WHEREAS, not only have thousands upon thousands of women and men from
Fort Worth served, or are serving, in the U.S. military, but Fort Worth citizens historically
have been strong supporters of the armed forces as evidenced by the united community
efforts on behalf of NAS/JRB Fort Worth during various Base Realignment and Closure
(BRACs) rounds; and
WHEREAS, Fort Worth Congresswoman Kay Granger has written a letter to U.S.
Secretary of Navy Donald C. Winter asking that a future hull—possibly Littoral Combat
Ship (LCS) Hull 4, 5 or a later numbered hull in the new LCS class of U.S. Navy ships—
be named the USS Fort Worth in honor of Fort Worth and its long and proud association
with the U.S. military; and
WHEREAS, while 34 American cities, including six in Texas, have active duty
ships named for their communities, Fort Worth has never had such an honor despite its
long military history; and
WHEREAS, Secretary of Navy Donald C. Winter, who has the exclusive privilege
of selecting names of the U.S. Navy ships, would maintain the Navy tradition of
selecting names that reflect a place, an event or an individual with character, spirit and
service by naming a ship the USS Fort Worth.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the Grapevine City Council supports Congresswoman Kay
Granger's request to U.S. Secretary of Navy Donald C. Winter to name a future LCS the
USS Fort Worth to honor Fort Worth's long and proud association with the U.S. military,
and the Grapevine City Council asks the Secretary of Navy to expeditiously name a
LCS the USS Fort Worth.
Section 2. That the Grapevine City Council sincerely believes that the USS
Fort Worth name meets the U.S. Navy Secretary's test that a ship name reflect a city
with character, spirit and service.
Section 3. That the Grapevine City Council urges each and every citizen,
student, organization, business and its friends and neighbors to support the campaign
to name a U.S. Navy ship the USS Fort Worth.
Section 4. That a copy of this resolution be provided to Secretary of Navy
Donald C. Winter and to the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael G. Mullen to
advise them of the Grapevine City Council's fervent desire that a U.S. Navy ship be
named the USS Fort Worth.
Section 5. That this resolution shall take effect from and after the date of its
passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 18th day of July, 2006.
RES. NO. 2
APPROVED: