Last Tuesday, Senator Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo) met with Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy, Jodi Greene, to discuss the commissioning of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) #21 named the U.S.S. Minneapolis-St. Paul. Ms. Greene (raised in Northfield, Minnesota) emphasized the role of this ship in representing Minnesota and the United States. It will inspire government, civic, and academic engagement while highlighting the sacrifices made by the one percent of our population who choose to serve in the military. Ms. Greene encouraged legislators at the meeting to facilitate community involvement by engaging veteran’s groups, students, and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon entities, to bring attention to this ship before its commissioning in the summer or early fall of 2020.

“Minnesotans should be proud of this honor bestowed by the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense,” said Senator Anderson. “The U.S.S. Minneapolis-St. Paul will be a vital asset in the mission of the United States: to maintain our freedom and to share freedom with those who seek it. We are grateful for this honor and look forward to taking part in the celebration and community engagement that this ship will inspire.”

During the 2019 session, Senator Anderson supported Senator Jim Abeler’s (R-Anoka) amendment to establish a gift fund account for donations to the commissioning and preservation of the U.S.S. Minneapolis-St. Paul battle ship. This amendment passed in the State Government bill and will be a resource for the celebration of the commissioning next year.

For more information about the U.S.S. Minneapolis-St. Paul and to find ways to take part in next year’s celebrations, visit lcs21.org.