USS Nebraska Helps Celebrate State's 144th Birthday

From USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) (Gold Crew) Public Affairs

LINCOLN, Neb. (NNS) -- Trident ballistic-missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) (Gold Crew) celebrated Nebraska's 144th statehood birthday March 5 with the state's governor and other dignitaries at the capitol building in Lincoln, Neb.

Navy Cmdr. Mike Fisher, Nebraska (Gold Crew) commanding officer, and Senior Chief Electronics Technician (SS) David Turley, Nebraska (Gold Crew) chief of the boat, were among the honored guests at the birthday celebration hosted by Gov. Dave Heineman and his wife, Sally Ganem.

"It was a great honor to be able to celebrate Nebraska's statehood with the governor, first lady, the honorees of the dinner and the people of the great state of Nebraska," said Fisher. "The fact that the official birthday cake for the state had both the Nebraska state seal and the USS Nebraska seal is a testament to the strong ties between the state and the ship."

Among other dignitaries attending the birthday event, part of the NEBRASKAland Foundation Honoree Dinner, were Teresa Scanlan, the reigning Miss America; astronaut Clayton Anderson; and U.S. Olympic bobsled gold medalist Curt Tomasevicz. All are natives of Nebraska.

"Not everyone gets to enjoy dinner in a state capitol building," said Turley. "I enjoyed the evening with the chief justice of Nebraska and two Nebraska state senators."

Nebraska is one of eight ballistic-missile submarines homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash., providing the survivable leg of the nation's strategic deterrent forces.