MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
| What: | James (WMSL 754) Media Day and Christening |
| When: | 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15 (Media Day – closed-toe shoes required) |
| 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 James (WMSL 754) Christening (Media should arrive by 8:45 a.m.) | |
| Where: | Ingalls Shipbuilding Visitor Control Center |
| Who: | Media Day |
| * Ship Sponsor Charlene James Benoit | |
| * Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger, vice commandant, U.S. Coast Guard | |
| * Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias | |
| * Shipbuilders of James | |
| * Capt. Andrew Tiongson, James prospective commanding officer | |
| Christening Day | |
| * Vice Adm. Neffenger (keynote speaker), Mrs. Benoit, Capt. Tiongson, Cuccias | |
| * Huntington Ingalls Industries President and CEO Mike Petters | |
| * Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss. | |
| Press kit available at: http://ingalls.huntingtoningalls.com/events/nsc5christening/media | |
| RSVP: | Bill Glenn, Huntington Ingalls Industries, (228) 327-1671 |
| william.glenn@hii-co.com | |
Please RSVP by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14; #JamesNSC5 is the hashtag for event.
Ingalls Shipbuilding will christen the company's fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter, James (WMSL 754), on Saturday, Aug. 16. Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger, vice commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, will be the keynote speaker at the christening. Mrs. Charlene James Benoit, great-great niece of the ship's namesake, Capt. Joshua James, is the ship sponsor. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., will also speak at the ceremony.
Capt. James, of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, is credited with saving over 600 lives from the age of 15 until the time of his death at 75 years of age. He is considered one of the most celebrated lifesavers in the world.