The second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer has been named after Navy SEAL Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, who died while serving his country. More than 2,000 people gathered in Maine to watch Sally Monsoor name the 15,000-ton ship after her son, who died in Iraq.
Sally Monsoor named a destroyer for her son, a Navy SEAL, who perished in 2006. On Saturday, a very emotional ceremonial ship launching took place in Maine, which was attended by more than 2,000 people.
The second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer was christened by Sally Monsoor, the mother of late Navy SEAL Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor. Michael, a 25-year-old California native, died in 2006 in Iraq after he dove on an insurgent’s grenade to save the lives of two fellow SEALS.
In 2008, the hero was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously by President George W. Bush. The mourning mother said before breaking the bottle against the vessel:
“May God bless this ship, and all who sail within her.”
Mrs. Monsoor also spoke to the media at the event where she revealed that her son was a very quiet, loyal person, who loved Christmas. She added:
“His legacy will live on as this great ship conducts its mission in defense of our nation.”
Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, said at the ceremony:
“…the Zumwalt class of destroyers is the most advanced naval destroyer the world has ever seen” and said its christening is a tribute to Michael Monsoor.”
Retired Vice Admiral Joseph Maguire, president of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, revealed that the Navy was grateful for Monsoor’s heroism, and added that America “owes the Monsoor family a debt that can never be repaid.”
USS Michael Monsoor is a Zumwalt, which is the Navy’s largest and most technologically sophisticated class of destroyer. According to Maguire, the USS Michael Monsoor that was built by Bath Iron Works is 610 feet long, weighing more than 15,000 tons.
A handful of peace activists stood outside, blasting the Zumwalt program for wasting taxpayers money. A little bit more about the ship:
“The ships are heralded for their advanced and pinpoint accuracy gun system. Their futuristic-looking shape make them 50 times more difficult to detect on radar than other ships of the same size. New innovations in automation also will allow the vessel to be operated with a smaller crew than today’s current destroyers.”
The Monsoor will be moved into the middle of the Kennebec River on Monday.
