Youth visit Norfolk Naval Base
Published 10:11 am Friday, July 6, 2012
Boarding the USS George H.W. Bush Tuesday as part of the Franklin Super Summer Jam sponsored by Franklin Parks and Recreation were Kayla Powell, Myron Barrett, Breona Sykes, Harrison Calvin, Markin Baskerville, Aaron Bazemore, Jakari Garris, Meiki Barrett, Kymani Mosley, Darius Pray, Jamiyah Butler, Quantrell Eley, Keanu Artis, Aakiyah Smith, Patience Rawls, Tawrence Wiggins, Lawrence Wiggins, Montae Barrett,Allen Maddrey, Taylin Stokes, Siera Stephens, Madsen Jean, Ausar Martinez, Christian Olds, Laiya Olds, Semaj Cobb, Walker Sykes, Keanje Stephenson, Kevonta Brown, Niyah Wilson, Damorian Cross, Tremir Roberts, Aleah Gainey, Errik Lane, Tazman Banks, Errick Lane, Paris Banks, Jaivier Warren, Lavelle Evans, Asya Milteer, Carnuishia Whitehead, Anusha Williams, Kumari Scott, Junious Joyner, Eboney Joyner, Donnelle Babb, Lamont Murphy -- Frank A. Davis | Tidewater News
BY FRANK A. DAVIS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
NORFOLK—More than 40 youth and staff members of the Franklin Summer Super Jam took a tour of Norfolk Naval Base Tuesday.
After the hour-long tour the group headed to the galley for lunch. There the galley manager, as well as the assistant galley manager, Franklin resident Level Reynolds, greeted the group.
The group was also taken on a guided tour of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, a Nimitz Class carrier named after the 41st President, who was a naval aviator during World War II.
The carrier was commissioned in January 2009 and built by Northrop Grumman in Newport News.
The carrier is 20 stories tall and has a 4.5-acre flight deck, roughly the length of three football fields, and carries about 80 combat aircraft and a crew of over 6,000.
After boarding the ship on the hangar deck level, the youth had to climb about 10 flights of stairs to reach the tower operation center.
There the tour guides explained detail on the operation of the ship, pointing out seating locations of the 20 people required to operate the ship.
On the flight deck, their guide explained how the planes are launched, and the landing procedures were also explained.
The Franklin Summer Super Jam program is jointly sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Virginia and the Franklin Department of Parks & Recreation.
