Major General Marcia Anderson to Sponsor USS Beloit at Commissioning Ceremony

The U.S. Navy is set to formally commission the USS Beloit, a new littoral combat ship, on Sunday, November 23, 2024. The event will take place at Veterans Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with key figures such as retired Major General Marcia Anderson taking a prominent role in the ceremony.

Major General Anderson, a native of Beloit, Wisconsin, will serve as the ship’s sponsor, marking her latest achievement in a career marked by historic milestones. In 2011, Anderson became the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of major general in the U.S. Army. She retired from military service in 2016.

In discussing her role as the sponsor of the USS Beloit, Anderson reflected on the significance of the honor, emphasizing her connection to Beloit. She stated, «This isn’t just an honor for me, but also for the people of Beloit who have contributed so much to our nation’s defense.» The trend of naming ships after places and people who have made significant contributions to national security was highlighted by Anderson as a fitting tribute to her hometown.

The USS Beloit, built in Marinette, Wisconsin, will be the first ship named after a city in Wisconsin. The commissioning ceremony is expected to feature remarks from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and other state officials. Following the ceremony, the ship will set sail for its home port at Naval Station Mayport in Florida.

The ceremony will include traditional naval rituals, such as the command to «Man our ship and bring her to life!» issued by Anderson, and will be marked by ceremonial cannon fire. These events are significant as they symbolize the ship’s integration into the active fleet of the U.S. Navy.

Anderson’s appointment as the ship’s sponsor is seen not only as a personal honor but also as a responsibility, given her trailblazing role in the military. She noted, «The weight of it kind of hit me that, you know, when you’re the first, you have a responsibility to get it right. The people that follow you are going to have to walk in your footsteps, and you don’t want to leave them a bad legacy.»

For those unable to attend in person, the commissioning ceremony will be livestreamed, allowing broader access to this significant naval event.