Spirit of Enterprise lives on...

[BSink42]

http://blogs.defensenews.com/intercepts ... -lives-on/

[Mynock]

Looks like the petitions worked. It just wouldn't be the USN without an Enterprise.

[water_bug_62208]

I just read about this.

I knew Enterprise would be retired upon her return from her final deployment, yet it's still sad just the same. This'll be the second aircraft carrier named Enterprise that won't be preserved, and both ships certainly earned that right to be preserved.

The name, Enterprise, certainly seems to be granted to those vessels that are the "first" at what they do. Such a grand and fitting name!

Enterprise, you will again be missed until we all meet you once again in the future!

[Mynock]

There's just no way to keep her intact and remove the nuke plants. It's sad but it has to be done for safety reasons. Containment vessels don't last forever.

[water_bug_62208]

I hear ya.

They were able to preserve U.S.S. Nautilus as a museum ship, although she only had one nuclear reactor as compared to the eight that Enterprise has.

[BSink42]

William Shatner was supposed to be at today's deactivation ceremony, but for some reason backed out at the last minute.

[DangerGirl]

Shatner wasn't there, but according to reports, Petty Officer Second Class James Kirk attended the ceremony. Kirk sailed aboard the Enterprise on her last cruise.

As for CVN-80 being named Enterprise, I rather doubt we'll ever see that carrier built, let alone by 2025, with the way things are going.

[bbjohn]

It seems like there has always been a great ship somewhere named Enterprise. Even one of the space shuttles was named Enterprise. It's a name that should not be allowed to die. If nothing else, it reminds us of what we have accomplished in the past, what we can do now, and (thanks to Star Trek) what we may be able to do in the future.

Let's hope the plans for a new ship named Enterprise are carried out. We need to have a great ship named Enterprise. See you in the next life, Big E!

Big Bad John