In a historic first, the City of Eastport hosted the commissioning of the USS Augusta on September 30 with approximately 1,600 in attendance. The occasion was particularly significant as it took place 27 miles away from the seizure of the HMS Margaretta in 1775 in Machias, considered the first vessel ever commissioned by the United States Navy and, as such, the effective birthplace of the military branch.
      "We are truly honored to be Downeast amongst the descendants of the Revolutionary War heroes that planned and captured our Navy's first ship at Burnham Tavern over in Machias, Maine," said Commander Kalen Hickey, executive officer of the USS Augusta, during the opening of the commissioning ceremony.
      The USS Augusta is the second Navy vessel to bear the name of Maine's capital and the 17th made with the Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) design. The ship and its crew were in port for most of the week prior to the commissioning, with visitors and residents given the opportunity to tour the vessel before and after the ceremony. The commissioning took place on a particularly foggy Saturday morning, though the weather did not deter a substantial crowd of onlookers from filling the breakwater. Those in attendance passed through multiple security checkpoints before being seated in front of an assembled stage, multiple flatscreens and the U.S. Navy Band Northeast, who played impeccably throughout the hour long ceremony.
      Commander Hickey began by providing the introduction to the ship, starting with the history of the first USS Augusta. Commissioned in 1985, it was a Los Angeles class submarine that would go on to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In part due to the history of the first USS Augusta, the new ship's motto is "Protecting the Frontier," with its badge bearing a moose, blueberries and part of the Fort Western blockhouse in recognition of its namesake city.
      Following the introduction to the ship, the naval officers and honored guests of the commissioning ceremony were formally welcomed. Also present were the Maine Army National Guard's Third Battalion, 126th Aviation regiment, U.S. Air Force 101st Air Refueling Wing and a combined color guard unit from the USS Augusta and the Maine National Guard.
      Chris Gardner, executive director of the Eastport Port Authority, recognized the role of Franklin Roosevelt in "bringing the Navy to these waters" after becoming the youngest assistant secretary of the Navy and fusing that role with his affinity for the Passamaquoddy Bay area. Since then, the city's "love for its Navy and service members and its country as a whole" has made it "somewhat famous throughout the ranks of vessel commanders as one of the best stops the Navy can make."
      Mark O'Brien, mayor of Augusta and a native of the capital city, spoke to the storied naval background of Augusta, including launching "the first ship constructed in the new world in 1608" on the Kennebec River. Since then, Maine has been a "shipbuilding powerhouse and a seafaring state," making the ship's name exceptionally appropriate.
      Noting that the name Augusta comes from Latin origins and means "magnificent," Vice Admiral John Fuller proceeded to say, "I see a future where Augusta will strengthen our maritime dominance, her crew will continue building warfighting excellence and she will enhance strategic partnerships as she executes tasking around the world."
      Brief recorded remarks from U.S. Rep. Jared Golden followed, in which Golden commended those involved in the building of the ship, the commissioning event and the naval history of the state. Golden, along with Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, were originally planning to be present at the ceremony but were unable to attend due to obligations in Washington, D.C.
      Vice Admiral Fuller then gave the order to hoist the colors and commission pennant. At that point, the newly appointed captain of the vessel, Christopher Polnaszek, ordered the setting of the first watch, an act symbolized by the passing of the long glass. Holding the long glass were Charles Vose and Michelle Stanhope, who Polnaszek recognized as direct descendants of "those brave Americans that planned and executed the raid in nearby Machias to take our Navy's first ship, the Margaretta."
      Noting the towering presence of the ship, amplified all the more by the high tide, Polnaszek said, "We bear witness to the convergence of our heritage and our call to the future. This ship, born of American aluminum, is a testament to the versatility, resolve and unwavering spirit that has defined our nation from its very inception."
      Serving as the ship's sponsor was Leigh Saufley, dean of the University of Maine's School of Law and former state chief justice, who Polnaszek introduced next. The ship's sponsor, a role traditionally held by a woman, christens the ship after its production, imbues the ship with her personality and is a permanent honorary member of its crew.
      During the commissioning ceremony, Saufley offered a land acknowledgement for the Wabanaki people, receiving a robust ovation as she did, and described the role of the USS Augusta. "She's designed to be fast and agile. She'll operate near shore and open ocean, and she will integrate into manned and unmanned teams. She'll be part of the Navy's maritime security force, expanding its sea control and supporting deterrence missions around the globe."
      Sharing a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, Saufly said, "A good Navy is not a provocation to war, it is the surest guarantee of peace." She then gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life."

A modern maritime combat vessel
      As an Independence variant of the LCS class, the USS Augusta is 418 feet long, with a trimaran design that sees the vessel sitting high on the water with a shallow 15' draft. It is made entirely out of aluminum and has four engines in total -- two diesel engines that are always running and two gas engines used for acceleration, explained Lieutenant Brigid Mangan, who serves as the ship's navigator, during a tour of the vessel.
      "We go fast -- at full speed; we plane on top of the water," Mangan said, referencing the ship's capability of going faster than 40 knots. The ship has four independent steering jets, giving it the capability of "walking sideways" like a crab, maneuverability that it demonstrated during the docking process.
      Below decks, the ship houses an advanced computer system capable of monitoring every aspect of the Augusta -- and allowing the crew to take full control of the vessel if the navigation deck becomes damaged or compromised.
      The Augusta is equipped with a landing deck capable of hosting two helicopters at the same time, while two unmanned Fire Scout drones enable the ship to conduct anti submarine warfare, mine detection, and surveillance. The Augusta is further equipped with a SeaRAM air defense system for dispatching subsonic and supersonic threats and a 57mm automatic gun.
      The Navy's LCS ships are not without controversy, as the ships have been consistently over budget and behind production schedule, along with other concerns, according to a recent news report by ProPublica.
      During its time in port, the Augusta saw steady tours, with a consistent line outside the vessel whenever the tours were open.

Community welcoming
      By and large, the commissioning event in Eastport was a runaway success, according to multiple people involved in the proceedings and the week-long setup.
      "I think it went better than anyone could have hoped and or anticipated," says Gardner of the port authority. "Everybody was a little nervous through the week, lots to do, but by all accounts ... everybody was extremely impressed with the City of Eastport and its people."
      Businesses opened their doors and community members opened their homes to help with goods, services and accommodations for the event. Of the many such instances, Senior Chief Operations Specialist Ronald Westhafer cited Seaview Campground and Cottages for providing a special accommodation for a "final night" ceremony concluding six weeks of training for one of the ship's chief petty officers.
      Westhafer also commended Jim Blankman of Ye Olde Hat Shop for quickly fashioning the ship a stand for holding the ship's bell, which they'd acquired from Wadsworth's. "We needed a bell stand, and he made it," Westhafer said, adding, "I love Eastport. It's been a great experience."
      Blankman made the 16" stand out of black walnut within a day and applied the final finishing the next. He notes that several officers and crew members bought skateboards from his shop, and others bought hats.
      One customer in particular stood out: Dave Andersen, director of the Navy's commissioning support team via Noblis, kept coming back for more hats and skateboards. Blankman then gave him the tallest hat in the shop "not knowing he was going to wear it to the whole ceremony." He did, and many caught sight of it during the event. "I think it looked great," Blankman says. "I hope he wears it to all the commissions."
      Anderson could not be reached for comment due to being in the process of planning the next commissioning ceremony, but Noblis Deputy Director Tony LaFrenier says, "The Eastport community and port authority were more than welcoming to the ship, sailors and the commissioning support team for Noblis and the government." He adds, "The locals embraced our team with welcoming arms and many lobster rolls."
      Among the events that took place in the area was the dedication of a memorial for the 1775 Battle of Machias. The memorial stone reads, in part: "The cost of freedom / First naval battle of the American Revolution / June 12, 1775 / Machias Bay." Approximately 30 sailors from the Augusta were present at the stone's dedication in Machias on September 27.
      For Charles Vose and Michelle Stanhope, who participated in the commissioning of the Augusta and are descendants of those who commissioned the Margaretta in 1775, being a part of Saturday's ceremony was a once in a lifetime event that dovetails perfectly with their roles as reenactors.
      "I was honored to participate in the Navy ship commissioning ceremony so close to home," says Vose, descended from John Berry Sr., who was wounded in the battle. "Being a Revolutionary War reenactor makes me feel connected to my ancestors and what they endured fighting for the freedom that we often take for granted."
      "Being part of this commissioning ceremony was very exciting and surreal," says Stanhope, the descendant of battle participants John McNeil and Ephraim Chase, with the former losing his life. "To represent my family's heritage and my community was a huge honor."
      Recognizing the role of so many in the area, port authority Executive Director Gardner says, "The success of this event isn't just on Eastport. Our partnering communities have played a role in this. It might have been in Eastport, and it might be named after the city of Augusta, but, really, all of Washington County in this region showed up and really leaned in."
      With all of the successes on each side of the commissioning ceremony, Gardner expects that this may not be the last such event in the area. "Together, we provided a darn near perfect package to the Navy and to the USS Augusta."