While America nears its 250th birthday, former USS Greeneville sailors are in Greeneville to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the submarine’s commissioning.
Around 70 former sailors and their family members gathered on the terrace of the General Morgan Inn Wednesday evening to kick off four days of celebrating the USS Greeneville, her sailors, and the submarine’s enduring link to her namesake town.
Wednesday night’s meet and greet event featured brief remarks from local leaders and supporters, a meal catered by Aubrey’s, a live auction of USS Greeneville memorabilia, a dueling pianos performance and more.
Most of all, Wednesday’s event saw former sailors from across the past 30 years catch up with each other or meet each other for the first time. The USS Greeneville is the common thread that ties them all together.
Stan Simmerman served on the Greeneville for 1993 to 1997, seeing it through its christening and commissioning as the first Chief of the Boat. He was glad to see different generations of sailors come together in Greeneville to mark the anniversary.
STAN SIMMERMAN
Simmerman said that the sailors not only have a bond with each other, but an also an unwavering connection with Greeneville.
STAN SIMMERMAN
Also joining in Wednesday’s festivities were several former employees of Greeneville Industries Inc., formerly a subsidiary of Newport News Shipbuilding. The company, also known as Greeneville Shipbuilders, manufactured some components of the USS Greeneville in Greeneville at the time of the ship’s construction.
It was Dale Long, an employee of the company at the time, that was one of the main drivers of pushing for a submarine to be named after Greeneville. His early efforts led to an all out campaign by the local community for a submarine to be named after Greeneville, an effort that was eventually successful in the late 1980s.
Long currently serves as president of USS Greeneville Inc., the submarine’s official local support group which organized this weeks reunion and has continually supported the submarine’s sailors and their families over the years.
During Wednesday’s event, Long was gifted a special Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrel with an engraved top naming him an honorary plank owner of the USS Greeneville by sailors at the event as a show of appreciation for his support of the submarine over the years. A plank owner is a sailor who was a part of the original crew of a vessel when it was commissioned.
It was also announced at the event that Texas Roadhouse in Greeneville would be painting a new mural in its restaurant commemorating the USS Greeneville.
A packed slate of activities await the former USS Greeneville sailors during their celebration in Greeneville including a community day of service at the Roby Adult Center, Lyrics on the Lawn, a golf tournament, a VFW breakfast and banquet.
On July 4, the sailors will serve as the Grand Marshals of the Town of Greeneville’s Independence Day Parade.
The sailors will depart Greeneville Sunday morning.
ABOUT USS GREENEVILLE
The USS Greeneville (SSN 772) is a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The Greeneville measures more than 360 feet long and weighs more than 6,900 tons when submerged.
It was christened by Second Lady Tipper Gore and launched Sept. 17, 1994. The submarine was then commissioned on Feb. 16, 1996, at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
The submarine’s current home port is Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California.
Commander Spencer Ovren assumed command of the USS Greeneville in February.
The USS Greeneville is currently underway on exercises, therefore no current sailors are able to attend the 30th anniversary celebration.
