Wednesday, January 25, 2017

USS Mississippi launched, January 25, 1917


The USS Mississippi was launched at Newport News on this date in 1917.


 Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and others.

Sponsor Camille McBeath, who was a local girl chosen to perform the honor of breaking the bottle of wine on the hull.  This ship was unusually subject to a controversy on whether to use wine or water, given Virginia's recent enactment of prohibition. The choice was at one time left up to Miss McBeath who wisely deferred to Newport News, who had built the ship.



She would serve until February, 1956.

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