Ship Ceremonies
KEEL-LAYING CEREMONY
The first milestone in the history of a ship is the generally simple ceremony that marks the laying of the keel. The invitation is issued by shipyard officials and the ceremony conducted by them. The builder maybe the commander of a naval shipyard or the president of a private company.
Invitation. The following is an annotated sample of a typical and correctly worded invitation to a keel-laying ceremony:
The Commander, Charleston Naval Shipyard
requests the honor of your presence
upon the occasion of tlhe
laying of the keel of the destroyer
NEVERSAIL1
by the Honorable 2 3
at the Charleston Naval Shipyard
on Tuesday, the tenth of August4
at half past twelve o ‘clock
1 The ship’s prospective name, without the designation USS, is indicated here, if known; otherwise her type and number are given, e.g., DD 2215.
2 Indicate the name of the speaker. Use the title “Honorable” only when it is appropriate to the status of the speaker.
3 Show the title of the speaker, if any, e.g., The Secretary of the Navy.
4 Some officials with a view to the historic nature of the event choose to include the year. When used, it should appear on the line following the date, written as “two thousand and one.“
Program. A sample program for a keel-laying ceremony with annotation shown below:
| National Anthem | ||
| Invocation | Chaplain | |
| Welcome and introduction of the principal speaker | President of the Shipbuilding Company or Commander of the Naval Shipyard | |
| Address | Principal speaker | |
| Authentication of the keel-laying | Optional. If included, the principal guest, generally the speaker, will affix a nameplate or inscribe his initials on the keel. | |
| Movement of the keel into position on the shipway | Performed by workmen | |
| Announcement that the keel “has been truly and fairly laid” | The Principal Speaker or the President of the Shipbuilding Company | |
| Benediction | Chaplain |