Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, christens the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

Last week the US Navy christened its newest carrier the USS Gerald R. Ford.

“I christen thee United States Ship Gerald R. Ford,” said [Susan Ford] Bales, breaking the bottle across the bow. “May God bless this ship and all those who sail her.”

President Ford served as a LtCmdr in the Navy.  (He was also the first, and only, Vice President and President not to be elected to those offices.)

The Ford will be the first carrier not to have a steam catapult — but an electromagnetic catapult instead.

While this may be shocking for some to hear, not everyone agrees with the longtime maritime tradition of christening US naval vessels.  It seems a few military atheists find it objectionable that the US government participates in a “blessing” and calls upon God’s favor for the vessel and “all who sail her.”  Interestingly, the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, while disagreeing, thinks its not worth fighting about.  Said the MAAF:

It’s wrong for the government to “Christian” a ship, but it’s quickly forgotten. This issue would be easy to highlight but it could easily distract from issues that have more impact…

They do want to remove any hints of association between religion and the military, but this particular issue just isn’t big enough.

US Navy christening was previously discussed here, in a story that noted First Lady Michelle Obama didn’t break the bottle on the first attempt — a nautical negative.

Also at FoxNews and Christian Science Monitor (with video).

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