Navy ship to ring in 4th of July

The U.S.S. McFaul DD6 74, a guided missile destroyer, will be docking in Eastport during the Fourth of July festivities this year. The Arleigh Burke Class vessel is home to 23 officers, 24 chief petty officers and 291 enlisted personnel.

"We're very honored to be able to host the United States Navy on Independence Day in Eastport, Maine. It's a privilege," says Barbara DeWitt, co-chairman of the Eastport Fourth of July Committee.

As of June 6, it was uncertain what day the McFaul will arrive. DeWitt points out that the original date was Monday, July 2, "but we've asked them to come a day earlier. We've heard that Fleet Command has given tentative approval, but it's not confirmed."

For the first time in Old Home Week history, the Navy ship in port will be commanded by a woman. Mary Jackson is a 1988 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in physics with an emphasis in oceanography, and she earned her master's degree in engineering from George Washington University in 1993. She assumed command of the McFaul in June 2006.

DeWitt says, as always, the Eastport Fourth of July Committee has planned many activities for the ship's personnel. "Volleyball, softball and golf, and they'll get some complementary tickets to the blueberry pancake breakfast on July 4."

The traditional public reception for the ship will be held at 6 p.m. at the Eastport Youth Center on whatever day the vessel arrives.

The U.S.S. McFaul was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and launched in April of 1997. The ship's website describes her as being "equipped with the world's most sophisticated weapon system." Among the armament aboard the 505.25' vessel are two Mk41 VLS for Standard missiles, Tomahawk, Harpoon missile launches and Mk 46 torpedoes.

Her mission is to "conduct prompt sustained combat operations at sea, in support of national policy. She is equipped to operate in a high-density, multi-threat environment as an integral member of a carrier battle group or Surface Action Group. In addition to her own self-defense capabilities in air warfare, undersea warfare and surface warfare, she can provide local area protection to the battle group, surface action group and other ships."