USS Delaware Commissioning Commemoration
Two years ago the unit was preparing to participate in the USS Delaware’s Commissioning Ceremony in April of 2020. The ceremony was cancelled due to Covid and the USS Delaware was commissioned underwater. Saturday, April 2nd, a commissioning commemoration ceremony for the USS Delaware was held at the Port of Wilmington. Thanks to Senator Coons and Carper offices, William E Taylor Division received invitations from the US Navy to attend the USS Delaware Commissioning Commemoration held on April 2, 2022.
Upon arrival at the USS Delaware an event coordinator was relieved at the unexpected help of Sea Cadets to help with the event to welcome guests, hand out programs and water, and to help direct guests to their seating sections.
Senator Carper’s office was instrumental in arranging for the division to be invited by the Navy to the event. Senator Carper was very engaging with our cadets, and we appreciated the time he took to talk with cadets one-on-one.
William E. Taylor were the de facto welcoming committee for all guests attending the event as cadets manned the entry point for the event and greeted and direct guests.
The Executive Office of the USS Delaware was very engaging as well, interacted with cadets, and saw to it that the division would have an opportunity for a tour.
Weather for the ceremony was perfect, guests were bused in from Frawly Stadium from 0700 - 1100.
William E Taylor manned the entry up until POTUS and other VIP’s arrived.
The crew of the USS Delaware were engaging - many of the crew are not much older than our senior cadets.
After POTUS finished his tour of the USS Delaware he stopped and met with the division and engaged with our cadets.
After engaging with the cadets, XO presented a William E. Taylor Challenge Coin with POTUS, and received a POTUS coin in return.
The division also met the Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, who loves the Sea Cadets, as he should.
The division rounded out the day with a full tour of the submarine, from control room, to torpedo room, to engine room and everything in between. There were no cameras beyond this point. Awesome crew gave tours and were very engaging.
It was an amazing day for the William E Taylor Division.
The Navy featured a picture with William E Taylor cadets on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
