Last week the Yokosuka Naval base opened its gates for an annual open house event. With the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON newly in port and opening up for public visits, there were some 30,000 visitors to the base. Almost all of them making a bee line for berth 12 where the CVN 73 was waiting.
The ship put on a great tour. They shuffled people straight onto the pier and onto the hangar bay. They showed some video and then you stepped on to elevator 1 to take you to the flight deck where you could see Mt. Fuji behind the hills. You could also see a F-18 posed for launch with the blast deflectors up, tour around the deck, and then get on elevator 4 to ride back down. They had displays of fire fighting equipment, jet engines, and munitions. William posed with a fire fighter to impress Uncle Noel.
We got there early since we could get on base before the gates opened to the public. We walked right on and had the place nearly to ourselves for about 20 minutes. Then the crowds started crawling in. The lines were incredibly long, but they processed people quickly and everyone got to take a close look at the CVN. I think it will do a lot to help the community feel comfortable with its presence.
Last week the Yokosuka Naval base opened its gates for an annual open house event. With the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON newly in port and opening up for public visits, there were some 30,000 visitors to the base. Almost all of them making a bee line for berth 12 where the CVN 73 was waiting. 
The ship put on a great tour. They shuffled people straight onto the pier and onto the hangar bay. They showed some video and then you stepped on to elevator 1 to take you to the flight deck where you could see Mt. Fuji behind the hills. You could also see a F-18 posed for launch with the blast deflectors up, tour around the deck, and then get on elevator 4 to ride back down. They had displays of fire fighting equipment, jet engines, and munitions. William posed with a fire fighter to impress Uncle Noel.
We got there early since we could get on base before the gates opened to the public. We walked right on and had the place nearly to ourselves for about 20 minutes. Then the crowds started crawling in. The lines were incredibly long, but they processed people quickly and everyone got to take a close look at the CVN. I think it will do a lot to help the community feel comfortable with its presence.
2 comments:
Just happened onto your blog...My son is attached to the GW and just arrived there. Are you Navy? What a nice looking family. We are from NE...So far my son loves Japan. The barracks are much nicer than the ship. It will be a difficult holiday for me tho, the first one without my baby boy...who is 6'3" and 24 years old...once a mother, always a mother...your little William is darling.
Cool! Our kids still have yet to get onto "where Daddy works"... Still a mystery! I think it is great that they are opening this up for people to come and "touch, see and enjoy". Miss you all!!!
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