Press Releases
09/29/2015
Gov. Malloy Designates Year-Long Celebration to Commemorate 100 Years of Connecticut’s Submarine Heritage
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(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he is designating October 2015 through October 2016 as Connecticut's Submarine Century - a year-long observance that celebrates 100 years of submarine activity in Connecticut, including the Town of Groton's distinction as the "Submarine Capital of the World." The commemoration coincides with the centennial anniversary of the Naval Submarine Base New London and the Naval Submarine School.
"Connecticut was the perfect location for our nation's first submarine base in 1916, and since that time our state has become the professional birthplace of every officer and crewmembers in the Navy's undersea profession," Governor Malloy said. "The storied history of the Navy's submarine force is directly connected to the State of Connecticut, and we are proud of the critical asset this state has been able to provide for our nation over the last century."
While 86 acres of land along the eastern shore of the Thames River in Connecticut was conveyed to the U.S. Navy in 1868, it was not until 1915 that the installation, then a Navy Yard, took on historic prominence. October 18, 1915 marked the arrival of submarines G-1, G-2, and G-4 under the care of the tender USS OZARK. On June 21, 1916, the Navy Yard changed forever as Commander Yeates Stirling assumed command of the newly designated Submarine Base, the newly established Submarine School, and the New London Submarine Flotilla.
In a letter to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Governor Malloy explained that community leaders and stakeholders in Southeastern Connecticut are working to create and expand opportunities for Navy leadership and citizens alike to commemorate this historic milestone for the Navy and the nation.
The state's commemoration will be coordinated through the Connecticut Office of Military Affairs and its Executive Director, Bob Ross.
Additional information on Connecticut's Submarine Century can be found on its official website at www.ctsubmarinecentury.com.
**Download: Letter from Governor Malloy to Secretary Mabus on "Connecticut's Submarine Century"
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