Not Politics

The USS Gabrielle Giffords

I can't think of a better way to celebrate the service of Gabrielle Giffords than to name a Navy ship after her.

The Navy’s newest ship will be the USS Gabrielle Giffords.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus made the announcement at a Pentagon ceremony today, calling Giffords someone whose name is synonymous with courage.

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords looked on at the Pentagon as Mabus made the announcement in a public ceremony. Also in attendance at this afternoon’s brief ceremony in the Pentagon Courtyard was Roxana Green, the mother of 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green.

Christina-Taylor was among those killed in last year’s deadly shooting rampage in Tucson that targeted Giffords as she met constituents outside a supermarket. Roxana Green will be the ship’s sponsor.

More on the USS Gabby here.

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) will be an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy. [...]

The Giffords will be the 17th naval ship to be named for a woman, and the 13th ship to be named for a living person since 1850.

This kind of recognition is not handed out on a whim. It's a true honor.