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July 29, 2024

Bath Iron Works destroyer christening brings pomp and circumstance — as well as protesters

Aerial view of a ship in dry dock and lots of people and streamers. Photo / Courtesy, Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works’ economic impact is up, but finding workers remains a concern at the shipyard.
By Laurie Schreiber

Hundreds of people attended the christening of the U.S. Navy’s latest guided missile destroyer at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works on Saturday.

Nearby, dozens of protesters objected to the ceremony and nine were arrested.

Christening

The christening of the future USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127) brought dignitaries from Ireland and the U.S. as well as the siblings of the ship’s namesake, Cpl. Patrick Gallagher, an Irish citizen who received the Navy Cross for bravery while a U.S. Marine fighting in Vietnam.

“Today at Bath Iron Works, we are building the ships that our nation’s sailors will rely on to protect our country and our families,” said BIW President Charles Krugh.

Speaking to a gathering of more than 2,000 shipbuilders, family members and other guests, Krugh noted the many complex structures and systems that go into the construction of a guided missile destroyer.

People break bottles on a ship at BIW's ship christening.
Photo / Courtesy, Bath Iron Works
Patrick Gallagher’s sisters Teresa Gallagher Keegan, Pauline Gallagher and Rosemarie Gallagher traveled from Ireland for the ceremony. Here, they simultaneously break bottles of sparkling wine over the ship’s bow, an ancient maritime tradition.

“Each stage of the process requires attention to detail, teamwork, dedication to following the plan and follow-through, from design and engineering to the start of construction to the fabrication, all the way through blasting and painting and outfitting and testing until we get to trials,” he said.

He added, “Our team of designers, engineers, buyers, welders, insulators, shipbuilders, stage builders, carpenters, riggers, crane operators and many others safely execute high-quality work in our shipyard.”

The Gallagher is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The class is named after the USS Arleigh Burke, a 505-foot ship commissioned in 1991. The ships are considered the workhorse of the Navy's fleet and a staple of BIW’s shipbuilding for decades.

The new vessel the 41st guided missile destroyer built by BIW.

Patrick Gallagher

Gallagher was an Irish citizen living on Long Island, N.Y., when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to fight in Vietnam. He received the Navy Cross as an ammunition carrier in a machine-gun team with Company H, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, on July 18, 1966.

When an enemy soldier tossed a grenade into the defensive position occupied by Gallagher and members of his company, he kicked the grenade away so it exploded at a safe distance. Another grenade landed between two of his comrades and Gallagher threw himself on it to absorb the blast. When it did not detonate immediately, he threw the grenade into a river where it exploded.

Gallagher’s Navy Cross commendation reads: “Through his extraordinary heroism and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, he saved his comrades from probable injury and possible loss of life. His daring actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

Gallagher was killed in a firefight eight months later, on March 30, 1967, just days before his tour of duty was scheduled to end.

“As minister for the diaspora, I work to ensure we honor the stories of Irish people who realized accomplishments across various fields as they built new lives for themselves,” Seán Fleming, Ireland’s minister of state for the Department of Foreign Affairs, told the gathering.

“Woven into many of these stories, we see values such as courage, perseverance, fortitude under challenging circumstances and a deep commitment to support one’s peers and serve one’s communities.”

People seated and one standing at a podium at BIW' ship christening.
Photo / Courtesy, Bath Iron Works
Seán Fleming, Ireland’s minister of state for the Department of Foreign Affairs, spoke of historic ties between the U.S. and Ireland, noting that 16% of Maine’s population can trace its roots to Ireland. Seated from left are the namesake’s sisters, Rosemarie, Teresa and Pauline, and BIW President Charles Krugh.

He added, “The extraordinary life story of Patrick Gallagher is no exception.”

Gallagher’s siblings Teresa, Rosemarie, Pauline and Peter traveled from Ireland for the event. The sisters are the ship’s sponsors.

Also attending were U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Gen. Christopher Mahoney, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps; Sean Coffey, general counsel of the Navy; and Vice Adm. Darse Crandall, judge advocate general.

Protest

The Bath Police Department arrested nine people who were among 75 protestors, including members of Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights and Maine Veterans for Peace.

“[L]et's tell them to stop arming genocide,” said a July 20 Facebook post by Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights.

Many of the protestors have protested at past BIW events, according to the police department’s Facebook page.

All but one of those arrested were in their 60s, 70s and 80s and hailed from Maine's southern and midcoast areas. Charges included criminal trespass, obstructing a public way and criminal mischief. One man was observed dumping a red-colored liquid on the sidewalk and front step area to BIW’s main building at 700 Washington St. and driving away. 

Those arrested had split off from the larger group that were outside the BIW gate and had ventured onto BIW property, sat down in the road, linking arms and refused to move despite requests and warnings by officers to do so, according to the department. 

They were booked, bailed on personal recognizance and have a court date of Sept. 3 at West Bath Unified Criminal Court.

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