First lady Jill Biden brought to life the USS Delaware in a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class submarine at the Port of Wilmington on Saturday.
“It’s difficult to put into words how much it means to be a part of the USS Delaware family. It’s an incredible honor that I take seriously. I have cherished getting to know this community,” said Biden, the fast-attack submarine’s sponsor. “I’ve seen the heart of this crew, and it makes me feel both proud and humbled to be your shipmate for life.”
Biden officially christened the boat back in 2018, smashing a bottle of champagne across its bow during a ceremony at a Virginia shipyard, which Delaware Democratic Gov. John Carney fondly recounted on Saturday: “That bottle just exploded, it was something to behold.” Biden was named the boat’s sponsor during a Pentagon ceremony announcing the future vessel’s name in 2012, when her husband was vice president.
