A 95,000-ton hole in their hearts
June 30th, 2009 | Aviation Carriers | Posted by Phil Ewing
Residents of Everett, Wash., homeport of the carrier Abraham Lincoln, say they'll miss the ship while it's gone for about three years for a refueling and overhaul // MC2 James Evans/Navy
A Navy warship, especially an aircraft carrier, can mean so much more to its home port than jobs or dollar signs in politicians’ eyes — although those mean quite a lot, too. You can see as much in this story out of Everett, Wash., where locals profess they’re really going to miss the big lug Abraham Lincoln when it’s gone for about three years starting in 2013, doing its Refueling and Complex Overhaul in Hampton Roads, Va.
The Lincoln also is as much a part of this community’s identity as the Everett Silvertips. In fact, the Silvertips’ mascot is a bear named for the Lincoln. He boasts a “72,” the ship’s hull number, on his hockey jersey.
Lincoln the bear isn’t going anywhere, said Jon Rosen, the Silvertips’ director of broadcasting and public relations.
“It would be hard to imagine Everett without Lincoln,” he said — either the ship or the bear.
All together now: Awwww!
While Abe is gone, the carriers Nimitz, of San Diego, and John C. Stennis, of Bremerton, Wash., will take turns calling at Everett.
