Navy League of The United States - Santa Barbara Chapter

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Ronald Reagan Sailors, Family Members
Observe July 4th Fireworks from Flightdeck

FOR RELEASE: 7/5/2007

From USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

USS RONALD REAGAN, Coronado, CA -- More than 400 friends and family members joined Sailors from USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) on the ship's flight deck July 4 to watch as multiple Independence Day fireworks displays lit up the night sky above San Diego.

“We don’t get a lot of chances as a ship to show our families how much we appreciate them," said Capt. Terry B. Kraft, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer. "Tonight they got to enjoy a once-a-year event from our flightdeck even though we have a shipyard period going on."

“I counted like five different sets of fireworks that I could see at the same time and I’ve never seen that before," said Kraft. "That’s a pretty neat experience!"

Vice Adm. Mark P. Fitzgerald, Director of the Navy Staff, was in San Diego for the Fourth of July holiday and also showed up to watch the fireworks from the flightdeck of Ronald Reagan.

Family members said they enjoyed the chance to watch the fireworks from such a unique location, especially those who had Sailors standing duty on the holiday.

“I had a great time. It was really cool,” said the 11 year-old son of Lt. Cmdr. Cletis Strausbaugh, Ronald Reagan's first lieutenant. “I liked it when the fireworks got really big.”

Ronald Reagan is currently undergoing a planned incremental availability in her homeport of San Diego following a three-month surge deployment in support of operations in the Western Pacific.

For related news, visit the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn76/.