THE TENSION: Photo Essay: USS George HW Bush Commissioning Ceremony

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) Capt. Kevin E. O'Flaherty, left, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), stands next to President George W. Bush during a 21-gun salute during the commissioning ceremony of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after World War II naval aviator and the 41st president of the United States George H.W. Bush. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Micah P. Blechner.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) man the rails during the ship's commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after World War II naval aviator and the 41st president of the United States George H.W. Bush. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Susan Caraballo.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) Audience members listen to remarks during the commissioning ceremony for the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after World War II naval aviator and the 41st president of the United States George H.W. Bush. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd class Eric S. Garst.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) F/A-18 aircraft assigned to Air Wing 1 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. perform a flyover during the commissioning ceremony for the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after World War II naval aviator and the 41st president of the United States George H.W. Bush. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Susan Caraballo.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush is escorted aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during the ship's commissioning ceremony. Bush delivered the keynote address at the commissioning. The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after the World War II naval aviator and 41st president of the United States. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Demetrius Patton.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) President George W. Bush and former President George H.W. Bush greet crewmembers of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. during the ship's commissioning ceremony. George H.W. Bush delivered the keynote address at the commissioning. The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after the World War II naval aviator and 41st president of the United States. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Demetrius Patton.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) Capt. Kevin E. O'Flaherty, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), welcomes former President George H.W. Bush to the commissioning ceremony for the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. Bush delivered the keynote address at the commissioning. The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after the World War II naval aviator and 41st president of the United States. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Micah P. Blechner.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) Sailors run across the flight deck to man the rails and bring the ship to life at the commissioning ceremony for the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after World War II naval aviator and the 41st president of the United States George H.W. Bush. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) Sailors fire the saluting battery in honor of President George W. Bush at the commissioning ceremony for the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The Navy's newest, and final, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is named after World War II naval aviator and the 41st president of the United States George H.W. Bush. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 10, 2009) The audience gathers for the commissioning ceremony for the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. George H.W. Bush is named after the 41st president of the United States. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer L. Jaqua.)

NORFOLK, Va. (Jan. 8, 2009) Artist Thomas Stahl presents Command Master Chief Jon Port, from the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), with a portrait of former President George H.W. Bush as a young naval aviator and its certificate of authenticity at USS San Jacinto's (CVL 30) Reunion Dinner at the Radisson Hotel in Norfolk. Bush served on San Jacinto during WWII. George H.W. Bush was commissioned Saturday. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Tackitt.)

NORFOLK, Va. (Jan. 7, 2009) Boatswain's Mate Seaman Apprentice Charles Norris polishes a bell aboard the ceremonial quarterdeck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush was commissioned Jan 10. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan A. Bailey.)

NORFOLK, Va. (Jan. 8, 2009) Sailors from Air Department aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) converse with former President George H.W. Bush. George H.W. Bush was commissioned Jan. 10. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Demetrius Patton.)

NORFOLK (Jan. 8, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handler) 1st Class Christopher Waiters aboard the aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) shows the former President George H.W. Bush a diagram of the ship and aircraft. America's newest aircraft carrier, George H.W Bush (CVN 77), was commissioned Saturday. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Demetrius Patton.)

NORFOLK, Va. (Dec. 9, 2008) Machinist's Mates 2nd Class Randall G., Scott K. and Richard A. Hoffman, three brothers from Jasper, Ind., are part of the first crew of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), which will be commissioned Saturday at Naval Station Norfolk. As part of the commissioning crew of they receive the title of plank owner as recognition of their contribution to the delivery of the ship to the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jhi L. Scott.)

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