Gov. Gregoire�s statement on USS Nimitz arrival

For Immediate Release: December 9, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement in response to the Navy�s announcement that the USS Nimitz will be home ported at Naval Station Everett following its maintenance in Bremerton:

�Washington state is cheering today�s news that the USS Nimitz will undergo maintenance in Bremerton and will be �home ported� at Naval Station Everett. A carrier in Everett is not only important to our national security, but is also a critical economic driver for the region. An Everett based carrier supports thousands of jobs, both in the marine industry and in the community.

�The more than 4,000 sailors and their families will find the most modern base in the Navy and a welcoming and supportive community with schools, resources and an unmatched quality of life. In fact, the Secretary of the Navy, in telling me of this decision, mentioned how welcoming and supportive Washington state is to our sailors and their families.

�I look forward to welcoming the USS Nimitz to our state!�