5 | 16 | 2022
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
Photo by Ashley Cowan
Time Capsule Installed on Kennedy Shipbuilders welded a time capsule last month inside the flight deck control room of John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). The time capsule contains coins that were placed under the 588-ton island by NNS and Navy leaders during a ceremonial island landing event in May 2019. “As shipbuilders, and as a project team, this entire ship is our gift to the future. We have our hands all over this and our hearts all in it,” said Dave White, CVN 79 topside construction director. He called the time capsule “an opportunity to send a message to the future warfighters who will serve on this ship.” In addition to coins from the 2019 mast-stepping ceremony during the island landing, the time capsule includes a letter from Caroline Kennedy, former President John F. Kennedy’s daughter who serves as the ship’s sponsor, to Capt. Todd Marzano, the aircraft carrier’s first commanding officer. Mast-stepping recognizes an ancient maritime custom of placing a coin at the base of a mast of a ship under construction to bring good fortune.
The time capsule also includes other letters to future ship leaders, miscellaneous leadership coins and memorabilia – including a face mask to represent the COVID-19 pandemic. John Leigh (X11) and Cyrus Canty (X18) fitted and welded the time capsule during the ceremony. “I’ve been working on the island most of my career in the shipyard, so it was actually very important for me to be a part of this ceremony today,” said Leigh, who has worked at NNS for about five years. A shipbuilder for 10 years, Canty said he looks forward to seeing Kennedy join the Navy’s fleet. “Participating in this event means a lot to me. I feel like I’m a part of history,” he said. Speaking just before the time capsule was placed and welded into CVN 79 by Canty and Leigh, Marzano – whose aviator wings are included in the time capsule – said serving as Kennedy’s first commanding officer was “an absolute honor and privilege.” CONTINUED ON PG 2
Benefits Annual Enrollment Deadline Extended Until June 30 In keeping with Newport News Shipbuilding’s newly ratified labor agreement with United Steelworkers Local 8888, all USW-represented employees who choose to have HII medical coverage are required to actively enroll in medical and prescription plans. The May 6 annual enrollment deadline has been extended until June 30. Those who do not enroll by June 30 will not have medical coverage for the upcoming plan year, which starts July 1. Call the HII Benefits Center at 1-877-216-3222 to enroll.