USS GEORGIA (SSGN-729) Return to Service Flag Project set to complete last county visit March 27

Submitted by Larry Hamilton, VP Public Affairs

Don Giles, Chairman of the USS Georgia (SSGN-729) Return to Service State-wide Flag project, attended the Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers (GARDC) Executive Committee Meeting in Macon, Ga., on March 5, 2008. Don presented Certificates of Appreciation to the 16 Georgia RDC Executive Directors on behalf of the Navy League and the USS Georgia Return to Service Committee.

Success of the "Georgia Flag Project" is largely attributable to the enthusiastic commitment and involvement of the GARDC Executive Directors and their staffs. As a result, a Georgia Flag is traveling through 159 Georgia Counties. The 140th Flag Ceremony was completed March 12 in Fitzgerald, Ga. (Ben Hill County).

Navy Recruiters from NRD Atlanta, NRD Raleigh, and NRD Jacksonville, as well as Navy League members from five Georgia Navy League Councils have participated in ceremonial Georgia Flag events throughout Georgia. The Flag started its historical travel in North Georgia on December 11, 2007, and will end its journey at a final ceremony in Camden County on March 27, 2008.

The Georgia flag will be presented by Governor Sonny Perdue to Captain Brian McIlvaine, Commanding Officer, USS Georgia (SSGN 729), at a Return to Service Ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, on March 28, 2008.

Pictures of the FLAG ceremonies may be found on The USS GEORGIA (SSGN-729) Return to Service website or the Atlanta Metropolitan Council website.

Chairman of the committee and of the events surrounding the Return to Service (RTS), Sheila M. McNeill, is a past National President of the Navy League of the United States. Ms. McNeill said, “It is very rare to have a namesake ship home-ported in its home state. We are very pleased to have Governor Perdue as our honorary chairman. Our committee is working on a series of special events to show our appreciation for the dedicated service to our country by the men and women of the most powerful warship in the world, USS Georgia.” 

All five Georgia Navy League Councils are supporters of the project. Don Giles is also Vice President for Legislative Affairs of the Atlanta Metropolitan Council.