JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Naval Station Mayport welcomed a new ship for the second time in as many days on Monday.
RELATED: Mayport Naval Station welcomes its newest ship, USS John Basilone
The Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship is the fourth to carry the Nantucket name and was commissioned earlier this month in Boston. Its arrival came just one day after the USS John Basilone, another new addition to the base.
Hundreds of sailors were warmly welcomed as they stepped off the ship. Families and friends cheered, waved signs, and embraced their loved ones as the ship’s arrival was just in time for the holiday season.
“It’s great to have a brand-new ship with a brand-new crew, but we’ve been together for a couple of years now, and we’re just excited to be home,” said Commanding Officer Kari Yakubisin.
The Command Senior Chief expressed gratitude for the timing of their arrival. “It means everything. The Navy always tries to make sure that we have that family time... and they repay us by making sure that we’re home with our families for the holidays,” they shared.
This festive reunion adds to the joy at Mayport, which recently hosted another homecoming. On Sunday, the USS John Basilone, the Navy’s latest missile destroyer, arrived in Mayport after being commissioned in New York City.
And the joy doesn’t stop there.
On Tuesday, the USS Indianapolis is set to return after seven months of deployment, further boosting the holiday spirit among sailors and their families.