U.S. FLAG RELAY AND COMMEMORATIVE HARLEY TO HONOR CHRISTENING OF THE USS SOUTH DAKOTA - SSN 790
October 2, 2017
Motorcyclists Will Relay U.S. Flag Across South Dakota and Reveal Custom 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Glide
STURGIS, SD – An American flag will be carried across South Dakota to commemorate the upcoming christening of the new USS SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790) fast attack submarine.
The flag will begin the journey at Harley-Davidson Rally Point in Sturgis on the morning of Saturday, October 7th. A group of motorcyclists, lead by retired U.S. Navy Commander Wiley Cress of Rapid City, will carry the flag to Sioux Falls by way of Pierre, Aberdeen, and Groton. The riders expect to deliver the flag to J&L Harley-Davidson in Sioux Falls on the evening of Sunday, October 8th.
The flag will be featured as part of the ceremony to unveil the USS SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790) Commemorative 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Glide on Monday, October 9th at 10:00 am at J&L Harley-Davidson in Sioux Falls.The motorcycle was donated by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company to help celebrate the state’s new U.S. Navy submarine and honor South Dakota’s motorcycle heritage.
J&L Harley-Davidson is the sponsoring dealership for the 2018 Street Glide and has also donated parts and labor for the project. The motorcycle features custom paint honoring Battleship SOUTH DAKOTA (BB 57) and commemorates the new Submarine SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790). Artist Mickey Harris of Menno, SD created the custom motorcycle artwork.
The U.S. Flag will be placed in the saddlebag of the USS SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790) Commemorative 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Glide at the conclusion of the motorcycle unveiling ceremony and will then be transported via enclosed trailer to Groton, CT for the christening ceremony of the USS SOUTH DAKOTA, Saturday, October 14th.
About the USS SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790)
On April 13, 2012, the Secretary of the Navy announced that U.S. Navy submarine SSN-790 would be named in honor of the State of South Dakota. Carrying a crew of 14 officers and 117 enlisted servicemen, USS SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790) will be armed with two Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT), each capable of holding six vertical launch Tomahawk missiles that can strike targets up to 1,240 miles away. The ship is powered by a nuclear reactor, offering an unlimited source of fuel lasting the life span of the ship, which is projected to be over 30 years.
About the Commissioning Committee
Authorized and directed by Governor Dennis Daugaard, the USS SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790) Commissioning Committee supports events surrounding the ship’s keel laying, christening and commissioning. The Commissioning Committee is charged with hosting events in South Dakota for the officers and crew of USS SOUTH DAKOTA as well as fundraising and promotional efforts. The committee is also encouraged to develop long-lasting ties between the residents of South Dakota and the crew of the ship.
