USS Ronald Reagan: A Symbol of Peace and Strength

1. March 16, 2000 -- The lower bow unit of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is lowered into place at the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding facility.

2. July 12, 2003 -- The President of the United States, George W. Bush speaks to honored guests and participants during the christening July 12, 2003.

3. August 23, 2003 -- Capt. James Symonds delivers his remarks after assuming duties as commanding officer.

4. July 12, 2003 -- Crewmembers keep with the Navy tradition of running up the gangplanks to bring the ship to life, during the ship's commissioning ceremony. The ship’s motto is “Peace Through Strength” a phrase coined by President Reagan who is widely credited for bringing an end to the Cold War, and rebuilding the U.S. military.

5. July 12, 2003 -- Aircraft fly over the Reagan in diamond formation at the conclusion of the commissioning ceremony for the ship.

6. May 7, 2003 -- The Ronald Reagan tests its counter-measure wash down systems (CMWDS) during scheduled builder sea trials off the coast of Virginia.

7. July 24, 2003 -- An F/A-18 Hornet from the "Salty Dogs" of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23) makes the first arrested landing or "trap" on the flight deck.

8. July 25, 2003 -- The Reagan steams through the Atlantic Ocean for the first time as a commissioned ship. The ship was off the coast of Virginia conducting Flight Deck Certifications.

9. September 16, 2003 -- The sun casts a golden glow on the ship as it exited the Chesapeake Bay during an unscheduled evening departure from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The ship departed the naval station as part of a 40-ship sortie pending the arrival of Hurricane Isabel.

10. November 11, 2003 -- Sailors “Man the Rails” as the carrier arrives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida .

11. May 14, 2004 -- Reagan prepares for deperming at Naval Station Norfolk Lambert's Point Deperming Station, near Portsmouth, Va. Deperming is a special procedure for erasing the permanent magnetism from ships and submarines to camouflage against magnetic detection vessels and enemy marine mines.

12. May 27, 2004 -- The Reagan passes the Royal Naval Amphibious Assault Ship HMS Ocean (L12) while transiting the Chesapeake Bay. The ship departed Naval Station Norfolk for the final time to circumnavigate South America on its way to its new homeport of San Diego, California.

13. June 4, 2004 -- An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the “Tophatters” of VFA-14 makes a final approach for an arrested landing,

14. June 8, 2004 – The Brazilian Navy aircraft carrier BNS Sao Paulo (A12), foreground, comes alongside the Reagan.

15. June 8, 2004 -- An A-4 Skyhawk embarked on the Brazilian aircraft carrier BNS Sao Paulo (A12) performs a touch and go landing.

16. May 27, 2004 -- The Reagan leaves Norfolk, Virginia and heads to her new homeport of San Diego, Calif., to join the Pacific Fleet

17. June 8, 2004 -- An F/A-18E Super Hornet, right, assigned to the "Tophatters" VFA-14 and an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the "Black Aces" VFA-41 await launch The Brazilian Naval Aircraft Carrier BNS Sao Paulo (A 12) cruises along side. The Black Aces and Top Hatters are part of Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11),

18. The Reagan pulls into the port of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil June 9, 2004. This is the first foreign port visit for the Reagan.

19. June 10, 2004 -- An SH-60F Seahawk, assigned to HS-6 sits on the flight deck as the sun rises at Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

20. June 11, 2004 -- USS Ronald Reagan sits anchored at Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, its first foreign port visit.

21. June 16, 2004 -- Uruguayan Naval Frigate Montevideo steams alongside the Reagan as an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the “Wallbangers” of VAW-117 approaches the flight deck for landing.

22. June 17, 2004 – An Argentine Navy Dassault Super Etendard jet aircraft commences a “touch and go” landing. The Super Etendard is a carrier-based single-seat strike fighter first introduced into service in 1978. It is armed with two 30mm guns and can hold a Varity of air-to-air weapons and air-to-ground munitions.

23. June 21, 2004 - The Reagan cruises through the Straits of Magellan on her way to the Pacific Ocean.

24. June 27, 2004 – The Reagan is seen anchored off Valparaiso, Chile, during her second foreign port visit in South America.

25. July 23, 2004 -- The Reagan prepares to enter San Diego harbor for a home-porting celebration, welcoming the ship to San Diego, Calif., and officially joining the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

27. July 23, 2004 -- The Reagan enters the harbor channel. The Coronado Bridge is visible at right, downtown buildings at left.

33. July 23, 2004 -- A fireworks display celebrates the home porting of the Reagan in San Diego, Calif., following a two month transit from Norfolk, Virginia.

34. November 16, 2004 – USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) navigate alongside each other during routine training exercises off the southern California coast.

35. January 22, 2005 - Sailors man the rails and render honors to the USS Arizona Memorial as the Reagan pulls into Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Ronald Reagan's first port visit to Hawaii is in support of Operation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian operation effort in the wake of the Tsunami that struck South East Asia. U.S.