General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Statement
Today, Bath Iron Works observed a powerful milestone as the first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer—future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr (DDG 126) was christened on our drydock. This exceptional event was marked by the attendance of the ship’s sponsors, the Honorable Dr. Susan J. Rabern and Janet Louise Wilson Taylor—the only child of General Louis H. Wilson Jr., who broke their bottles of sparkling wine on the ship. They were accompanied in the bottle break by their Maid and Matrons of Honor, Julie Iobst, Claire Taylor and Anna Chiles.
Thank you to all who attended the ceremony, including the Wilson and Rabern families, many of whom traveled far to be with us today. We also thank our BIW shipbuilders who crafted this beautiful vessel for the U.S. Navy.
We know that the future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. and her sailors will always be ready for anything by maintaining the highest levels of physical and mental readiness long into the future exemplifying DDG 126’s motto: “Greatness Prevails.”