USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Press Kits

In the museum's collection are the Newport News Shipbuilding press kits for each major stage in the construction and commissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). "Selling" the Navy to the taxpaying public has been a full time job throughout the history of the fleet. Kits like this one are just one tool that modern day public relations officers use to accomplish this goal.

The kits in the museum collection are complete with everything a journalist needs to write a nice article about the shipyard's latest project and the Navy's newest warship. Included in the kit are booklets from the official keel laying ceremony, the launching, and the commissioning; a seating chart that identifies the VIPs; maps on how to get to the shipyard; plenty of bumper stickers with the ship's name and logo on it; and several press releases that give information about every aspect of the ceremony, such as the ship's namesake and the tradition of commission ceremonies.