By Virginia Biggins
Times-Herald Staff Writer

NORFOLK-The nuclear powered guided missile frigate California, a Newport News built ship, was commissioned during ceremonies today at the Norfolk Naval Station.

"This great ship is a symbol of strength and courage, but it takes people to sail it, and it is people whose freedom this ship will protect," Asst. Secretary of the Navy James E. Johnson said.

Johnson, who was principal speaker at the commissioning, said in a prepared speech, "Just as it takes people to make up a nation, it takes men and women who toil day and night to make it possible for a great vessel such as the California to sail the seas as a guardian of our freedom.

"A U.S. Navy ship is like a great state in a nation. In order to make its contribution to national defense, a ship must operate in coordination with the other ships in the fleet, just as a state is only as powerful as its contribution to national harmony"

"Both national harmony and national defense depend upon wise and dedicated leadership. Therefore, we owe it to ourselves and to our country to elect the best leaders we can. And once we have elected our leaders, we owe it to ourselves and to our country to give wholehearted support to all our country's officials," he continued.

"If we fail to do this, our country will be like a ship without a captain, and a ship without a captain would be a national as well as a nautical tragedy."

Johnson, who is assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs, said "our country needs all the love we can give her."

"The freedoms which we have inherited from the founding fathers of this great nation include the freedom of speech, freedom to assemble peaceably, and freedom of the press. These are embodied in the highest law of the land. But, there is one freedom which comes from an even higher law—the freedom of love."

California is the fifth nuclear powered surface ship to enter the U.S. fleet.

Keel was laid for the frigate by Newport News Shipyard Jan. 23, 1970, and she was launched Sept. 22, 1971 with Mrs. Richard Nixon as sponsor.

There are 550 officers and men assigned to the vessel, with Capt. Floyd H. Miller Jr. Serving as prospective commanding officer.

California will be based in Norfolk about a year prior to reporting to her home port in San Diego, California., and service with the Pacific Fleet.