We take our commissioned ships seriously here

In January, a new Navy ship was commissioned as the U.S.S. Green Bay (LPD-20). It was a pretty big deal to our community and, rightly so, we covered the heck out of it. One of the area middle schools is a "Partner in Education" with LPD-20. Some of the students attended the commissioning, and others have participated in a satellite-linked geography bowl.

The ship's commanding officer paid a visit to the school, yesterday.

Navy Capt. Joe Olson, commanding officer of the U.S.S. Green Bay, gets rock star treatment upon his entrance to an all-school assembly at Lombardi Middle School celebrating the partnership between the ship and school, Friday afternoon, Nov. 20, 2009.

More than 1,000 cupcakes were arranged to show the U.S.S. Green Bay's hull number in the school cafeteria. The treats were distributed to students, staff and guests after an all-school assembly celebrating the partnership between the ship and school.