LCS to be named Giffords

The next Independence variant of the littoral combat ship will be named the USS Gabrielle Giffords, the former Congresswoman and long-time supporter of the military and veterans. The announcement was made Friday by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. Giffords survived a shooting while at an outside event in Arizona in which several other people died, including 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green. Mabus said the ship's sponsor will be Roxanne Green, the child's mother. The 419-foot long ship, LCS 10, will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. It's the 13th ship to be named for a living person since 1850. (Source: Navy, 02/10/12)