Thoroughbreds Race Through Kentucky from Russell to Russellville

Jan

MT3(SS) Cameron Kisselbaugh Visits National Corvette Museum

Bowling Green, KY - USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) Gold Crew Missile Technician 3rd Class (SS) Cameron Kisselbaugh visited the National Corvette Museum as part of a namesake visit, January 22, 2010.

Louisville, KY – Four Sailors from USS Kentucky (SSBN 737), the “Thoroughbred of the Fleet,” conducted a namesake visit to the commonwealth January 17-23, 2010. Gold Crew Commanding Officer Ben Pearson III, was joined by Chief Hospital Corpsman (SS) Joseph C. Enderton, Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class (SS) David S. Bruner, and Missile Technician 2nd Class (SS) Cameron R. Kisselbaugh for the trip which included stops from Russell in Greenup County to Russellville in Logan County, Kisselbaugh’s hometown.

The trip began with a Thoroughbred Sub Club cookout in Elizabethtown. Most of Monday was spent in Louisville, including visits to Hillerich & Bradsby Company, maker of the famous Louisville Slugger baseball bats, Texas Roadhouse‘s corporate headquarters, A Taste of Kentucky, and several other area businesses and local landmarks. Texas Roadhouse CEO G. J. Hart greeted the crew members prior to a tour of the offices. Retired Capt. Frank W. Stewart led the tour of Hillerich & Bradsby’s offices, the Louisville Slugger Museum, and the bat factory. Stewart, a former commanding officer of three submarines including USS Louisville (SSN 724), is the general manager of wood products. Monday evening featured a stop for dinner at Texas Roadhouse in Lexington, before proceeding on to Worthington.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent in Northeastern Kentucky. Most of the daytime was spent at Worthington Elementary School talking to students about life aboard submarines, helping with classes, and even serving lunch. However, they also found time to drop by Raceland-Worthington High School, visit a few local businesses and community leaders, and have dinner with residents at Morning Pointe Ridge. During a visit to the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center in Ashland, Commissioner Cheryl Spriggs presented each Sailor with a Key to the City of Ashland.

Thursday began with a school assembly and send-off from Worthington Elementary. The entire student boy sang My Old Kentucky Home, and each Sailor was given a care package of snacks for the trip to Frankfort.

In Frankfort, USS Kentucky was met by Kentucky Air National Guard Col. Steven Bullard, commanding officer of the 123d Mission Support Group and the director of the Division of Administrative Services for the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs. Bullard escorted the party for a tour of the Capitol Building.

Following the tour, the crew members were invited on the floor of the House of Representatives for the introduction of House Resolution 75 by Rep. Tanya Pullin (D-South Shore), with 97 additional co-sponsors. The resolution passed by voice vote with 98 yeas and one abstention.

The House then suspended the rules, so that Rep. Mike Cherry (D-Princeton) could be addressed by his military rank; he is a retired Navy captain. Bruner was then invited to the dais where he became the first known person to reenlist on the floor of the House during a session. Cherry administered the oath, while House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg) held the Bible.

The ceremony ended with Rep. Martha Jane King (D-Lewisburg) making a speech from the floor honoring Kisselbaugh and his family. Members were then allowed to have their photographs made with the USS Kentucky delegation.

Leaving the Capitol, the Sailors stopped by the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. The Kentucky Military History Museum is currently undergoing renovation, and many of its exhibits are on display at the Clark Center. Museum Executive Director William Bright led a tour of the Clark Center and many of the USS Kentucky exhibits, including artifacts for the turn of the 20th century battleship Kentucky (BB 6). Sideboys from the previous namesake ship are mounted on the boardroom doors, and the Naval Historical Center has loaned most of the silver service donated by an earlier generation of Kentuckians to their namesake. The rest is currently onboard the submarine.

The next stop was Frankfort Cemetery and the State Mound. The cemetery is the final resting place of a number of Kentucky notables, including Daniel Boone, Marine Major Pressly O’Bannon who left a lasting legacy on the Marine Corps, and Richard Mentor Johnson, ninth vice president of the United States.

Friday began with an in-studio interview at WQXE-98.3 (FM) on Greg & Hollie in the Morning in Elizabethtown. After breakfast in Hodgenville, birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln, the group visited Heaven Hill Distilleries in Bardstown. From Bardstown, they traveled to Bowling Green and toured the National Corvette Museum.

That afternoon, the Sailors found themselves in Kisselbaugh’s hometown, Russellville. Prior to dinner with his family, the Sailors were invited to a community forum where Mayor Gene Zick presented each with a Key to the City.

Hillerich & Bradsby, 1-18-10