WICHITA, Kan – The Wichita city council has approved a donation of $25,000 for the commissioning of the U.S. Navy’s new combat ship, the USS Wichita.
Mayor Jeff Longwell said a local committee is raising funds with a goal of $200,000 to provide for the commissioning and the needs of the crew. He said the city will adopt the crew and they will be “our family forever, until the ship is decommissioned.”
A commissioning ceremony is planned in January for the ship.
A local resident raised a concern about providing funding for the military and “warmongering around the world.” Mayor Longwell disagreed, saying that the U.S. Navy protects shipping lanes and it often responds to catastrophic events around the world, providing assistance and medical care for disaster victims.
The funding approved by the council will come from the council budget. Sedgwick County commissioners will consider a donation for the USS Wichita at their regular meeting on Wednesday. Spirit Aerosystems, Cargill and a number of local businesses and organizations are also providing donations for the commissioning of the ship.
