NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. \u2013 Naval Station Mayport welcomed the Navy\u2019s newest commissioned warship Thursday as the USS Cleveland arrived in Jacksonville following its commissioning ceremony in Ohio last month.<\/p>\n
For the crew members and their families, the homecoming was more than a military milestone \u2014 it was deeply personal.<\/p>\n
Navy wife Jacqueline Martinez had been waiting months for this moment. She and her husband, Sailor Phillip Martinez, welcomed a baby girl, Juliette, on Feb. 22 \u2014 but Phillip had yet to meet her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had Juliette on February 22nd,\u201d Jacqueline Martinez said. \u201cThis will be his first time finally getting to meet Julia.\u201d<\/p>\n
For four months, Phillip Martinez watched his daughter grow through photos and videos. Thursday, he finally got to hold her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I don\u2019t even know her, but know her at the same time,\u201d Phillip Martinez said. \u201cI can\u2019t be more thankful for everything she\u2019s been doing while we\u2019ve been gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
The families of the USS Cleveland have been gradually relocating to Jacksonville for years. Some sailors received orders as far back as 2021, while others arrived within the past year \u2014 all waiting for the ship to make its way south.<\/p>\n
Among those waiting was Kassandra Hallett, whose husband commands the vessel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do! He\u2019s very special. He is with Dad, and he\u2019s the captain of the USS Cleveland,\u201d Kassandra Hallett said.<\/p>\n
The USS Cleveland was commissioned in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 16, before making the journey to Jacksonville \u2014 its permanent home.<\/p>\n
Capt. Bruce Hallett, the ship\u2019s commanding officer, said the crew has been working toward this moment for months.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to be able to finally bring the final Freedom-class LCS home to Mayport, where we can be ready to go out and do whatever the nation needs us to do,\u201d Capt. Hallett said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe moved aboard the ship a little over four months ago,\u201d he added. \u201cThe crew\u2019s been working hard with the end goal of ultimately coming back here, reuniting with families, so everyone\u2019s just elated to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kassandra Hallett said the family is looking forward to growing the USS Cleveland community in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited to welcome all the families that will be serving on the USS Cleveland now, and in the future,\u201d she said. \u201cWe just want to welcome them and make them a part of the Mayport family and the USS Cleveland family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that the USS Cleveland and its crew are home, training for future operations begins \u2014 and the families can start rebuilding life together in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n
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