Baptism onboard USS Boxer (LHD 4)

ByPettyOfficer3rdClassZachIssa

USS Boxer (LHD 4)

SAN DIEGO USS Boxer (LHD 4) celebrated one of the Navy’s oldest traditions withaceremonyintheship’suppervehicle deck,Feb.18

SailorsandguestsjoinedBoatswainsMate

2nd Class Steven Valdez and his family for the baptism of Valdez’s first child using the ship’sbell.

Shipboard baptisms began hundreds of years ago with the British Royal Navy in foreign ports and at sea. Before the ceremony, the ship’s bell is removed from the headstock and placed in a stand upside down. During the ceremony, the minister baptizes the baby inside the bell and after the ceremony, the child’s name is engraved insidethebell.

The ceremony was performed by retired Navy Chaplain Cmdr Keith J. Shuley and was Boxer’s first baptism onboard in more thantwoyears.

“Being baptized on the ship is important foranumberofreasons,”saidShuley.“It’sa Navy tradition to be able to remember the commemorationofachildtoGodaspeople understandhim.ItgoesbackbeforetheU.S. Navy They have been performed through- outhistorywithintheBritishNavyandhave been a tradition in medieval navies, as well It’s a great and important moment for the crew, for the ship, for the family and for the child.”

Valdez noted how helpful the ship’s two religious personnel specialists were in arrangingthisceremony.

“TheRPs[religiouspersonnelspecialists] havebeenamazing, saidValdez “Through this whole process they have had all the answersandmadeitsoeasyandstress-free formyfamilyandme.”

The ship’s bell will remain onboard as long as the ship remains in service. After

Boxer’s decommissioning the bell will be preserved by the Naval History and HeritageCommand “It’sextremelyspecialtome,”saidValdez. “Tobeabletorestartthetraditionofpeople getting baptized onboard again. It means everything to my family, and we are absolutely over the moon to have the ceremony performedhere.”

BoxerisaWasp-classamphibiousassault shipcommissionedFebruary11,1995andis thesixthshiptobearthename Boxer’screw is made up of approximately 1,200 officers and enlisted personnel and can accommodateupto1,800Marines