Editing USS Ronald Reagan (section)

==Design and construction==
{{Main|Nimitz-class aircraft carrier}}
[[File:Reagans with USS Ronald Reagan model 1996.jpg|thumb|Former President [[Ronald Reagan]] and First Lady [[Nancy Reagan]], as well as [[Newport News Shipbuilding]] Chairman and CEO William Fricks stand behind the model of the aircraft carrier USS ''Ronald Reagan'' (CVN-76). The model was presented to President Ronald Reagan in May 1994.]]

The contract to build ''Ronald Reagan'' was awarded to Northrop Grumman [[Newport News Shipbuilding]] and Dry Dock Company in [[Newport News, Virginia]], on 8 December 1994 and her keel was laid down on 12 February 1998. The budget for the ship was increased several times and ultimately $4.5&nbsp;billion was spent on her construction, including a redesigned ship island.<ref name="Global">{{cite web |title=CVN-76 Ronald Reagan |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cvn-76.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127030711/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cvn-76.htm |archive-date=27 January 2017 |access-date=24 February 2017 |website=Global Security}}</ref> ''Ronald Reagan'' was [[Ceremonial ship launching|christened]] by Reagan's wife [[Nancy Reagan|Nancy]] on 4 March 2001 at [[Newport News Shipbuilding]]; the crew moved aboard on 30 October 2002<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=4800 |title=Another Milestone Passed on Road to Commissioning |first=Scott |last=Boyle |date=2 November 2002 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913142125/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=4800 |archive-date=13 September 2009}}</ref> and the ship was [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 12 July 2003 at [[Naval Station Norfolk]], with Captain [[John W. Goodwin (US Navy)|J.&nbsp;W. Goodwin]] in command.

Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and Second Lady [[Lynne Cheney]] were both present at the ceremony, along with Nancy Reagan, who gave the ship's crew the traditional first order as an active unit of the Navy: "Man the ship and bring her to life." ''Ronald Reagan'' made her maiden voyage on 21 July 2003. President Reagan, who did not attend either the launch or the commissioning due to [[Alzheimer's disease|his Alzheimer's disease]], died 11 months later. At the end of the [[Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan|graveside services]], the ship's commanding officer at that time, Captain [[James Symonds]], at Mrs. Reagan's request presented her the flag that draped the former president's casket. This particular flag had flown over [[Capitol Hill]] on 20 January 1981 for Reagan's first inauguration. At a later date, Captain Symonds also presented Mrs.&nbsp;Reagan the flag that had been flying over ''Ronald Reagan'' when the former president died.

===Naming===
''Ronald Reagan'' is the first aircraft carrier and first nuclear-powered warship of any type to be named in honor of a living former president.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USS Ronald Reagan Commemorates Former President's 90th Birthday |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0103/04/sm.06.html |date=4 March 2001 |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025142405/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0103/04/sm.06.html |archive-date=25 October 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[[USS George Washington (1798)]] was the first ship to be named for any U.S. president, and one who was still alive at the time. [[USS John Adams (1799)]] was the first USN ship to be named for a president while he was serving in office, and remained in commission for several years afterwards.</ref> Unlike most of the men honored by inclusion in this group, Reagan was not associated with the United States Navy, apart from his term as [[Commander-in-chief#United States|Commander-in-Chief]], although one of his key initiatives in office was the [[600-ship Navy]] program.

===Ship's seal===
The ''Ronald Reagan''{{'}}s seal was designed entirely by her [[plankowner]] crew with historical assistance from staff members at the [[Ronald Reagan Presidential Library]]. The seal's red border is similar to the distinctive red rim on the [[White House china]] designed for the Reagans during their White House years. Four gold stars represent Reagan as 40th US President and his four pillars of freedom: individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride. "Peace through Strength" was a recurring theme of Reagan's life in public service. The aircraft carrier is positioned [[West Coast of the United States|on the West Coast]], representing Reagan's two terms as [[governor of California]] and the ship's Pacific Fleet homeport. The three aircraft's patriotic contrails symbolize the three major military operations during Reagan's presidency: [[Operation Urgent Fury]] (Grenada/1983), [[Operation El Dorado Canyon]] (Libya/1986), and [[Operation Praying Mantis]] (Iran/1988). The view of the globe signifies Reagan's vision of global democracy, and the center is the United States, representing the country's national pride. Red, white, and blue dominate the seal, reflecting the American flag.