Navy crew treated to patriotic sendoff in Mukilteo

After a brief visit to its homeport in Everett, the USS Jone Paul Jones headed out for a six-month deployment Wednesday to much fanfare on Mukilteo’s shoreline. The City of Mukilteo formally adopted the USS John Paul Jones last fall.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile cruiser’s destination is unknown. Many observers thought the Middle East would be a good guess, although the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently conducting operations in the Western Caribbean . The John Paul Jones is part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.

City officials wanted to give their adopted ship a good send-off, so flags were hoisted throughout the downtown area, including a giant flag hanging from the roof at Rosehill Community Center. Police and fire vehicles also lined up at Lighthouse Park, with lights flashing and sirens wailing as the destroyer passed by.

Four separate entities, the City of Mukilteo, Kiwanis Club of Mukilteo, Rotary Club of South Everett-Mukilteo, and the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce have banded together to support and foster community relations with military personnel and their families, and have officially adopted the ship.

Lighthouse Park is a popular end-of-year destination for children from various school districts, so they enjoyed an unexpected bonus when they spotted the ship.

WIth a crew of 340, the John Paul Jones is a powerful weapon in the Navy’s arsenal. It’s armament includes 2 Mk-41 VLS for Standard Missiles, Tomahawk; 8 Harpoon Missile Launchers, 1 Mk 45 5"/54 RF lightweight gun, 2 Phalanx CIWS 20mm Gatling guns, 6 x 12.75" Mk 32 ASW TT (2x3).