Dear Shipmates and Friends of Saratoga,
I am writing to urge each of you to join me in a coordinated effort to petition the Secretary of the Navy to name another United States Navy ship USS Saratoga.
Earlier this year I sent a personal letter to the Secretary requesting that the Navy once again bestow this historic name on a future vessel. I recently received a thoughtful reply. While the Secretary did not make a firm commitment, the response made clear that naming decisions remain under active consideration and that expressions of strong, sustained support from the fleet’s veterans are taken into account.
The timing could not be better: 2026 is the year of America 250, the semi quincentennial of our nation’s founding. Few ship names carry a more fitting connection to the birth of the United States than Saratoga—the name that commemorates the decisive Revolutionary War victory that secured French alliance and ultimately American independence. USS Saratoga has served the Navy with distinction across more than two centuries and multiple hulls from the Revolutionary War era through the aircraft carriers CV-3 and CV-60. Restoring the name would honor the thousands of Sailors who have served aboard her, preserve an important piece of our naval heritage, and give a new generation of Sailors a ship whose very name embodies American resolve.
I therefore ask every member of the Association to write a brief, respectful letter (or email) to the Secretary of the Navy requesting that the next available capital ship, aircraft carrier, or other major combatant be named USS Saratoga. Please ensure you mention the historic significance of the name, the service of previous ships that bore it, and the special appropriateness of acting during America 250.
I have attached a sample letter that you can use as a skeleton for compiling your letter or you can write your own. If you are using the sample, be sure to fill in the years you were on Saratoga in the required spaces and your job description in that same line.
Suggested mailing address:
The Honorable [Name of current Secretary], Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-1000
If you prefer electronic correspondence, the official contact channels listed on the Department of the Navy website may also be used. A short, sincere letter from many of us carries far more weight than any single appeal. If you are willing, please also send a copy of your letter (or simply a note that you have written) to the Association so we can track the volume of support. Thank you for considering this request. The name Saratoga deserves to sail again.
Together we can help make that happen.