ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Navy submarine that bears this city’s name held its farewell ceremony last weekend, marking the end of 35 years of active service for USS Alexandria (SSN 757).
The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine held its inactivation ceremony June 29 at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego — exactly 35 years to the day after she was commissioned in 1991 — drawing together current and former crew members, family, and friends before the vessel heads to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to decommission.
Eight of the submarine’s former commanding officers attended, along with several chiefs of the boat and “plankowners” — members of the original commissioning crew. Among them were retired Navy Capt. Paul Norman, the ship’s first commanding officer, and retired Master Chief Machinist’s Mate Douglas Muller, the ship’s first chief of the boat…