USS Portland Memorial re-dedication, November 11, 2008, Portland ME

On Veterans' Day, 2008, the memorial to USS Portland at Fort Allen Park, Portland ME, was re-dedicated after extensive refurbishment by the City of Portland in partnership with Cianbro and other local businesses.   

The highlight of the ceremony was the re-christening of what remains of the Portland by Mary Doughty, who 76 years earlier christened the ship during its launch on May 21, 1932, and remarks by Gordon Olsen, a former crew member who served aboard from 1943 to 1945.  Gordon was the only former crew member able to attend.  

Since Prohibition was in effect in 1932, Mary launched CA-33 with a bottle of sparkling water. For the re-dedication however, a bottle of Champagne was used.

The re-dedication ceremony was reported by Boston news station NECN.