06/11/2026
Not everyone could hear from the pier this mornings homecoming speech:
Good morning team CLEVELAND!!!
To our families, friends, and distinguished guests on the pier thank you for being here today. Your support, sacrifice, and encouragement made this journey possible, and we are grateful for everything you do for our Sailors.
To the crew of USS Cleveland, what an incredible journey it has been. Since departing Marinette, you have safely traveled 2,739 nautical miles, completed 15 lock transits, visited four ports, transited four of the five Great Lakes, and spent more than 155 hours navigating restricted waters. Along the way, you consumed 179,000 gallons of fuel, 12,000 gallons of l**e oil, 16 pallets of food, and somehow managed to go through 480 rolls of toilet paper.
More importantly, you transformed a new ship into a warship. During this transit, we made three Anti Terrorism watch Officers, one Officer of the Deck, four Readiness control officers, and one Surface Warfare Supply Corps qualified officer. These qualifications represent the professional growth, dedication, and warfighting excellence that will carry Cleveland into the future.
Today marks the successful completion of commissioning and our journey to homeport, but most importantly, it marks our return home. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished together. The success of this ship is a direct reflection of the outstanding Sailors who serve aboard her.
To our families, thank you for sharing your Sailors with us. To the crew, thank you for your hard work, professionalism, and resilience.
Welcome home, Cleveland. Well done, and enjoy your well-earned reunion with your loved ones.
Forge a Legacy
Captain out
