Gallery: LCS Gifford christening ceremony

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  • 150613-O-ZZ999-603 MOBILE, Ala. (June 13, 2015) Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords waves to a crowd in front of the littoral combat ship, USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), named for her. Giffords was on the stage as Dr. Jill Biden christened the ship at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. The 419-foot ship was built at the Austal shipyard and is the Navy’s 10th littoral combat ship designed to operate in shallow waters near the coast. It is 16th U.S. naval ship to be named for a woman and only the 13th since 1850 to be named for a living person. (Photo courtesy Austal USA/Released)
  • The USS Gabrielle Giffords, a littoral combat ship built at the Austal USA shipyards in Mobile, Ala, is decorated for a christening ceremony Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Mobile, Ala. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords of Arizona had a Navy vessel named in her honor during a ceremony at a Mobile, Alabama, shipyard Saturday afternoon. (Mike Brantley/AL.com via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
  • Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, left, smashes a champagne bottle on the bow as other dignitaries, including Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle, second from left, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, right, and her husband retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, watch from the platform Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Mobile, Ala. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords of Arizona had a Navy vessel named in her honor during a ceremony at a Mobile, Alabama, shipyard Saturday afternoon. (Mike Brantley/AL.com via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
  • Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Capt. Mark Kelly, speaks at the podium during a ceremony as his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, right, and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden listen Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Mobile, Ala. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords of Arizona had a Navy vessel named in her honor during a ceremony at a Mobile, Alabama, shipyard Saturday afternoon. (Mike Brantley/AL.com via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
  • Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona is helped to the podium by her husband, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, as the USS Gabrielle Giffords, a littoral combat ship built at the Austal USA shipyards in Mobile, Ala, is christened during a ceremony Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Mobile, Ala. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords of Arizona had a Navy vessel named in her honor during a ceremony at a Mobile, Alabama, shipyard Saturday afternoon. (Mike Brantley/AL.com via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
  • Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona delivers remarks with her husband, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, by her side as the USS Gabrielle Giffords, a littoral combat ship built at the Austal USA shipyards is christened during a ceremony, Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Mobile, Ala. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords of Arizona had a Navy vessel named in her honor during a ceremony at a Mobile, Alabama, shipyard Saturday afternoon. (Mike Brantley/AL.com via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
  • Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona and husband retired U.S.Navy Captain Mark Kelly greet the crowd during a ceremony, Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Mobile, Ala. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords of Arizona had a Navy vessel named in her honor during a ceremony at a Mobile, Alabama, shipyard Saturday afternoon. (Mike Brantley/AL.com via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
  • Jill Biden wife of Vice President Joe Biden, stands with Dennis V. McGinn, left, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, and Carlo Perciavalle, right, president of Austal USA, during a ceremony, Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Mobile, Ala. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords of Arizona had a Navy vessel named in her honor during a ceremony at a Mobile, Alabama, shipyard Saturday afternoon. (Mike Brantley/AL.com via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT