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Carrier John F. Kennedy pays farewell visit to Boston

BOSTON -- The USS John F. Kennedy returned to the 35th president's home state Thursday for the last time before it goes out of service later this month.

"Big John," as the aircraft carrier is called, will stay in Boston for five days before heading to Mayport, Fla., for decommissioning. It will be maintained on inactive status in Philadelphia.

About 500 people braved a chill to watch the Kennedy cruise into Boston Harbor with sailors lining its deck. Fireboats sent huge plumes of water into the air as tugs guided the ship into port...

The ship was christened in 1967 by John F. Kennedy's then-9-year-old daughter Caroline, and it entered Navy service the following year.

One of two fossil fuel powered carriers left in the Navy, the Kennedy supported Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002 and 2004.
Read entire article at AP