WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE BRISTOL 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION!

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2012 Visiting Ship - USS Ponce

The first United States Ship named for the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, the "Proud Lion" went to sea for her initial operational deployment with Amphibious Squadron Six in 1971.

Over 40 years, Ponce helped evacuate civilians from Beirut, Lebanon, in 1976, supported humanitarian operations in the Straits of Florida in 1980, assisted with Hurricane Andrew relief efforts in 1992, and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Ponce got underway Aug. 27th, 2010, for its final deployment.

Operating as a member of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, Ponce participated in bilateral exercises such as Edged Mallet with Kenya, Iron Magic with UAE, and Red Reef with Saudi Arabia. In December 2010 Ponce landed elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Kuwait for transport north to support Operation New Dawn in Iraq. When Operation Odyssey Dawn, the effort to create a no-fly zone over Libya, began March 19, 2011, Ponce embarked a detachment of the U.S. Air Force's 56th Rescue Squadron to provide combat search and rescue support to coalition aircrew. Ponce returned to homeport May 16, 2011, and is scheduled to be decommissioned in March of 2012..

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USS Ponce Commanding Officer - CDR Cole Hayes

CDR Cole Hayes is a 1990 graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and was a 3-year letterman in football.

After college graduation, he Enlisted in the Navy and upon "C" school graduation at Great Lakes married the former Angela Jean McClanahan at the Blue Jacket's Memorial Chapel. They have three children: Taylor, 17; Stephen Jr., 15; and Ian, 13. His first sea duty assignment was aboard USS CHANDLER (DDG 996) after which he attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. After commission, his first sea duty assignment was in USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45). Subsequent sea tours included Navigator in USS INGRAHAM (FFG 61), Engineer Officer in USS TORTUGA (LSD 46), Commanding Officer in USS CHINOOK (PC 9) and Executive Officer for repeat duty in USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45). Ashore, CDR Hayes served as Flag Secretary in Amphibious Group Two and was the PERS 411A Surface Assignment Detailer in Naval Personnel Command, Millington, TN.

CDR Hayes graduated from the Naval War College and holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies and National Defense in addition to receiving Joint Professional Military Education (Phase One). Among his decorations are the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (5), Combat Action Ribbon, and various other unit and service awards.

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