Excerpt of message from Jerry Brown and additional information:

Bennie,

I know the woman, Kitt Alexander, who has virtually single-handedly pulled this off. She would be happy for you to post it to your site. The christening of the USS Major General Robert Smalls will occur on April 21, 2004 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Anyone wishing to attend this event will need to contact her so that she can add names to the guest list, particularly since this is a military function. There will also be a commissioning ceremony in Baltimore when the vessel has undergone final outfitting, at a date to be determined. At this time, the vessel is 80% complete, with final work to be done in Baltimore.

Point of Contact:

Ms. Kitt Haley Alexander
Founder, Chair
Robert Smalls Legacy Foundation, Inc.
703-548-2427
info@robertsmalls.org

Further information and photos of Smalls are also available at:

http://www.robertsmalls.org

PRESS RELEASE at: