NAVY DEBUTS SUBMARINE MONTPELIER

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 14, 1993                   TAG: 9303140017
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short
NAVY DEBUTS SUBMARINE MONTPELIER
The Navy on Saturday commissioned its newest nuclear-powered attack submarine, the USS Montpelier, 24 hours after the Pentagon released its list of proposed military base closings.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, told military personnel that cuts in defense will continue. But Leahy warned against wasting the "sacrifice of millions of our people and trillions of our treasures" to become the world's sole superpower.
"There are other countries who could step in: Russia, China, Japan, Germany, many others. Would anybody in this room want to see the United States of America cede its position as the leading defender of democracy worldwide? I think not," he said.
Leahy, a native of Montpelier, Vt., said the new submarine represents all the country has worked for.
"But let us hope as Americans that we never ever let our symbol of democracy stand for anything less than the greatest democracy in the world," he said. "That is a responsibility that we have been given."
The Montpelier is the 52nd Los Angeles class submarine delivered to the Navy. It was built at Newport News Shipbuilding.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB