For those interested in the USS Stout commissioning ceremony.  From
DoD News (DoD.pb.nasa):

                                           No. 472-94
                                           (703)697-5342(media)
                                           (703)697-3189(copies)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE      August 11, 1994     (703)697-
                                           5737(public/industry)

                      NAVY TO COMMISSION
            GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER STOUT (DDG 55)

     A commissioning ceremony will be held for the U.S. Navy's
newest guided missile destroyer, Stout (DDG 55), on Saturday,
August 13, 1994, at the Port of Houston, Texas, commencing at 10
a.m.

     Stout is the first U.S. Navy ship named in honor of Rear
Admiral Herald F. Stout, U.S. Navy (1903-1987), who was awarded
two Navy Crosses for heroism while in command of the destroyer
USS Claxton (DD 571) during World War Two.

     Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton will be the ceremony's
principal speaker.  Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda, Chief of Naval
Operations, and his wife Betty Boorda, the ship's Sponsor, will
also attend the ceremony.

      Stout is the sixth of 29 Arleigh Burke Class ships to be
commissioned. These multi-mission ships are equipped with the
Navy's modern Aegis combat weapons system, which combines space-
age communication, radar and weapons technologies in a single
platform for unlimited flexibility.  These new destroyers will
replace older, less capable ships that are being taken out of
service as the Navy reduces spending while maintaining quality as
part of our overall plan to recapitalize the fleet.  These
versatile ships are designed to operate independently or in
support of aircraft carrier and amphibious operations.

     Stout is equipped to carry Standard surface-to-air missiles
and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from forward and aft
vertical launching systems; two fully automated, radar controlled
Phalanx close-in weapon systems; Harpoon anti-ship missiles; one
five-inch gun and electronic warfare systems.  The ship is 505
feet in length, has a waterline beam of 66 feet and displaces
approximately 8,422 tons fully loaded.  The ship will have a crew
of 26 officers, 24 chief petty officers, and 291 enlisted
personnel.  Commander Carl E. "Gene" Garrett, Jr., U.S. Navy, a
native of Kerr County, Texas, will be the ship's commanding
officer.