Anchors Aweigh for the Ronald Reagan

The ship’s whistle blared and warplanes streaked overhead Saturday as the Navy commissioned its newest aircraft carrier, the Ronald Reagan, and former First Lady Nancy Reagan told the crew to “bring her to life.”

The carrier, nearly 1,100 feet long and standing 20 stories above the waterline, is the first to be named for a living president. The flight deck covers 4.5 acres.

The former president, 92 and ailing with Alzheimer’s disease, didn’t attend the ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station.

“Today, we send forth a great American ship bearing a great American name,” Vice President Dick Cheney told the crowd.

“Something tells me any potential adversary of the United States will take note when word arrives that the USS Ronald Reagan has been sighted off shore,” Cheney said.

Nancy Reagan walked to a podium on the deck of the ship, waved to the cheering crowd on the pier below and said: “I only have one line, so: ‘Man the ship and bring her to life.’ ”

Sailors replied “Aye, aye, ma’am,” then raced aboard the ship that was decked out in red, white and blue as a band played “Anchors Aweigh.”

The Reagan, expected to serve the Navy for more than 50 years, will be based in San Diego and be home to 6,000 sailors and carry more than 80 aircraft. With two nuclear reactors, the carrier can travel faster than 30 knots and operate for 20 years without refueling.