The Pillars Hotel in Fort Lauderdale is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a reception for the officers and spouses/significant others of the USS JASON DUNHAM during the festivities associated with the ship’s commissioning.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, October 15, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ — On November 9, 2010 The Pillars Hotel in Fort Lauderdale will be hosting a private reception for the officers and guests of the USS JASON DUNHAM in conjunction with the events surrounding the ship’s commissioning.

The USS JASON DUNHAM is the Navy’s most advanced Arleigh Burke Class, Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer and is named after heroic United States Marine Corporal Jason Dunham who sacrificed his life by using his helmet to cover a hand grenade dropped by an insurgent. His spontaneous action saved the lives of two fellow Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom in April 2004. Jason sustained serious injuries from the blast and died eight days later.

As a result of his heroic deed Marine Corporal Dunham received the first Marine Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom and became the first Marine to receive the medal since the Vietnam War. The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is awarded to members of the armed forces who distinguish themselves at the risk of their life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy.

The commissioning on November 13 is expected to draw thousands to Port Everglades following a week of events and activities for the crew and their families. The last time a ship was commissioned in Port Everglades was in 2005 and drew a crowd of 5,000. It is anticipated that this commissioning will draw an even larger crowd of patriotic Americans when they learn the story behind this ship’s name.

“The community recognizes the courage and service of our forces and we at The Pillars are very pleased to support this important celebration,” says Pillars owner Michael Landry.

The Pillars Hotel is Fort Lauderdale’s premier boutique hotel. The property is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) and a Conde Nast Johansen selected hotel. Ideally located right on the Intracoastal Waterway, and only a few short steps from the beach, The Pillars offers its guests an exceptional level of individual service and luxury, reminiscent of the finest in European boutique inns.

By Robert Nolin, Sun Sentinel
The deadline is approaching to apply for an invitation to attend the commissioning of the USS Jason Dunham, a new destroyer to be officially inducted into the Navy during a Nov. 13 ceremony at Port Everglades.

The Navy expects more than 3,000 to attend the ceremony welcoming the 510-foot ship and its 380-member crew to active duty. The vessel is on its way to Port Everglades from Bath, Maine, where it was built and christened.

Applications to attend must be received no later than Oct. 15. The application form may be found at http://www.jasondunhamuss.com. Prospective attendees must submit their names and addresses to the Navy via the website. They will receive an invitation in the mail requesting further personal information so they can be screened before getting clearance to enter the port.

The new ship was named after Jason Dunham, a Marine corporal who gave his life to save his comrades. The upstate New York native threw his helmet and his body on a grenade during a firefight in Karabilah, Iraq, in April 2004. The action saved the lives of two fellow Marines, but Dunham died eight days later. He was 22.

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The Associated Press
October 7, 2010

BATH, Maine — A Navy destroyer named for Medal of Honor recipient Jason Dunham has departed Maine’s Bath Iron Works.

The 510-foot warship sailed down the Kennebec River and into the Atlantic on Wednesday. It’s en route to Fort Lauderdale, where it’ll be commissioned next month.

The Aegis destroyer bears the name of the Marine from Scio, N.Y., who died after covering an exploding grenade in 2004 to protect his comrades in Iraq. The young corporal who threw his Kevlar helmet and his body onto the grenade became the first Marine since the Vietnam War to receive the Medal of Honor.

Two more destroyers in the same class are under construction in Bath. One of them bears the name of another Medal of Honor recipient, Michael Murphy, who died in Afghanistan.

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