By Peter Biello
Wilmington, NC – Wilmington bid farewell to the submarine USS North Carolina yesterday after spending more than a week at the Port of Wilmington for its commissioning this past weekend.
The 140 crew aboard the spent the nearly 10 days leading up to the commissioning of the USS North Carolina touring the Wilmington area.
The submarine took more than six years to build.
Petty Officer Jeremy DeLong helped build the 377-foot sub. He says spending time in Wilmington has been wonderful.
"Everybody in the community had a big, open-arms welcome. Everybody was making sure we were having a good time, and we got to see everything we wanted to see. It was awesome. Proud to be in the Navy. Especially now."
The USS North Carolina is now headed to Norfolk, Virginia. The Navy says it will be deployed late next year.
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