CLEVELAND — Lake Erie looked different over Memorial Day weekend. The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, a Littoral Combat Ship, docked in the city from May 27 through May 31. 

What You Need To Know

  • The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul docked in Cleveland over the weekend

  • This is a sister ship of the USS Cleveland that is currently being built

  • The USS Cleveland will likely be commissioned in 2024

The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul is a sister ship of the USS Cleveland that is being built in Marinette, Wisconsin. The USS Cleveland will be the 16th and the final copy of the type of ship. 

Mike Dovilla is a part of the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation. Their goal is to support the ship throughout her building process, service time and after she’s retired.

“The cool thing about our ship, as I mentioned, the 4th USS Cleveland, but the first Cleveland to ever come to Cleveland, much less to be commissioned here in her namesake city,” Dovilla said. 

The USS Cleveland commission date is not yet set, but it most likely will be in 2024 in Cleveland. 

Cleveland is not a port city like Norfolk or Pearl Harbor. Although, there are many veterans who lived or are currently living in Cleveland. The ship will be a symbol of patriotism for them and the rest of Cleveland’s citizens.

"[The ship] will be an ambassador for this city all over the world,” Dovilla said. 

Dovilla hopes the USS Cleveland gives Cleveland a sense of pride.

“We’re really trying to stitch the DNA of this city and the people of this city into the crew of our ship,” Dovilla said.