Name/Title
USS Yorktown (CV-10) Christening RibbonsDescription
Christening ribbons for the USS Yorktown (CV-10). Six silk ribbons of red, white, and blue are tied together and embroidered with 'U.S.S. Yorktown CV-10, January 21, 1943' and 'Newport News Naval Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.' in blue and red thread.Use
Christening ribbons were attached to the bottle of champagne used when christening the ship as it left drydock. The bottle of champagne was thrown at the newly christened ship, and the breaking of said bottle was good luck for the ship and its crew.Context
These christening ribbons were attached to the champagne bottle First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, the ship's sponsor, broke across the bow of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) at the christening ceremony on January 21, 1943. During the ceremony, the ship started moving out of drydock prematurely. The First Lady threw the christening bottle at the now moving Yorktown. The bottle bounced back off the aircraft carrier, but Eleanor adeptly caught it, and threw it back once again. This time the bottle broke to the combined laughter and cheers of the crowd.Acquisition
Accession
2022.0015Source or Donor
Battleground Antiques, Inc.Acquisition Method
PurchaseMade/Created
Manufacturer
Newport News Naval Shipbuilding and Dry Dock CompanyDate made
circa 1943Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
EmbroideryLocation
Front of the ribbonsTranscription
U.S.S. YORKTOWN
JANUARY 21, 1943
NEWPORT NEWS
N.N.S. & D.D.CO.Language
EnglishMaterial/Technique
ThreadUpdate Date
October 28, 2024
