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Sailors put final touches on JFK for decom

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. — The era of Big John ends Friday, and the Navy is kicking off its final preparations for the decommissioning of the JFK. That means a mix of practicing a grand ceremony while moving massive boxes full of once-vital ship's supplies.

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When the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy was a ship of war, Elevator No. 1 was used to raise aircraft from the hangar up to the flight deck, so the planes could join the fighting. Now, the moving platform the size of a basketball court will be the basis of the stage where dignitaries will preside over the decommissioning ceremony Friday.

With swift turns and perfect placement, dozens of sailors streamed along the edges of the aircraft carrier's expansive flight deck Monday. For the crew, it's practice, practice, practice.

"We'll do a complete ceremonial walk-through, so we'll at least have two full dry runs of the ceremony," said Lt. Cmdr. Dave Scalf, one of the people leading the decommissioning effort.

But Scalf can't spend too much time on Friday's grand ceremony. He's in the middle of what's a mission to him — or a nightmare for most of us — a moving day that lasts six months.

"You'll see people working behind the scenes — behind the ceremonial preparations. You still have equipment and material streaming off the ship," Scalf said. The ship's supplies are being crated and craned to dry land.

The dozens of sailors who live on the ship full time have nine days left to move next door to "the barge," a floating dorm and office building. At the end of march, the JFK will become an unlivable industrial workshop. "We'll slowly to lose our services, simple things like air conditioning — our services to our bathrooms and our showers," Scalf said.

But before these sailors pack it all up, they'll get a final chance to show it all off. So they practice — working to make Friday's final sendoff as bold and impressive as this 38-year-old warship.

"Our intent on Friday is to decommission this ship with pride. And we'll do that," Scalf said.

On Friday, what's now a pier and a parking lot will hold the audience. Between 5,000 and 7,000 people are expected to crowd the pier to say goodbye to Big John. The ceremony is an invitation-only event.

The JFK won't be offering any more public tours because of the tight schedule the crew faces during the coming week.