From the Feb. 4, 2015, Chicago Tribune "Christening near for nuclear sub named for the state" by Katherine Skiba. It used to be that only battleships and ships-of-the-line were designated to be named after states. But now, that honor has gone to submarines.
The $2.7 billion nuclear submarine USS Illinois is currently under construction at Groton, Connecticut and is expected to be christened June 27th of this year.
Its captain is Commander Jess Porter, who brought some of the crew to Chicago in early February for two days of public appearances to acquaint Illinoisians with the ship and to build a "fan club" for it.
First Lady Michelle Obama is the ship's sponsor and will break the ceremonial bottle of Champagne across the bow on June 27th at the ship's christening. However, the ship is not officially accepted into Navy service until it is commissioned.
--Cooter
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