LETTER: Support for Colorado's submarine from Westside restaurants

LETTER: Support for Colorado's submarine from Westside restaurants

Oct. 20, 2017
A BRAVO ZULU (Navy talk for "well done") to Front Range BBQ and Paravicini's Italian Bistro for their great Westside hospitality and fantastic food in welcoming four sailors from the USS Colorado SSN-788 the week of Oct. 9.
Front Range's "Sloppy Pig" pulled pork sandwich (highlighted on the "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives"

Paravicni's owner/chef Franco Pisani (center), Welling Clark of the USS Colorado Commissioning Committee (left) and waitress Casey (right) stand with four crew members of the USS Colorado (in uniform, left to right): LTJG Anthony Matus (Lieutenant Junior Grade), MMA2 Tristan Newton (Machinists Mate Submarines (Auxillary) Second Class), ITS2 Nicholas Sylvia (Information Systems Technician Submarines Second Class) and ETN2 John Warren (Electronics Technician (Nuclear Power) Second Class).
Sallie Clark photo

TV show), was the hit of Tuesday evening; even filling up the young, ever-hungry sailors.
       Paravicini's Sinatra room was a great location for the four crew and dozen USS Colorado Commissioning Committee members to have a dinner with amazing Italian food; there is good reason MSN selected Paravicini's as the best Italian restaurant in Colorado.
       You can view a video of the crew singing “Anchors Aweigh” at Paravicini's on the USS Colorado Facebook page. The four visiting USS Colorado crew members spent the rest of the week visiting Colorado schools and JROTC units, giving STEM presentations, doing media interviews and visiting businesses.
       The boat is currently undergoing training and shakedown operations. It is the fourth naval vessel to bear the name “Colorado” - the highest honor the U.S. Navy can give to a state and the first since World War II. It is a nuclear-powered

A depiction of the specialized USS Colorado license plate, authorized by the state in 2014.
Courtesy of USS Colorado Commissioning Committee

Block III Virginia Class attack submarine and will be the Navy's most advanced and lethal submarine when it joins the fleet.
       This is the first generation of U.S. submarines built without a propeller. Instead, it uses pump jet technology.
       Our job as the boat's Commissioning Committee is to promote awareness within the state, provide support for the crew, and help organize and raise funds in support of the traditional commissioning events scheduled March 17, 2018.
       For more information on the USS Colorado (and pictures) please visit our website at https://usscoloradocommittee.org.
       To Brian (Front Range) and Franco (Paravicini's) - on behalf of the USS Colorado SSN-788 Commissioning Committee, “WELL DONE!” The crew told us that “if you want to have a great time in Colorado, you have to visit the Westside.” I think you both are going to see more SSN-788 sailors in the future; I did tell them that they have to brush up on their singing.

       Welling Clark

       Editor's note: Clark retired as a Navy lieutenant commander in 1991. He works as a defense consultant, runs a Westside bed-and-breakfast with his wife Sallie and heads the Alliance of the Historic Westside organization.


(Posted 10/20/17; Opinion: Letters)

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