Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords etched her initials into an aluminum plate Wednesday that will be welded onto a combat ship that bears her name.
Giffords, who is still recovering from an assassination attempt on her life that occurred January 2011, will be the only living female whose name will be tied to a U.S. Navy ship, New York Daily News reports.
Giffords husband, retired Navy officer and astronaut Mark Kelly, said he “could not be more proud of Gabby and grateful to the Navy for bestowing this honor on her.”
Kelly said that, like his wife, the ship “will be tough, resilient, and ready to tackle some big challenges.”
According to AL.com, Giffords herself wielded the welding gun that etched her initials in the piece of aluminum, but Jesus Silva lent a helping hand.
Since the assassination attempt, the couple have become advocates for universal background checks and even started a non-profit called Americans for Responsible Solutions.
The USS Gabrielle Giffords is scheduled to hit the waters next August.
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