Young, Braun Call for Naming Navy Ship After Lugar

Richard Lugar served in public office for all or part of six decades.

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) are introducing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that to name the next unnamed Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer warship after the late Senator Richard Lugar. Braun calls Lugar "a towering figure in Hoosier history, one of the greatest statesmen ever to serve in the U.S. Senate."

Senator Lugar volunteered for the U.S. Navy and served his country as an officer from 1957-1960, including as an intelligence briefer to then Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Arleigh Burke. 

Lugar had many honors including the J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“At a time when nuclear proliferation was civilization’s greatest threat, Senator Lugar helped save the world,” said Senator Young in a news release. “It is fitting that the Navy honor his legacy by naming one of their warships after this dedicated statesman who helped change the course of history.”