Gov. Heineman Supports Sailors Aboard
Aircraft Carrier with Book Donation

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman announced today that books representing Nebraska authors and photographers will be donated to the library aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, the United States Navy’s newest aircraft carrier. The books will support the 5,000 sailors stationed on the ship following it’s commissioning in 2009.

“I am pleased to be able to share works from Nebraska authors and photographers,” Gov. Heineman said. “This program is a great way to provide reminders of home to the sailors who spend so many months away from their friends and family.” 

Books were selected and donated by Allen Beermann, head of the Nebraska Press Association. A note from the Governor accompanies each book in the selection donated from Nebraska, which includes:

• Black Elk Speaks, by John G. Neihardt
• Collected Short Works 1920 – 1954, by Bess Streeter Aldrich
• Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History, by Ted Sorensen
• Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas, by Mari Sandoz
• Forty Years Against the Tide, by Senator Carl T. Curtis
• Grasping the Ring: Nine Unique Winners in Life and Sports, by Gene A. Budig
• The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic Discovery, edited by Gary E. Moulton
• Local Wonders, by Ted Kooser
• The Natural World, by Thomas D. Mangelsen
• Nebraska: A Photographic Celebration, American & World Geographic publishing
• O Pioneers!, by Willa Cather
• Postcards from Nebraska, by Roger Welsch
• Rainmakers: A Photographic Story of Center Pivots, produced by The Groundwater Foundation
• Restoring the Burnt Child, by William Kloefkorn

The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) will be commissioned next January Norfolk, Va. The State Book Contribution program was organized by the Navy League of the United States and Hampton Roads, which leads the ship's commissioning committee. More about the ship is available at http://www.cvn77.com.