USS Cleveland
(LCS-31) Commissioning
Information for USS Cleveland (LPD‑7) Shipmates

Commissioning Date: May 16, 2026, 10am CDT

Cleveland, Ohio

This page is intended to help former USS Cleveland (LPD‑7) crewmembers plan their visit to Cleveland during commissioning week. It is not an official commissioning site and will be updated as details are finalized. The official commissioning site is at: https://events.usscleveland.org. Note: Former LPD-7 crew members SHOULD NOT use the registration link on the events.usscleveland.org site - See the Commissioning Tickets section further below.

LCS-31 will be the fourth ship to bear the name USS Cleveland. This will be the 16th and final Freedom Class Littoral Combat ship. The commissioning is fittingly scheduled for May 16, 2026, in its namesake city, Cleveland, Ohio. The Secretary of the Navy (SecNav) is expected to attend the commissioning ceremony. Should additional dignitaries plan to attend, updates will be shared accordingly.

The ship will leave the shipyard in Marinette, WI and arrive at North Coast Harbor (at the end of East 9th Street,) in downtown Cleveland, OH, on May 9, 2026, at approximately 1pm, with much fanfare. She will moor on the north quay wall, directly behind the Great Lakes Science Center for the week. LPD-7 alumni may participate in the Honor Guard ceremony to be pier-side as the ship pulls into the harbor - Additional guidance will be shared when available.

LCS-31, will remain in port that week, with several planned events taking place, and be commissioned on May 16; then, will depart on May 18. We have been informed that a tour for LPD‑7 alumni may be possible after the commissioning ceremony. Timing and capacity are still being worked through, and information will be shared when details are finalized.

The official public timeline is at: https://www.events.usscleveland.org. The timeline below is a draft tailord to LPD-7 alumni and is subject to change up to commissioning day.

Commissioning Tickets

The event will be free but tickets are required. Persons for whom we have email addresses should have already received invitations and tickets from the Navy's Commissioning Support Team. If we have an email address for you, your invitation will have been emailed to you from support+CLEVELAND31@usnavyceremonies.org; as that is the preferred method. To sit in seats reserved for former LPD-7 crew members, do not sign up through the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation's registration link. Doing so will place you in general seating.

To get on the invite list and be seated with other former LPD-7 crew members:

Make sure you don't already have an invitation or ticket. Read this document for a more detailed view of the RSVP process.
- If you find your invitation or ticket, just follow the instructions.
If you still can't find your invitation or ticket, or you are registering last-minute, follow these steps:
- Send an RSVP email to support+CLEVELAND31@usnavyceremonies.org,
  - Subject: LCS-31 Commissioning RSVP for LPD-7 Guest,
  - include your contact information and the full names of each attendee, then
  - Watch your email for a reply.
If you haven't already let Bob Bassett know you are coming, use this link (https://forms.gle/dHYL97SV9TMAcrww8) to provide some information. If you already filled out the form, please don't fill it out again.
Finally, fill out this survey (just once please) to get information on activies and provide your input so we can do some planning.

Parking

Parking will be limited in the immediate area of the ship. As such, on the day of commissioning, the Navy will designate a specific parking location and run shuttle busses to and from the ship. More specific information, including parking fees, will be included with your ticket.

Hotel

For those looking for lodging, a hotel option recommended by a shipmate offers a group rate for LPD‑7 alumni:

Best Western Airport Inn & Suites Cleveland
16501 Snow Road, Cleveland, OH 44142
(216) 267‑9364

To receive the $89.99 + tax group rate (standard king or two‑queen), call the hotel directly and mention the “USS Cleveland (LPD‑7)” alumni group. Please do not book online or through the Best Western 800 number, as the group rate is only available by calling the hotel’s direct line.

The hotel will have ample parking and offers airport shuttle service. Pets are not allowed; service animals are accepted.

Attendees will need to arrange their own travel to and from the hotel and downtown. The distance is not very far for a fare ride and there will also be several people present that will have a car.

Volunteer Opportunities

Join fellow LPD‑7 alumni as volunteers for the USS Cleveland commissioning—meet the crew, help the week run smoothly, and be part of something memorable. Come alone or form a small team. Flexible shifts available. Volunteers receive ID passes and a Commissioning T‑shirt. For details, click here.

Scheduled Activities

If you are coming to Cleveland on or before May 15, please fill out this form (just once please). You may have seen this same form in an email. If so, there is no need to fill it out again.

Honor Guard, Friday, May 9 - Former LPD-7 crewmembers may participate in an honor guard as the USS Cleveland (LCS-31) arrives in North Coast Harbor. You can purchase a flag to keep for $31.00. Please do not register for Honor Guard online. Find contact information and details here.

Downtown Cleveland Walking Tour, Thursday (Morning), May 14 - Tim Daley will be organizing a guided walking tour of downtown Cleveland. It's about a mile total walk (more a stroll), stopping often along the way. We will start out at City Hall, then proceed to Huntington Park to view the War of 1812 Monument, then onto the Cuyahoga County Veterans memorial and Soldier Sailor statue. We will end the tour with lunch (Pay your way) at the Flat Iron Grill. This is an informal, optional activity and is not part of the official commissioning schedule.

Get-Together w/ a Live Band Performing, Friday Evening, May 15 , 7pm - Operation Cleveland Commission-Ex '26.

The Solid Gold Lounge is just a few miles from the hotel. We will gather, have some food, share sea stories and listen to some live music featuring one of our own LPD-7 alumni. (Brian) Keith Adams & The Sundown Band has been a staple of the Ohio tri‑state music scene for more than 30 years. This five‑member group delivers crowd‑pleasing versatility—country, classic rock, Motown, bluegrass, blues, and more. Their shows blend faithful tributes to the originals with unforgettable new memories for every audience.

We are asking for $15 per person to help us fund this gathering.

Commissioning, Saturday May 16, 10am - Official commissioning invitations and tickets should be in hand. If not, see the Commissioning Tickets section above. Former LPD-7 crewmembers will be seated together.

Ship Tours. Ship tours will be available first-come, first-served after the commissioning ceremony on May 16 — There is no pre-registration for these tours but, hopefully, we will be close enough for a good spot in line. Other tours are available between May 10 and May 14. Those require pre-registration and are filling up fast. Go here to pre-register.

Armed Forces Appreciation Night at Progressive Field, May 16. Gates open at 4:30pm, for a 6:10pm start.

Battle of Ohio - Guardians vs. Reds. The Cleveland Guardians will have a special Armed Forces night on the evening after the commissioning with discounted tickets. We expect that members from both crews will be attending the game. It is possible that the Guardians announcers will call us out during the game.

This offer is available up to 48 hours before the game or until reserved tickets are no longer available. To purchase your tickets, go to https://tinyurl.com/CLEAFN26 or scan the QR code on the flyer to the right, enter code: AFN26, choose your seats, then pay.

Other Things to Do in Cleveland

There is a Zach Bryan concert on May 9. You can use this link to look for cheaper ticket prices. Or you can use this Ticketmaster Link.

You will also be close to:

Great Lakes Science Center - Military discount option of 50% off up to four tickets.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - If you can muster a group of 15 or more tickets onto an order, the price drops to group pricing from $39.50 a ticket to $28 a ticket. There is a Military discount option of $5 off a ticket, so your best option would be the group pricing unless there are not enough people.

NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame - Just down the road in Canton, OH. We are working on an organized trip for Friday morning, May 15.

Playhouse Square - Individual tickets may be purchased on the website. For group sales, call 216-640-8600 (M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Recommended Restaurants

These are just provided as information only. As of now, we are not planning any organized visits to these locations but attendees are welcome to organize a gathering on your own.

Flat Iron Cafe - A Cleveland favorite. Located in The Flats district. This will be on our walking tour on May 14.

Good Company (Battery Park) - 1200 West 76th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44102, 216.331.0318 - Get the "Gabagool" sandwich. Featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

Roosters (Canton, OH) - 4335 Dressler Rd, Canton, OH 44718, (330) 546-7001 - If you visit the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton... Excellent wings!

USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation (USSCLF)

The USSCLF has an events section of their website at https://events.usscleveland.org, where they are posting official updates for the public. Former LPD‑7 crew members may see additional activities announced during commissioning week; these will be communicated separately.

There will be two activities this year for LPD-7 alumni: This commissioning in Cleveland, OH, and the regular 2026 Reunion, which is scheduled to take place in Albuquerque, NM, later, in October 2026. Those on the email list should get periodic notifications as information for each event becomes available.

This page will be updated as additional details are confirmed.

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USS Cleveland (LCS-31) CommissioningInformation for USS Cleveland (LPD‑7) Shipmates