Ready for launching, the America nestled in her cradle of timbers and steel thicky spread with 46,000 lb. of stearine, tallow and grease. On the morning of August 31 a crowd of 30,000 watched, cheered while Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt swung a champagne bottle against the prow, cried: "I christen thee America". As whistle blew, the ship rode down its ways to meet the water. This launching, declared President Roosevelt by letter, "is one of the most important events to take place in the world this year."
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images and info provided by the LIFE Magazine / LIFE Magazine International / LIFE Magazine Atlantic ARCHIVE from the Zetu Harrys Collection
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