GROTON, Conn. (AP) — The USS Oregon has officially joined the U.S. Navy fleet. It marks the first submarine named after the Beaver State in more than a century.

Saturday’s commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton marked the first in-person commission ceremony since 2019, due to the pandemic.

The 377-foot submarine was christened in 2019.

Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney credited the crew with showing up to work every day and doing their jobs despite the unprecedented disruption.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown made the trip to Connecticut for the ceremony. She reminded the crew that compassion and love is at the heart of service.

According to the Navy, USS Oregon is the third U.S Navy ship launched with the name Oregon and first in more than a century.

It is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; delivery of special operations forces; strike warfare; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and mine warfare.