Events commemorating Gerald Ford Centennial (July 14, 2013) - Grand Rapids Museum, Michigan

from "News Observer" online report and Associated Press (July 14 posting) Two ceremonies in Grand Rapids and a public television documentary broadcast Sunday (7/14/2013) marked the centennial of President Gerald Ford's birth. Ford, born July 14, 1913, represented western Michigan in the U.S. House before Republican President Richard Nixon named him as vice president in 1974 to replace Spiro Agnew. Ford became president with Nixon's own resignation that year but lost the race for a full term in 1976 to Democrat Jimmy Carter. A presidential wreath-laying ceremony was held Sunday afternoon at Ford's tomb. It was followed by the unveiling of a scale model of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the lobby of the Ford Presidential Museum. The $12.8 billion aircraft carrier is under construction and is scheduled to enter the U.S. fleet in 2016.Among those who spoke at the observance was Capt. John Meier, the aircraft carrier's first commanding officer. Under construction since 2009, the 1,110-foot ship will carry 75 planes and a crew of 4,660. Ford's daughter Susan Ford Bales also spoke. Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/14/3029044/sunday-events-honor-president.html#storylink=cpy