New: Michelle Obama Visits Rhode Island

New: Michelle Obama Visits Rhode Island

First Lady Michelle Obama will be in Rhode Island to visit Electric Boat at Quonset Point. She will take part in a keel-laying ceremony for the future submarine USS Illinois.

During the ceremony, the First Lady will write her initials on a metal plate and then a welder will transcribe them. That plate will be mounted on the sub at a later date.

Mrs. Obama was named as a ship's sponsor by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. As she is from Illinois, Mabus said she was a natural selection to be sponsor. The sub is expected to join the Naval fleet in late 2015.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The First Lady joins Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton as sponsors of military submarines. It's believed the sponsor's spirit and presence can guide the ship throughout its life.