 let's hear him about the commissioning on october eighteenth the crowd of three thousand was on hand at norfolk virginia for the commissioning of the u s s arkansas as guests were ushered to their seats the musical touring company up with people perform setting the mood for what was about to follow the scene of the ship sponsor betty bumpers signal the arrival of the official party among those present congressman burl anthony ed bethune and john paul hammersmith and the state's chief executive bill clinton