The US Navy guided missle destroyer Truxtun will be coming to Charleston in a couple weeks for a week long stay, during which the ship will be commissioned.

The Truxtun was built in Pascagoula, Miss, is 510 feet long and weighs 9200 tons. It was named for Revolutionary War hero Thomas Truxtun, who captained the first US Naval ship, the USS Constellation. The Truxtun's home port will be Norfolk, Va.

Charleston was chosen as a reminder that the region is still home to a significant Naval presence, despite the old Navy Base and Shipyard being shut down in the mid 1990's. The Charleston Naval Weapons Station is home to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center and the Nuclear Power Training Command.

The commissioning is scheduled for April 25th, and will take place at the Charleston SC Naval Weapons Station (NWS) located in Goose Creek. Prior to the commissioning at the NWS, the ship will be open to the public April 20 and 21 at the Port of Charleston's passenger terminal downtown, where the public can come and view the ship.

If you are stationed at the Charleston SC Naval Weapons Station (NWS), or will be PCSing to Charleston, and are looking to buy a home in Charleston SC, then you will want to work with a Charleston SC Realtor that specializes in working with military families.

Jeff McIlhenny is a licensed Realtor with Weichert Realtors Palmetto Coast in Mt Pleasant SC and serves the entire Charleston SC real estate market. He can be reached at 843-452-2953 or jeffm@weichertpc.com.