Central Oregon Submarine Veterans set to christen model sub in Bend
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Central Oregon Submarine Veterans will host a christening ceremony for its S.S. Redside model submarine on Saturday, March 7. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at the Riverbend Park pavilion in Bend.
The organization, established in 2002, recently expanded its membership to begin a project honoring local service members. The christening celebrates the completion of the S.S. Redside, which was built as a 637 Sturgeon Class Nuclear Fast Attack Submarine model.
The construction of the model served as the first phase of a larger effort to establish the Oregon Submarine Veterans Memorial in the region. Members finished building the 637 Sturgeon Class Nuclear Fast Attack Submarine replica in October 2025.
The below image was taken by KTVZ viewer Larry Cole at the 2025 Veterans Day Parade in Redmond, where the S.S. Redside made its public debut. The model functions as a float and is not designed for use in the water.
The upcoming ceremony follows a naval tradition that dates back to approximately 2500 B.C. While the S.S. Redside is a model rather than a functional vessel, the COSV maintains the christening practice to celebrate the completion of the project and its future use in the organization's mission.
The ceremony is open to the general public, with a special invitation extended to military veterans. The pavilion is located at 799 SW Columbia St. in Bend.
