A Kennewick native has the honor of serving on one of the world’s largest warships, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

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Seaman Abbigail Beardsley is a 2017 South Ridge High School graduate. She joined the Navy just one year ago.

“I joined the Navy because I had the privilege and opportunity to do something where others might not,” said Beardsley. “I take pride in that.”

According to Beardsley, the values required to succeed in the military are similar to those found in Kennewick.

“I learned that no matter the education, status or the money that you have if you're willing to put in work and have good motivations behind that, you're going to get where you want to go,” said Beardsley. “It's always possible.”

The Mighty Ike is 1,092 feet long, longer than three football fields. The ship weighs more than 100,000 tons and its homeport is Norfolk, Virginia.

When the air wing is embarked, the ship has more than 70 fighter attack jets, helicopters, and other aircraft that can take off and land on the carrier at sea.

“We have our Marines, Airmen, and Soldiers overseas,” said Beardsley. “We can't always be with them but we're behind them. We'll be right there to defend them. The most important part is being a good shipmate,” added Beardsley. “The people I've met have filled a role in my life that no relationship previously has. I would do anything and everything for any one of them.”

As a member of the U.S. Navy, Kennewick's Abbigail Beardsley is part of a service tradition keeping our nation safe.

We thank you for your service.

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Hockey is one of the hardest sports to play. Most hockey players will play the sport their entire lives, starting to skate as soon as they can walk. Even with all that dedication, the likelihood a player cracks an NHL roster is astronomically low. The WHL is a high-tier developmental league that sees many of its players make it to the show. But for a player who makes it to the WHL or any other junior league, the chances of them reaching the NHL is still only 5%. These former Tri-City Americans are those elite few who have made the jump.

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