During the 1981 workup cycle President Ronald Reagan visited '' Constellation '' on 20 August 1981 and proclaimed the carrier " America 's Flagship " while presenting the crew a presidential flag and announcing to the crew : " Let friend and foe alike know that America has the muscle to back up its words , and ships like this and men like you are that muscle . " Under the command of Captain Dennis M Brooks USN '' Constellation '' sailed to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean from October 1981 to May 1982 . In January 1983 , '' Constellation '' entered the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a 13-month complex overhaul , during which the ship 's Terrier missile system was replaced with NATO Sea Sparrow , the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System was added and modifications were made to allow the carrier to operate the new F/A -18 A Hornet strike aircraft . '' Connie '' deployed from February to August 1985 with CVW-14 embarked , marking the first deployment for the F/A -18 . It was during this deployment that the '' Connie '' gained her motto , " Go Ahead Make My Day " , which was painted on the ship 's island ; a direct quote from President Ronald Reagan in response to terrorist threats made against '' Connie '' when she responded to the American hostage crisis of 1985 TWA Flight 847 . For their performance in 1985 , '' Connie '' s crew earned the Meritorius Unit Commendation , and the ship herself received the Secretary of the Navy 's Environmental Protection Award
TWA Flight 847
TWA Flight 847
USS Constellation (CV-64)