Michelle Obama Heading to Mississippi to Christen Coast Guard Cutter

Michelle Obama will visit Mississippi on Friday, when she'll christen a Coast Guard cutter named after a female officer and talk to personnel working on the BP oil spill disaster.

This is Mrs. Obama's second trip to the Gulf Coast; in July she traveled to Panama City Beach, Fla. -- where she stood on a beach untouched by the underwater oil gusher -- to encourage tourism in the region.

The Mississippi day trip is also her second visit to that state since becoming first lady. Mississippi is statistically the most overweight state in the nation and in March, Mrs. Obama took her anti-obesity campaign to Jackson for a "Let's Move!" event.

On Friday, she'll visit Pascagoula. According to East Wing, here's what's on her agenda:

"The First Lady will perform duties as the ship's sponsor and principal speaker at the christening of the U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752). Stratton is named in honor of Dorothy C. Stratton (1899-2006), the U.S. Coast Guard's first female commissioned officer and director of the SPARS, the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve, during World War II. Mrs. Obama announced last July that she would serve as the ship's sponsor. Prior to the christening, the First Lady will meet with Coast Guard personnel who have been responding to the BP oil spill. More details will be available on this visit next week.

"The ceremony, which will held at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (1000 Jerry Street Pé Highway in Pascagoula), beginning at 10:30 AM. and culminating with the breaking of a bottle across the ship's bow by Mrs. Obama. Stratton is the third of eight National Security Cutters that comprise the Legend class, the most technologically sophisticated class of ship in the history of the Coast Guard. With its 418-foot length and 4,700-ton full load displacement, the NSC is the largest of the new multi-mission cutters."