Welcome USS New York
No one will ever forget where they were on September 11, 2001. Those images are forever burned into our collective memory. But, true to our American spirit, we grieved for a while, then picked ourselves up and began to move forward. We will never forget the past.
It is in this spirit that the USS New York came about. Former New York governor George Pataki contacted the Secretary of the Navy and suggested the name for the new San Antonio class of amphibious transport dock ship. He saw it as a way to honor the victims of 9/11.
What makes this ship unique is that part of her bow is made up of steel from the World Trade Center. While in New Orleans being built, the USS New York also survived Hurricane Katrina.
Some may say that the USS New York is jinxed. I think she exemplifies the fight in all of us to keep going no matter what the odds.
On October 13, the USS New York set sail for NYC for her commissioning on November 7th. Now I am not one for military history, but I think seeing that ship commissioned will fill me up with a sense of nationalism not felt since that tragic day in September.
In addition to the USS New York, there are two more ships being built to help fight the war on terror. They are the USS Arlington, named after the city where the Pentagon is located and the USS Somerset, named for the county in Pennsylvania where American Airlines flight 93 went down.
We can all feel proud knowing that these ships, named after such meaningful locations in our recent history, will serve us well.