The USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center by melting it down in a foundry in Amite, LA. It was cast into the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up. It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We' re going to be back."

It is the fifth of a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines (1,000 Brave Service Men) to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.
The ship's motto? "Never Forget"

The Christening celebration will begin with musical performances at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale, Louisiana.

Message edited 1/26/2008 10:41:48 PM.

Re: The USS New York

That's awesome.

Anchors away, boys.

Signed,
extremely proud daughter of a career military man

Re: The USS New York

I knew they were building this, but I didn't know when they were going to finish it. Thanks for the update.