November 7, 2009
Commissioning Ceremony
This Memorial Miler had the honor and privilege to attend the November 7, 2009 commissioning ceremony for the USS New York in New York City at the Intrepid Museum on Pier 86! It was a very emotional ceremony and I was glad I was on hand with my wife Susan and the many other families who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center attacks to see the commissioning of the Navy and Marines newest amphibious assault ship.
Built with 7½ tons of World Trade Center steel salvaged from the fallen Twin Towers, she officially went into active duty, becoming the Navy's newest warship - and a proud symbol of fortitude.
As the command rang out: "Bring the ship to life!", I got a lump in my throat as the crew members in their dress blues ran into position and stood at attention along the rails, the radar antennas began to revolve, black smoke poured from three stacks, sirens blared and the whistle blew, she became an official US Navy Warship!
Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave young crew members of the USS New York, and we wish her “Fair Winds and Following Seas”.
The Ship's Crest
- Seven rays of sunlight signify the crown atop the Statue of Liberty and the seven seas.
- Central focus placed on the Twin Towers and the bow of the ship, forged from Twin Towers steel.
- Breastplate of the phoenix bears the colors of first responders from the New York Police Department, New York Fire Department, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
- Blood drops represent the fallen.
- Three stars for those earned by the battleship USS NEW YORK (BB34) in World War II at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and North Africa.
From the NY Daily News (11-08-09):
"The New York will be a visible testament to our resilience," said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus as the first watch was set and hundreds of sailors and Marines ran onto the decks of the ship, a tradition signaling the official commissioning of the vessel.
Cmdr. Curt Jones, a native New Yorker, took command during an emotional ceremony at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum attended by more than 6,000 people, including Secretary of State Clinton, Gov. Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg.
"There is a lot of emotion that is associated with this ship for all of us," Jones said. "The steel that is in the bow of the ship, that motivates us literally every day in what we do."
The ship, which has a crew of about 360 sailors, will be docked at Pier 88 until Thursday, when it heads to its home port at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia.
"This ship has been the product of a lot of hard work," Paterson said. "It is not just named the New York - it IS New York."
Clinton said the New York will help the nation heal, more than eight years after the World Trade Center attack. "In that steel, burned but unbroken, lives the spirit we saw on 9-11," she said. "Sometimes our pain can lead us to purpose."
Mike Petters is the president of Northrop Grumman, which built the ship in Avondale, La. "We needed this ship," Petters said. "New York needed this ship. And America needed this ship."
For Carl Scheetz, a firefighter with Rescue 1 in Hell's Kitchen, the ship is a reminder of the city's strength. "To me it's a show of resiliency to the whole tragedy that happened," he said. "The crew members are great. I met a Marine and went to say 'Thank you' to him. He said, 'No, sir, thank you very much.' "We have a lot in common," Scheetz said.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/11/07/2009-11-07_uss_new_york_comes_to_life.html#ixzz0WJVuaFOn
Commission Web site: worth a visit!
http://www.ussny.org/commissioning.php
The bow stern of the USS New York - Built with 7½ tons of World Trade Center steel salvaged from the fallen Twin Towers!
