The USS New York whose structure includes 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center site visited Ground Zero to Honor those lost on 9/11.
YouTube - USS New York WTC Steel Built Ship - Close up view
On a particularly gray day, the type of gray only achievable in New York City, the
USS New York arrived in grand style, made a brief appearance in Lower Manhattan to offer a twenty one gun salute in honor of the fallen on 9-11, then glided easily upstream to come about near the George Washington Bridge, and then slide into a berth at Pier 88 just across from the
Intrepid Air, Sea, Space museum. The City's
NYC.gov page warned lower-Manhattanites that there would be repetitive loud sounds and not to be alarmed. The ship's construction is a tribute to modern Naval architecture and technology, in terms of amphibious tactical vehicles, it boasts a wide range of impressive structural cues, as well as armaments that make it a formidable opponent. It's maiden voyage in the nautical footsteps of Henry Hudson is also significant for the fact that a section of its nearly 700 foot length is forged partly from 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center site.
In an unprecedented show of hospitality, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg was welcomed aboard to watch the
Yankees trounce the Phillies again last night. Further festivities this morning included an honor guard including pipers and drums from the NYPD, and members from the NY Guard, NY National Guard, and several other branches that all had first responders that rushed to the WTC disaster. Mayor Bloomberg officially welcomed the crew and commanders to NYC this morning after the ship docked.
Veterans and civilians alike showed up
en masse to view and take photos of the Navy's newest addition. Police presence and security was tight, with armed guards at the gates preventing anyone from getting in. On the greenway bike path however, it was clear that a stream of Vietnam era and younger veterans - proudly displaying caps with their theater and ship - were on their way to view the New York.
The ship is capable of carrying a buffet of operational delights, including (but not limited to) MV-22 Ospreys, AH1 SuperCobras, CH-46E Sea Knights, and CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters, along with men and supplies. The aerial vehicles are accompanied by spaces below decks for Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles, and other amphibious assault craft. The sight of the ship is truly one to behold as an advance in the military technology of today: what appear to be smoke stacks are in fact arrays of sensors, with a separate helicopter control deck in the aft portion.
