USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) arrived in New York harbor on Monday, Nov. 2. She became a fighting unit of the United States Navy at a pierside commissioning ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Distinguiished speakers included current Secretary of State and former United States Senator Hillary Clinton, New York Governor David Patterson, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations G. Roughead, Marine Corps Commandant James T. Conway, , Ship's Sponsor Dorothy Hennlein England, New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, along with USS NEW YORK Commanding Officer F. Curtiss Jones, and top executives of the company that designed, built and tested this magnificent ship: Northrop Grumman Corporation and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding of Avondale, Louisiana.

During her 10-day visit to her namesake city and state, USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) was berthed and open for public visiting alongside Pier 88 on Manhattan's west side.

On Thursday, Nov. 12 the only warship with the motto 'NEVER FORGET' emblazoned on her bridgedeck, departs for Atlantic Fleet heaquarters in Norfolk, VA for fulltime duty with the United States Navy Fleet.

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Saturday 26 Sept. 2009 as published in THE DOLPHIN, Groton, Connecticut:
By: MC1(AW) Peter D. Blair 09/17/2009

GROTON, Conn. - As America remembers the nearly 3,000 lives lost Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. Navy prepares to commission the first of three Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD 17-class) ships named for the sites of the 9/11 tragedies, Nov. 7 in New York City.

"This ship will be a symbol," said Capt. Bill Galinis, the LPD 17-class program manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office for Ships in a prior navy news article concerning the Navy's acceptance of the New York. "The Navy and the shipbuilder have worked hand-in-hand to deliver this highly capable warship to the Navy and our nation. It has been a tremendous privilege for all of us who have had an opportunity to participate in the construction of this ship."

The bow stem of USS New York (LPD 21) was constructed with 7.5 metric tons of salvaged steel from the World Trade Center. The primary mission of LPD 17-class amphibious transport dock ships is the transport and deployment of necessary combat and support elements of Marine expeditionary units and brigades.

The ship will embark approximately 720 troops and have the capability of transporting and deploying air cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft as well as expeditionary fighting vehicles (EFV). The ship will also be augmented by helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft MV 22 Ospreys.

These ships will support amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions well into the first half of the 21st century.

USS New York (LPD 21) is the fifth ship of the San Antonio class and is also the sixth naval vessel to be named after the state of New York, the ship's motto is "Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget."

The 9/11 ships of the San Antonio Class (LPD 17) amphibious ships are USS New York (LPD 21), USS Arlington (LPD 24), and USS Somerset (LPD 25).

 

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YESblog, The Internet, Sept. 5: Yankees to Honor Ship and Crew on 9/11 Anniversary

During the home plate ceremony, the Yankees will give special recognition to the USS New York and the ship's crew as well as the commissioning committee during a home plate ceremony. The state-of-the-art stealth ship, whose bow stem includes seven-and-a-half tons of steel recovered from the fallen World Trade Center, is scheduled to be commissioned into the U.S. Navy's fleet on November 7.

Click here to read the full story on their blog

She's on her way. Click to see her squeeze under the Huey P. Long Bridge!

(Video Credit: NOAA)

Look for the Navy's newest amphibious warship USS NEW YORK (LPD 21) to grace the Manhattan skyline as she eases into a Hudson River berth prior to her commissioning on November 7, 2009.

Preceded by a variety of citywide and onboard activities, the ceremony will transform USS NEW YORK (LPD 21) from a newly constructed military vessel to an active component of the United States Navy.

With seven and a half tons of Twin Towers steel welded into her bow, this 21st-century stealth ship will take a piece of New York with her wherever she goes. Her motto, 'Strength Forged through Sacrifice: Never Forget' pledges an undying commitment to freedom's defense.

Pre-game ceremony highlighting some of USS New York crew and important personnel. Color guard performed by first responders to the 9/11 incident and sailors from USS NEW YORK.

WSYR NEW YORK -- Sand Sculpture Simulates New York Stealth Ship

Associated Press, August 21:
With the signature of Cmdr. Curt Jones - inked at precisely 9:11 a.m. CDT Friday - the Navy took delivery of the New York, a $1 billion amphibious vessel with a bow containing 7 1/2 tons of steel salvaged from the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Northrop Grumman Corp. formally turned over the transport dock ship - the fifth in the LPD San Antonio class of ships designed to carry Marines into assault operations - in a ceremony at the company's shipyard along the Mississippi River near New Orleans.

"This ship is a first responder," Jones, who will be captain of the New York, told the crew of about 360 sailors. "Your are first responders. Have no doubt what your mission is."

The ship will leave the yard on Oct. 13 for a commissioning ceremony in New York City on Nov. 7. At that time, it will officially get the name USS New York.

The New York passed its sea trials last month in the Gulf of Mexico, the final step needed before the military took full control.

"You have delivered to us the best LPD ever delivered and perhaps the best ship ever delivered," Jones said to the shipbuilders, several of whom had tears in their eyes.

The ceremonies included a cake cutting and the formal first raising of the U.S. flag.

Construction manager Tommy Barrett was with the New York project all the way, beginning before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005. The yard endured the storm, but construction was stopped for about five weeks until Northrop Grumman could get workers back to the region.

"When 9/11 happened, it was heart felt in the shipping industry," said Barrett, a 33-year shipbuilder. "When they said they wanted to melt down some of the World Trade Center steel and use it in the ship, I definitely wanted to be part of it."

When terrorist hijackers crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, destroying the twin towers and killing nearly 2,800 people, the ship was already on the drawing board. In September 2002, the Defense Department announced the selection of New York as the ship's name to honor those who died in the terrorist attacks, the state and the city.

The Trade Center steel was melted at a mill in Amite, La.

Another construction manager with more than three decades in the industry, Doug Blethen, said he had worked on about 60 ships during his career, but the New York "is the most special of them all."

Jones, of Binghamton, N.Y., said he learned of the Navy's intent to make him captain of the New York - his first command in a 20-year career - about three years ago.

"It was one of those moments when you pinch yourself to make sure you're alive," he said.

The New York, which is 684 feet long, can carry up to 800 combat-equipped Marines. It has a deck from which fighting vehicles can be launched and a flight deck that can handle helicopters and the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

The first four ships in the series - the USS San Antonio, USS New Orleans, USS Mesa Verde and USS Green Bay - are in service. There are four other ships in the class under construction: Somerset and Anchorage at the Avondale yard, and Arlington and San Diego at Northrop Grumman's yard in Pascagoula, Miss.

Arlington and Somerset also carry names connected to Sept. 11: Arlington for the attack on the Pentagon and Somerset for the Pennsylvania county in which United Airlines Flight 93 crashed after being hijacked.

Avondale, LA-Aug. 18...Newly appointed Chairman of the USS NEW YORK Commissioning Committee, Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV (l.), joins Commander F. Curtis Jones, USN (c.) and retired Rear Admiral Robert A. Ravitz (r.), Co-Chairman of the USS NEW YORK Commissioning Committee, before the bow of the USS NEW YORK. The ship's bow stem, its forward edge and the strongest part of the ship, contains 7.5 tons of World Trade Center steel.(Click Here for Press Release)

Northrop Grumman-Built New York (LPD 21) Returns From Successful Acceptance Trials.

(Video Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Click to see her go through sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico!

(Video Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Navy Ship Shows Trade Center Mettle