USS New York Heads for the Big Apple from Louisiana

The USS New York is a warship built out of steel leftover from the World Trade Center. It was named in honor of the 911 tragedy.
USS New York Heads for the Big Apple from Louisiana
In this file handout photo, workers pour steel, recycled from the World Trade Center, into a mold, which will form the bow stem of the Amphibious Transport Dock ship USS New York at Amite, Louisiana. USS New York set sail from Louisiana to New York City t (George Trian/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
10/13/2009
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/uss_new_york_2492973.jpg" alt="In this file handout photo, workers pour steel, recycled from the World Trade Center, into a mold, which will form the bow stem of the Amphibious Transport Dock ship USS New York at Amite, Louisiana. USS New York set sail from Louisiana to New York City t (George Trian/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)" title="In this file handout photo, workers pour steel, recycled from the World Trade Center, into a mold, which will form the bow stem of the Amphibious Transport Dock ship USS New York at Amite, Louisiana. USS New York set sail from Louisiana to New York City t (George Trian/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1825777"/></a>
In this file handout photo, workers pour steel, recycled from the World Trade Center, into a mold, which will form the bow stem of the Amphibious Transport Dock ship USS New York at Amite, Louisiana. USS New York set sail from Louisiana to New York City t (George Trian/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
NEW YORK—Eight years after the September 11 attack on the twin towers in New York City a staunch new defender has emerged.

Named in honor of the heroes of the September 11th tragedy, the USS New York is a warship built out of steel left over from the wreckage of the World Trade Center attack.

On Oct. 13 the ship set sail from its dock in New Orleans to New York City for its commissioning ceremony.

The USS New York’s crew consists of 360 sailors and three marines and has a very simple goal in mind: take the symbolic remains of the September 11th tragedy and use them in fighting terror across the globe.

“This new class of ships will project American power to the far corners of the Earth and support the cause of freedom well into the 21st century,” said Secretary of the Navy Gordon England. “From the war for independence through the war on terrorism, which we wage today, the courage and heroism of the people of New York has been an inspiration. USS New York will play an important role in our Navy’s future and will be a fitting tribute to the people of the Empire State,”

The USS New York is a landing platform dock that transports, lands, and supports different military personnel during amphibious warfare. The USS New York can sail at up to twenty two knots and aids in deploying different air and sea craft during warzone combat. The ship is also equipped with two Bushmaster II 30 mm guns fore and aft and two missile launchers fore and aft.

The USS New York is the sixth ship to hold the New York name with the original ship dating back to 1776. The last ship to hold the New York name was constructed on September 11th 1911, exactly 90 years before the 9/11 attacks. Because state names are usually reserved for submarines, Governor Pataki wrote a letter to England, petitioning for the name to be given to a surface ship for honoring the lives lost on Sept. 11 and fighting the war on terror.

“The USS New York will ensure that all New Yorkers and the world will never forget the evil attacks of September 11, and the courage and compassion New Yorkers showed in response to terror,” said Governor Pataki.

“I want to thank Secretary England for taking this extraordinary step and agreeing to pay special tribute to all New Yorkers by giving our name to a ship that will play an important role in the war on terror,” the Governor said.