RSS Feed MenuThe Navy’s newest vessel, the U.S.S. New York, was commissioned last weekend in New York City, with over 6,000 people in attendance. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock carries seven and a half tons of steel from the World Trade Center in its bow. This physical connection that the ship bears to the attacks of September 11, 2001, heightened the symbolism that was evident at the ceremony.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted that the New York symbolizes “the bravery of the rescuers, the resolve of the survivors, the compassion of this city and the patriotism of this great country.” The vessels’ motto is “Strength Forged Through Sacrifice – Never Forget.”
Clinton was joined by New York Gov. David Paterson as well as several high-ranking Navy and Marine officials, including Navy Secretary RayMabus and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway.
The New York will remain in Manhattan until Thursday of this week, then it returns to its home port at Norfolk and soon after it will be sent on its first mission yet to be determined.
MI-GOPer // Nov 9, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Thank God that George W Bush & Don Rumsfeld had the strength of character and leadership to see this ship through to it’s CHRISTening. This may be the last ship for which it can be said “Patriots built these vessels”. We still need to complete the USS Arlington (named for the VA county where the Pentagon is located) and the USS Somerset (named for the PA county where Flight 93 ended).
If Obama, our Celebrity in Chief, had had to carry out this operation, he’d still be in meetings with David Alexrod trying to gauge public opinion about the name of the ships before letting the real military leaders design the ship. Obama and his Chicago-thug cronies could learn something from the USS New York’s motto: “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.”
I’m wondering if the first naval vessel Obama gets to CHRISTen will be named Sword of Allah or something.
Independent // Nov 9, 2009 at 8:31 pm
The USS Sword of Allah –now there’s an Obama-sponsored ship in the waiting.