"Never Forget"

Posted By Karla Lofgren Davis, 02/07/09

And here she is, the USS NEW YORK, made from the World Trade Center.

 

So went the article that was sent to me as a forward. At first I thought this was a tasteless hoax, since I had heard nothing about it from the media. But when I looked it up on Wikipedia I found some very interesting information about this very real ship. Read on . . .

 

The USS New York was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.
 
It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. 
 
Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in  Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.'
 
Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.'
 
The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'

 

 

For more information and some striking coincidences…read this from Wikipedia:

 

PCU New York (LPD-21), is the fifth ship in the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.  The ship was designed to deliver a fully-equipped battalion of 700 marines. The ship is the first to be fully designed from the CAD-screen up to support all three of the Marines' primary mobility capabilities – Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), Landing Craft, Landing Craft Air Cushioned Vehicle, and the MV-22 Osprey.

 

Shortly after September 11^th, 2001, Governor of New York George E. Pataki wrote a letter to Secretary of the Navy Gordon England requesting that the Navy bestow the name USS New York on a surface warship involved in the War on Terror in honor of September 11^th victims. In his letter, the Governor said he understood state names are currently reserved for submarines, but asked for special consideration so the name could be given to a surface ship. The request was approved August 28, 2002.

 

Twenty-four tons of the steel used in its construction came from the rubble from the World Trade Center, aside from a small amount preserved for posterity. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down at Amite Foundry and Machine in Amite, Louisiana to cast the ship's bow section. It was poured into the molds on September9th, 2003. With seven tons melted down and cast to form the ship's "stem bar" — part of the ship's bow. The shipyard workers reportedly treated it with "reverence usually accorded to religious relics", gently touching it as they walked by. One worker actually delayed his retirement after 40 years' work in order to be a part of the project.

 

On September 9^th, 2004, the Secretary of the Navy announced that two of her sister ships will be named Arlington and Somerset, in commemoration of the places two of the other planes used in the attack came down: Somerset County, Pennsylvania and Arlington, Virginia.

 

The contract to build New York was awarded to Northrup Grumman Ship Systems of New Orleans in 2003. New York was under construction in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina.  

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Comments

[Linda Strickland]

Never forget.......We Americans are a people to contend with. From shore to shore different in many ways. We are held together with the threads of our history. With the flying of our flag being whipped in the wind of God's blue sky we begin to cry. We know in our hearts that flag has been washed in the blood of Americans all over the world. For this reason I will chant USA..USA..USA until the day I die

[Mike Roberts]

Good for you Linda. We should all be aware of our responsibility to continue the works of our PARENTS as they brought us through some tough years. It seems every generation has its identifying TRIALS and TRIBULATIONS, theirs being WW II, ours being NAM, our children NOW being DESERT STORM, IRAQ and AFGANISTAN. Our parents, we and our children have and will prevail just as the FOUNDERS of OUR AMERICA. As long as we stick together, TRUST in GOD and DEFEND the goodness of the AMERICAN PEOPLE we will survive AGAINST ALL ODDS and place in the little hands of our GRANDCHILDREN the keys to the greatest human experience and beautiful land ever created by OUR LORD !

[Linda Strickland]

Well worded Mike. So true. My grandson is now in N.C. about to leave for desert training in Utah. After one year of college he joined the Marines ( O.K. John don't yell). I asked him why, his reply was, " I want to make a difference". Isn't that just like an American! At this point in our life all we can do is pray and vote. Linda

[John Echoff]

Linda, please permit me to congratulate you on the influence you had on your grandson, I'm sure your unwavering love of our wonderfully blessed country was a source consideration when he made his decision. My only regret is that I am now too old (according to the reg's) and busted up to stand beside him. I assure you I will keep him in my prayers. We Marines have a dedicated line to the man upstairs, it's manned by those who paid the price for our freedom all thru our history.

Semper Fi

[Linda Strickland]

Mike, John, and buffalos

Looking back over our time on this earth we are a generation that has had it pretty good. I know there have been many hardships we have experienced but we made it and living in a country like America has allowed us to accomplish our dreams. Remember to vote in November. Linda

[Mike Roberts]

Good morning Linda ! You are certainly correct. We are truly blessed to have been born in this land of free people. We must remember those folks, like your grandson and his comrades, who will defend and have defended our unalienable right to be FREE. Over the years we have become lazy and perhaps forgotten OUR ROLE in governing this PRECIOUS FREEDOM of ours. We must remain diligent and active in the process of government, lest it rules us rather than the opposite.

This SPECIAL November 2nd calls for our attention to that DUTY by understanding the responsibilities we share ! Being wary, informed and promoting an honest VOTE by EVERYONE are our challenges and should be given a best effort for very good reason !

[John Echoff]

Linda, Mike, I pray every day for the safety of our troops. I get tears in my eyes every time the media cites another service member has paid for our freedom. Regardless of your political persuasion, please VOTE, if we don't vote, then someone may get the idea that we don't need to vote and deny us that right. Remember to old saying, Freedom is not free!

[Linda Strickland]

"Meet at the old mill, we ride at dawn"................to the voting booth November 2,2010.

[Mike Roberts]

GREAT EXPRESSION Linda, I can picture OUR GANG of buffaloes, riding across the old " mill bridge " in the early morn, with dew glistening on the grass, weeds and trees, aside the brook turning the grist mill. WHAT A PICTURE !
A stearn expression on each face, " WE RIDE TO THE VOTE for FREEDOM " is the WAIL heard from each individual as they spurn their steed forward. No matter the outcome " WE " will give our all to REMAIN FREE and CONTINUE OUR HERITAGE !
My, my, how wonderful 'tis to have the FREEDOM to DREAM !
LET"S PASS IT ON, November 2,2010 !

[Linda Strickland]

Mike, you describe our adventure very well! Hope Paul's message rings througout the land. Every vote is important for the future of our children and grandchildren.

[Linda Strickland]

REMEMBER IN N0VEMBER! At the end of the day Nov.2,2010 I will have a cup of hot tea! We are blessed to live in this wonderful country, people all over America are standing up and being counted at the voting booth. God bless the USA.

[Mike Roberts]

Speaking of heroes and freedom puts one in mind of the more laid back days of childhood and the role models we had growing up. Oh if only it were possible to take the grandkiddoes on a journey back in time to visit our heroes ! Check this link :

http://oldfortyfives.com/thoseoldwesterns.htm

Love the " Good Guys " and some of the " Villains " as well !