In the spirit of never forgetting the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Navy has built three ships dedicated and named after the locations where the 9/11 attacks took place.
The ships, USS New York, USS Arlington, and USS Somerset, each incorporated materials from the sites in honor of the victims and first responders.
USS New York (LPD 21), named in honor of the New York City where the attacks on the World Trade Center occurred, is constructed with 7.5 tons of steel built into the ship’s bow stem that was salvaged from Ground Zero. Built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding at the former Avondale shipyard in New Orleans and delivered in 2010, it was the first of the LPD 17-class ships built to honor of the victims.
“This ship will be a symbol,” said LPD 17-class program manager Capt. Bill Galinis, upon the USS New York’s delivery now nine years ago. “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 next ship, USS Arlington (LPD 24), was delivered in 2012 and is named in honor of Arlington County, Virginia, where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west wall of the Pentagon. Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, it contains a “Tribute Room” that includes a section of I-Beam and remnants from the crash site.
USS Somerset (LPD 25), named in honor Somerset County where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field, was also constructed with 22 tons of steel in the ship’s bow, taken from one of two mining excavators present at the site at the time of the fatal crash.