Monday the USS New York came home, for the first time. Forged from the steel recovered from the Word Trade Center, the New York sailed up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge, turned around, and saled back down to pier 88. Crowds of onlookers watched, including dignitaries and families of survivors.
According to NPR:
Families of September 11th victims as well as first responders gathered at a viewing area where they could see the crew on the deck of the battleship. Shots were fired in three bursts in a 21-gun salute
There are 361 sailors serving aboard the ship at present and about 13 percent are from New York State. There were many requests from Navy personal to serve on the ship. Rosaleen Tallon, who lost her brother, a firefighter, said she was proud the military was using the steel, transforming something twisted and ugly.
After the ceremony, the USS New York headed up the Hudson River toward the George Washington Bridge. An official commissioning ceremony will take place Saturday. It will remain in New York until after Veterans day and will then go to Norfolk, Va. for about a year of crew training and exercises
Click here to see a video of the making of the USS New York and her sister ships. It is truly amazing to see this ship arise from the ashes.
