It 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'
6 comments:
awesome ship. I loved going to NYC and seeing Ground Zero upclose and in person. It was something I will never forget!
Wow - I did not know that - thank you so much!
Good use for the metal! I know I heard a lot of talk about putting up pieces of the scrap metal in different places as a memorial to 9/11. I think that would have been wasteful. I think it's great to remember, and what better way than to see that ship and know that it's dedicated to stopping any future events like 9/11. Now that's a memorial!
i was just in NYC a few months ago and saw this ship docked in the harbor. such awe and beauty!
Hi thanks for stopping by my blog today, thought Id return the favor and Im not following ya.
Dang, I was wondering where it was docked now. NY is too far :) haha. good luck with the snow this weekend!
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