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| USS New York Christened - Built in Part with 911 Steel |
| 2008-03-02 |
| This is from the Times-Picayune that Fred doesn't publish. The memory of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York will always be part -- a literal part -- of the Navy's latest ship to carry the name USS New York, which was christened Saturday in Avondale. You guys remember that attack, don't you? It was in all the newspapers at the time, not counting the NYT. The bow stem of the $1 billion amphibious transport dock ship contains 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the rubble of the World AQ2Trade Center. Yeah, but from here on out we're just gonna build them from Obama's speeches, or from leftover copies of Hillary's healthcare plan. A crowd of 4,000 watched the elaborate ceremony. The VIPs in the front sections included New York firefighters, octogenarian veterans who served on a World War II battleship also named New York, and Northrop Grumman, government and military officials. World War II? Wasn't that, like, a million years ago? The ship is massive: Its length -- 684 feet -- is nearly twice that of a football field, including end zones. Its height rivals a 10-story building. Thus making it nearly as big as Hillary's ambition, which is really saying something. The fifth in a new class of warships designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists, it can carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Just in case the sheer power of Obama's rhetoric isn't enough. AQ1: "Achmed, President Obama just called you an old meany pants" AQ2: "Pfft." AQ1: "And there's a battalion of Marines outside." AQ2: "Holy shit!!" Above a gray arrow representing the ship's bow were two gray vertical bars representing the twin towers of the World Trade Center. With that, red, white, and blue streamers shot into the air and the Navy Band launched into a medley honoring every arm of the U.S. military, including "Anchors Aweigh" for the Navy. I didn't know the Ohio State band was in town again. Most of Saturday's ceremony was devoted to the city of New York and the events of 9-11. Among the guests of honor was a group of New York firefighters who, after Hurricane Katrina, spent months fighting fires here alongside the New Orleans Fire Department. Thank you, NYFD. As the actual christening approached, Abigail Foret, 8, stood near the hull watching closely. "I really wanted to watch the lady break the bottle," said Abigail, who comes from a family of longtime Avondale shipyard workers. And on just this one day, little Abigail gets bragging rights over her friend Muffy, who comes from a long line of investment bankers. Last month, the company sent some of the men and working on "21" to New York to meet families who'd lost loved ones in 2001 and see the memorial that's been established at ground zero. In that group was Rachelle Gaines, 25, a shipfitter. "I work with steel everyday," she said. "But to see it twisted up like that -- you never think it could happen." It did. And it could again. She hopes to make it to New York to see the ship commissioned, tentatively scheduled for September 2009. |
| Posted by:Matt |
| #1 Nevet forget, never forgive, never "understand". |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2008-03-02 21:00 |