It’s built with 7.5 tons of metal from the World Trade Center.
By Timothy J. Gibbons Story updated at 3:26 AM on Saturday, Mar. 13, 2010
http://jacksonville.com

USS New York Pierside at Mayport

The numbers cut into the ton of steel hanging over the vehicle ramp on the USS New York bear testimony to the symbolism inherent in the giant vessel.

Those figures – the number of uniformed personnel, including police and fire officials and members of the armed services, who died in the terrorist attacks of 9/11- share space on the chunk of metal from the World Trade Center with the ship’s motto: “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.”

The very fabric of the New York, an amphibious transport dock ship, is built from steel from the skyscrapers destroyed that day, with 7.5 tons of metal from the felled twin towers used to make up the vessel’s bow stem.

“It leads us through the water,” said Cmdr. Curt Jones, the commanding officer of the vessel and a native of New York. “It has a very visceral feel for us.”

Two similar ships – the USS Arlington, named in remembrance of the Pentagon attack; and the USS Somerset, named for the Pennsylvania county where American Airlines Flight 93 crashed – are being built with metal from those sites.

Even apart from the symbolism, the New York is an impressive vessel in its own right. Four decks that can accommodate tons of machinery as well as a well deck designed for landing crafts allows the ship to transport 700 Marines and their equipment to wherever they need to go.

“We carry the Marines to the fight,” said Seaman Mike Kolbeck, who helps with loading and unloading vehicles. “That’s what we focus on.”

The ship also carries a suite of self-defense weapons, the reason for its quick visit to Mayport Naval Station. Next week, the New York will head out to sea to test-fire its missiles and guns as it continues to prepare for a 2012 deployment.

It’s too early to say what that deployment will be but because of its large spaces, Jones said, the ship can handle a number of missions, from peacekeeping jobs to handling evacuations.

Since the New York’s commissioning in November in its namesake city, it has also handled another job: Ambassador for the Navy.

About 50,000 people, many with ties to those killed in the World Trade Center, visited the ship when it was in New York, and dignitaries from around the world came for the commissioning.

“It was an international day of loss,” said Erich Schmidt, the ship’s executive officer, said about 9/11. “This ship means something to so many people.”

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-03-13/story/uss_new_york_visits_mayport

Ship’s Bow Contains 7.5 Tons Of Steel From Fallen World Trade Center Towers

POSTED: Friday, March 12, 2010
By www.news4jax.com

MAYPORT, Fla. — The USS New York, which carries the legacy of a critical moment in U.S. history, made a special stop in Mayport on Friday.

The bow of the $1 billion ship contains 7.5 tons of steel from the fallen towers of the World Trade Center.

“That area of the ship really runs from just below the water line up through and literally leads us through the water,” Capt. Kirk Jones said.

The warship, with a crew of 360 sailors, can carry up to 700 Marines and their equipment wherever they need to go, whether to the rescue or in the heart of war.

But the ship also serves as a constant reminder of the soldiers’ call to duty. References to 9/11 are sprinkled throughout the ship, including the names of those who lost their lives.

“We carry the memories of those that were lost on 9/11 with us,” Jones said. “It’s a very visceral feeling for each and all of us. We are very aware of that every day.”

One piece of metal on the ship that was taken from the World Trade Center site has the ship’s motto carved into it, reading, “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never Forget.”

For the Marines who serve aboard the USS New York, they never will.

“I have a number of crew members that joined because of 9/11,” Jones said. “I have others that lost family members.”

When the ship was commissioned in November 2009 in Manhattan, 55,000 people were invited on board, all of who had some connection to the World Trade Center attacks.

The USS New York will remain at Mayport testing weapons until Monday, when it will return to its homeport in Norfolk, Va.

Posted by News 4 Jax at http://www.news4jax.com/news/22822252/detail.html#

A Casual Fundraising Evening with
Best-Selling Author, Combat Veteran, and Candidate for
the Republican Nomination for Congress, North Carolina 7th District
Ilario G. Pantano
Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Place: Studio 100 Bar, Residence Inn by Marriott – Times Square
1033 Avenue of the Americas at 39th Street
NO ADMISSION CHARGE. Complimentary appetizers and discounted cash bar.
Campaign contributions gratefully accepted.
ABOUT ILARIO G. PANTANO AND THIS EVENT
Ilario G. Pantano is a New York native who now lives in, and wants to represent in the
U.S. Congress, North Carolina’s 7th District. A Marine veteran of combat tours in the Middle East and Europe, Ilario wrote a best_selling
book, Warlord: No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy, about his experiences, including a false accusation of murder
following a combat shooting of two Iraqi insurgents, a charge that was dropped. Among other things, he has
worked on Wall Street, been a small business owner, and served as a Sheriff’s Deputy in New Hanover County, NC.
This is a casual event where guests will have the opportunity to mingle with Ilario and each other. You also will
hear Ilario’s views on how Democrats and Republicans alike bear the blame for our current crisis of confidence in
Washington, and his plan to “Promote job creation, protect the homeland, and preserve conservative values
in government.”

www.PantanoForCongress.com