A U.S. warship built with steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center sailed into New York harbor just after sunrise yesterday greeted by hundreds of onlookers. The U.S.S. New York and its naval crew stopped alongside Ground Zero to fire a 21-gun salute honoring those who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York. Relatives of the victims, first responders, and hundreds of onlookers gathered as the ship arrived in the city. It is to be officially commissioned on Saturday.
The ship’s bow contains 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center, as well as images of the Twin Towers in its stern. Almost 15 percent of the crew is from New York state.
Members of New York’s Police, Fire and Ambulance services saluted the ship as the New York came to a stop and fired its guns.
Many came here to remember the events of September 11, 2001.
Grace Crowley and Peter Capretta folded a flag to remember fallen friends. “People need to remember everyday, and they need to teach their children,” Crowley said.
Bill Jennings, a veteran, says he thinks it is fitting that the steel from the World Trade Center ruins is now being used to defend America.
“Knowing that there are 7 tons, nearly 8 tons of steel, from that happening, from that day makes me proud,” he said.
The USS New York sailed all the way from Louisiana, taking 2 weeks to reach Manhattan.
David Sanderson inspected the ship for the Navy before it set sail and said those who built the ship knew it was a special project.
“We handled the steel like kids with kitten gloves. It was really neat,” David said. “You could just feel the sense of pride in everybody that built the ship.”
The ship that bears the city’s name will be open to the public for several days. (Source: VOA)
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It’s disgusting that they used the steel to make a WAR ship. Why not something useful, like the infrastructure for housing, or a school facility, perhaps a hospital. I’m sure there are inventive, peaceful minds in this country who could find a better use for it. America is the new Sparta.