Navy
USS New York is a living memorial to 9/11
Staff and wire reports
September 11, 2024
Steel recovered from the wreckage of 9/11 hangs above a passageway aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), Sep 3, 2024. (Ryan Rams/U.S. Marine Corps)
Each year on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Americans are reminded to “Never forget.”
The Navy’s USS New York never does. The New York, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, is a living memorial.
The ship, commissioned Nov. 7, 2009, in New York, cuts through the sea with a bow forged from 7½ tons of World Trade Center steel recovered from Ground Zero, embedding the DNA of the 2,977 victims into the heart of the vessel. The ship’s interior is adorned with murals, posters and patches that serve as reminders.
“Every ship in the Navy has an important namesake,” said Capt. Benjamin W. Oakes, commanding officer of USS New York. “However, the relationship this ship has with the state of New York, New Yorkers, first responders — past and present — survivors, victims’ families and the events of 9/11 make New York special. There is an increased sense of purpose here. This ship and its legacy continue to inspire each crew to rise to the highest level of performance. Every sailor and Marine wants to be at their best here.”
The names of victims of 9/11 are inscribed on a memorial in a passageway aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York. (Ryan Rams/U.S. Marine Corps)
New York (LPD 21) was the first of three U.S. Navy ships built to honor the victims 9/11 attacks; the others are the USS Arlington (LPD 24) and USS Somerset (LPD 25).
When at sea the New York carries on a daily tradition of reading a short epitaph of a 9/11 victim broadcast over the ship’s public address system. These spoken memorials share not only the victim’s biographical details but also their interests, passions and personal stories.
“I enjoy reading these stories because they remind me why we serve and what this ship represents,” said Lt. Jason Moore, a chaplain representative of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. “The events of that day had a profound effect on our country, and my generation in particular. When I joined the Marine Corps, 9/11 was front and center in our minds.”
Though the Norfolk, Va.-based New York currently is deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, sailors and Marines plan to honor the 23rd anniversary of the attacks, according to a service news release.
The Damage Control “Flying Squad,” which is a team made up of the ship’s first responders to casualties, will lead a ramp “climb” walk, representing the 110 flights of stairs that New York City firefighters ascended during rescue efforts at the World Trade Center. Additionally, a new mural commemorating 9/11 will be unveiled to the commanding officer and crew to honor the lives lost on that fateful day.
“On 9/11, first responders ran full force toward the threat,” Oakes said. “This same sense of purpose exists in our commitment to our duties. As the nation’s 9/11 ship, with the global 9-1-1 force embarked onboard, this crew is ready to answer any call and sail bow-first into danger. This ship and her crew embody the same resilience, grit and determination as the first responders and those who have fought for our freedom and democracy for over 250 years.”
Steel recovered from the wreckage of 9/11 hangs above a passageway aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), Sep 3, 2024. (Jesse Turner/U.S. Navy)