Posted: 8:38 AM - Mar 01, 2008
USS New York to be christened today in NO LA.
USS New York To Be Christened At Northrop Grumman
Nobody will ever forget when terrorists slammed two planes into the World Trade Center. Those horrible scenes of the twin towers collapsing will be etched
in our minds forever.
When Northrop Grumman began building its fifth amphibious transport dock ship, it dedicated that vessel to the victims of 9/11. On Saturday, that ship will
be christened.
The words "never forget" are part of the crest on the LPD 21. And within the bow of the war ship are tons of steel from the fallen towers.
Fittingly, the new ship will be named the USS New York. And according to a Northrop Grumman Employee who's built the vessel, "We're incredibly
excited to be able to bring this to the people of New York."
The LPD 21 was built at Northrop Grumman's Pascagoula and Avondale shipyards. On the day before its christening, ceremonial flags draped across the New
York flapped in the breeze along the banks of the Mississippi River.
Mike Petters is Northrop Grumman's new president.
"Oh my gosh, what a day of memory, tribute, celebration, all wrapped up into one," he said, thinking ahead to Saturday's christening.
Dottie England is the ship's sponsor.
"It's overwhelming," she thought. "I'm just so proud to represent all Americans."
Cmdr. Curtis Jones will captain the vessel once it's sent out to sea. He met with shipyard workers and told them, "You guys are doing a bang up
job."
Cmdr. Jones happens to be from New York. So he realizes what the USS New York and 9/11 mean to his city, and to the country.
"It's always an honor to get command of a ship. But to get command of this ship, being from New York, it's an honor beyond pale, and extremely
difficult to put into words," he said.
This is not a typical Northrop Grumman ship. In its bow, shipyard workers blended 7.5 tons of melted steel from the World Trade Center into the steel
mixture Northrop Grumman normally uses. Dirk Cortez is a production manager on the USS New York.
"When the ship got announced to be named New York, and then to find out I was going to be the actual production manager on the ship, it was a great
significance," he said. "We take great pride in what we're doing today."
The proudest person of all could be retired New York firefighter Lee Ielpi. His son was one of the victims of the September 11th attacks.
"This is a symbol of what our country is," Ielpi said, with the ship just over his shoulder. "This is the strength of our country."
A few feet away, Cmdr. Jones excitedly said, "Can't wait to get her out there."
Neither could Jennifer Adams. She co-founded the September 11th Families Association in New York. Adams was at the shipyard as an invited guest of Northrop
Grumman.
"It's a wonderful moment that we've come together to remember the lives of the people that were lost that day," said Adams, "to
never forget the events, and to move forward in a positive and a constructive way."
Ielpi will certainly never forget the pain of September 11th. But the retired New York firefighter will also remember the sacrifice shipyard workers made
to honor New York.
"It just shows that our country is strong," Ielpi said. "We'll persevere. And terrorists will never get the upper hand on us. I guess it
was easy to say what happened on 9/11 is in the past. Of course it's in the past. But what's also behind me is the future."
Saturday's christening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Avondale Shipyard.
Ship construction is only 70 percent complete. Once the party is over, Northrop Grumman employees will finish working on the interior of the amphibious
transport dock ship. The USS New York will be turned over to the military in the summer of 2009.
by Brad Kessie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_New_York_(LPD-21)
USS New York To Be Christened At Northrop Grumman
Nobody will ever forget when terrorists slammed two planes into the World Trade Center. Those horrible scenes of the twin towers collapsing will be etched
in our minds forever.
When Northrop Grumman began building its fifth amphibious transport dock ship, it dedicated that vessel to the victims of 9/11. On Saturday, that ship will
be christened.
The words "never forget" are part of the crest on the LPD 21. And within the bow of the war ship are tons of steel from the fallen towers.
Fittingly, the new ship will be named the USS New York. And according to a Northrop Grumman Employee who's built the vessel, "We're incredibly
excited to be able to bring this to the people of New York."
The LPD 21 was built at Northrop Grumman's Pascagoula and Avondale shipyards. On the day before its christening, ceremonial flags draped across the New
York flapped in the breeze along the banks of the Mississippi River.
Mike Petters is Northrop Grumman's new president.
"Oh my gosh, what a day of memory, tribute, celebration, all wrapped up into one," he said, thinking ahead to Saturday's christening.
Dottie England is the ship's sponsor.
"It's overwhelming," she thought. "I'm just so proud to represent all Americans."
Cmdr. Curtis Jones will captain the vessel once it's sent out to sea. He met with shipyard workers and told them, "You guys are doing a bang up
job."
Cmdr. Jones happens to be from New York. So he realizes what the USS New York and 9/11 mean to his city, and to the country.
"It's always an honor to get command of a ship. But to get command of this ship, being from New York, it's an honor beyond pale, and extremely
difficult to put into words," he said.
This is not a typical Northrop Grumman ship. In its bow, shipyard workers blended 7.5 tons of melted steel from the World Trade Center into the steel
mixture Northrop Grumman normally uses. Dirk Cortez is a production manager on the USS New York.
"When the ship got announced to be named New York, and then to find out I was going to be the actual production manager on the ship, it was a great
significance," he said. "We take great pride in what we're doing today."
The proudest person of all could be retired New York firefighter Lee Ielpi. His son was one of the victims of the September 11th attacks.
"This is a symbol of what our country is," Ielpi said, with the ship just over his shoulder. "This is the strength of our country."
A few feet away, Cmdr. Jones excitedly said, "Can't wait to get her out there."
Neither could Jennifer Adams. She co-founded the September 11th Families Association in New York. Adams was at the shipyard as an invited guest of Northrop
Grumman.
"It's a wonderful moment that we've come together to remember the lives of the people that were lost that day," said Adams, "to
never forget the events, and to move forward in a positive and a constructive way."
Ielpi will certainly never forget the pain of September 11th. But the retired New York firefighter will also remember the sacrifice shipyard workers made
to honor New York.
"It just shows that our country is strong," Ielpi said. "We'll persevere. And terrorists will never get the upper hand on us. I guess it
was easy to say what happened on 9/11 is in the past. Of course it's in the past. But what's also behind me is the future."
Saturday's christening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Avondale Shipyard.
Ship construction is only 70 percent complete. Once the party is over, Northrop Grumman employees will finish working on the interior of the amphibious
transport dock ship. The USS New York will be turned over to the military in the summer of 2009.
by Brad Kessie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_New_York_(LPD-21)