9/11/2018 American Press | Sunday, March 02, 2008 | A1 Thousands help christen 9/11­linked USS New York at La. shipyard Navy ship built with tons of steel recovered from World Trade Center Dotty England cracks a bottle of champagne against the hull of the USS New York in christening ceremonies at Northrop Grumman shipyard in Avondale on Saturday. ASSOCIATED PRESS AVONDALE (AP) — Thousands of people, including friends and families of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, gathered Saturday for an at­times poignant and uplifting service to christen a Navy ship built with twisted steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center. The hulking gray USS New York, trimmed in red, white and blue banners, bore a seal on its bow that includes two gray bars to symbolize the Twin Towers and a banner declaring “Never Forget.” The bow stem contains 7.5 tons of steel from the site. “May God bless this ship and all who sail on her,” ship sponsor Dotty England said before smashing a bottle of champagne against it, producing a loud thump to go with the spurting liquid and flying streamers. http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/APA/AmPress/Print.Article.aspx?mode=text&href=AMP%2F2008%2F03%2F02&id=Ar00104 1/2 9/11/2018 American Press | Sunday, March 02, 2008 | A1 Story after story of lives lost in, and touched by, the attacks peppered the ceremony, held under the blazing sun and broadcast on large screens. It all brought back painful memories for New York Police Lt. Matt Murphy. But the reason for his being here, though, was a source of pride, he said. “I tell you, it’s a fantastic day. Sometimes you think you’re over something,” he said, “and then you realize you’re not completely.” Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told the crowd that ship names provide a legacy, and for their crews, serve as a source of strength and inspiration. The billion­dollar, 25,000­ton vessel is 684 feet long and 105 feet wide; it can carry about 360 sailors and 700 Marines. The New York’s prospective commanding officer is Cmdr. F. Curtis Jones, a native New Yorker. It is to be commissioned and added to the fleet next year. It could be used as part of peaceful missions or as part of war, said Adm. Gary Roughead, the Navy’s chief of operations. http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/APA/AmPress/Print.Article.aspx?mode=text&href=AMP%2F2008%2F03%2F02&id=Ar00104 2/2.