USS New York Arrives

The USS New York, a San Antonio-class amphibious dock vessel with 7.5 tons of steel taken from the ruins of the World Trade Center Twin Towers making up part of her bow, sailed into New York Harbor on Monday morning. Sailors aboard her fired a 21-gun salute to the victims of 9/11 who died at Ground Zero in the terrorist attacks and the police, firefighters and other first responders who ran into the burning Towers to save as many lives as they could. Some 13 percent of the New York’s 361-sailor crew are from her namesake state, a higher number than is usual. Many Navy personnel requested assignment to the New York, which will carry some 250 Marines initially, although at 684 feet long, she can transport as many as 800 Marines. She will carry the Marines to fight for democracy at battlefields around the world. See our Editorial, page 4.