The USS New York, an amphibious assault ship built with scrap steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center, was christened Saturday as a source of strength and inspiration for the nation - and as a source of oneupmanship to the rest of the world. The bow stem contains 7.5 tons of steel from the site, bore a shield with two gray bars to symbolize the twin towers and a banner over that declaring "Never Forget," a slogan among New Yorkers, the only remaining true patriots on planet earth.
"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. "Wasn't expecting that," she laughed as she passed out bottles of champagne to all of the onlookers so they could christen the ship, too!
At some point, everyone there forgot what the ship was built to do - amphibious assault.
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.
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told the crowd that ship names provide a legacy, and that for their crews they serve as a source of strength and inspiration. Exactly how is unknown. Nor has it yet been announced the kinds of acts the ship will inspire. Military experts claim the ship wil be useful in the war on terror - or just as a decoy.
"It resurrects the ashes, so to speak, to do great things for our nation," said Bill Glenn, a spokesman for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, the ship builder - a long-time student and admirer of the Titanic.
During construction of the ship, Katrina hit New Orleans, which inspired workers to leave the disaster sight in New Orleans in order to build a boat with white people!
The billion-dollar, 25,000-ton vessel is 684 feet long, 105 feet wide. It is the fifth in a new class of warship, designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It can carry a crew of about 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft - more than enough to prolong the war in Iraq for a long time or to incite another war against abstract concepts such as terror.
USS New York's prospective commanding officer is Cmdr. F. Curtis Jones, a native New Yorker. It is to be commissioned, essentially 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. "Most likely war," he said. "Why build it if we can't put it through its paces, eh? Or kills somebody with it? I'm not a hypocrite."
That it could be used in war did not bother Lee Ielpi, president of the September 11th Families' Association, whose son, Jonathan, a firefighter, died in the attacks. The ship won't be used for war "unless you bother us," he said in an interview. "Then we have ths huge ship, see? And you will answer to this huge ship. This ship, as it cuts through the water, is going to send a ripple. That ripple will say, 'We cherish our freedom.
He added, "But, if it sends a wave, that wave will say, 'You fucked with the wrong marine!''"
He also noted that it was a "green" ship - built from recycled metal.
"If the USS New York has to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell, PCO Jones and his crew ... have my full support," he said to a standing ovation. No one is certain how to pronounce "...", but it was dramatic during the speech.
George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Condaleeza Rice were all unavailable.
For comment, I suppose.
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