Bullets for the Battle

In Memory: The USS New York

“Never Forget” is the motto one of the U.S. Navy’s newest vessels, the USS New York. The ship, built in New Orleans, is one of three to honor those who died in the September 11 terrorist attack. The other two are the “…USS Arlington — named after the section of the Pentagon that was also hit by an airliner on September 11 — and USS Somerset, in memory of United Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on the same day as passengers struggled with al-Qaeda hijackers.” (Times Online, May 22, 2006)

Due to be commissioned this year (2007), the USS New York is an amphibious transport ship designed to land combat-ready Marines on any coastline with or without a port. These ships can also deliver relief aid, as her sister ship, the USS Boxer, did in the wake of hurricane Katrina.

The USS New York is already a monument to two disasters. First, her bow section was cast from scrap steel from the World Trade Center. The casting of the bow section from this scrap metal was an emotional moment for the foundry workers. Navy Captain Kevin Wensing recalls the pour thus, “… those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence. It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.” Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, recalled that the “hair on my neck stood up” when he first touched the steel. He said, “It has a big meaning to it for all of us. They knocked us down. They can’t keep us down. We’re going to be back.” The USS New York is a new weapon in the war against terror, one well fitted for her mission.

Second, the half-completed New York came through hurricane Katrina in tact. While the city around her came apart the ship faced the elements and stood firm. The crews who worked on her came back and took up the task of her completion as soon as possible. The workmen treat the ship with reverence, making a point to touch the bow when passing. This is in response to the meaning of the metal in her construction but in a wider sense, the respect shown the USS New York is a symbol of the hope, courage, determination and spirit of the American people – to build a warship from the ruins of a great defeat or to rebuild a ravaged city.

Americans have excelled at turning defeat into victory, of recovering from disaster and of starting over … again and again and again! This quality is one of the great secrets to our nation’s greatness. If there is anything totally admirable in the patriotic spirit of our country it is this “never give up … we can make it better” attitude. The USS New York is tangible proof that, as Mr. Chevers said, “They can’t keep us down. We’re going to be back.”

This is exactly the foundational faith of our Biblical vision of Jesus Christ. No matter what happens … even death … we can say with our resurrected Leader … “I will rise again!”

Check out the following websites for more on the USS New York: Snopes.Com, Times Online news story, Navy website.