USS New York commissioned

Following a trip up the east coast, the Navy’s newest amphibious transport dock, the USS New York, was commissioned in New York Harbor Saturday with help from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 26, a unit comprised of troops from Camp Lejeune.

The USS New York, forged with 7.5 tons of steel from the wreckage of New York’s Twin Towers, honors the city’s first responders in its motto, “Never Forget,” and its insignia, which features colors of the NYPD, NYFD and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with drops of blood representing fallen heroes. It docked in New York Nov. 2, pausing at the former site of the World Trade Center for a 21-gun salute for first responders and families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, who stood by onshore.

On Wednesday, seven Marines from MAGTF-26 marked special moments in their military careers at Ground Zero: three were promoted and four re-enlisted, citing the day as an opportunity to honor the victims of the attacks with their service.

And following a week of patriotic events and opportunities for members of the public and local dignitaries to view the ship firsthand, Saturday’s commissioning drew a crowd of between 6,000 and 10,000, including Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

Paul Siverson, a retired Marine and Jacksonville resident, was present for the commissioning ceremony and said the event was awe-inspiring, a chance for the Marines and the city to shine.

“When they hoisted the colors up and the commissioning pennant, your heart just pumped,” Siverson said.

He took the opportunity at the ceremony to meet and congratulate as many Lejeune Marines and sailors from Camp Lejeune as he could, he said, and noted that he found Conway’s commissioning speech one of the most moving.

And for Siverson, a native of Staten Island, New York, the event had heightened meaning.

“The whole ceremony was very emotional,” he said, “being from New York and having watched the Twin Towers being built from the ground up. The whole thing was so inspiring it just gives you chills.”

Lance Cpl. Joseph Anderson, a Long Island native, was one of the Marines aboard the USS New York. Prior to embarkment from Camp Lejeune for the commissioning, Anderson said he felt fortunate to a part of the historic mission.

“It’s a big deal, you know,” Anderson said, “it’s a real privilege to be aboard the ship.”

The symbolism of the ship’s name and the steel in its bow “shows the rest of the country everbody’s persevering through adversity,” he said.

The USS New York, the fifth in a new class of ship designed to better accommodate the needs of Marines in amphibious combat, will embark to its home dock in Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday. It is expected to deploy sometime next year.

Contact Hope Hodge at 910-219-8453 or hhodge@freedomenc.com.