On 9/11 Anniversary, Irma Victims See Incredible Sight off Coast

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Survivors of Hurricane Irma in Florida just received some welcome and historically fitting news: The USS New York has arrived off the coast to help with the recovery efforts.

One look at the date makes the ship’s arrival particularly special. On the anniversary of the devastating 9/11 attacks in New York, the vessel that arrived to lend assistance to fellow Americans is carrying part of the World Trade Center in its bow.

Steel salvaged from the destroyed towers was used during the construction of the USS New York. Sixteen years have passed since the terrorist attack, but now those memories of chaos have been transformed into a symbol of hope for Florida survivors.

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The USS New York, normally stationed at the Mayport Naval Station near Jacksonville, was accompanied by four other warships to begin recovery efforts.

“The USS Iwo Jima and USS New York left their home port in Mayport, Florida, last week for Norfolk, Virginia to pick up more than 300 sailors as well as Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and II Marine Expeditionary Force,” the Miami Herald reported on Monday morning.

“They were linking up with the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln; a destroyer, the USS Farragut; and a cruiser, the USS San Jacinto,” continued the report.

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Around noon Eastern Time, a Fox News reporter assigned to the Pentagon confirmed that the USS New York had reached its destination.

“USS New York built with steel from World Trade Center rubble arrives off Florida coast for Hurricane Irma relief on 16th anniversary of 9/11,” Lucas Tomlinson posted on Twitter.

The ship is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, which is used for assaulting — or in the case, assisting — coastal areas. As a support ship for Marines, the vessel usually carries hovercraft and V-22 Osprey aircraft.

Those capabilities are just as useful during peacetime as in war.

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As the storm moves north and out of the area, the military will establish airfields in southern Florida for relief operations, the Herald reported.

The USS New York is unique for several reasons. Normally, state names are reserved for submarines. However, not long after 9/11, former Gov. George Pataki of New York requested that the Navy use his state’s name for a surface vessel that is involved in the global war on terrorism.

That makes the vessel the only non-submarine craft in the Navy to bear a state’s name.

About seven tons of steel recovered from the destroyed World Trade Center was melted down and used in the hull of the ship. This connection to the lives lost on 9/11 is acknowledged in the ship’s motto: “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.”

Americans came together after the deadly terrorist attacks, and they are coming together again after the hurricanes in Texas and Florida.

Just as steel from ground zero has been forged into a formidable warship, fear and despair can be transformed into hope and recovery… and that’s exactly what the people of Florida need right now.

Please like and share this article on Facebook and Twitter to let everyone know the USS New York is helping fellow Americans on the anniversary of 9/11.