With pride, sadness USS New York comes 'to life'

newsday.com ^ | 11/08/2009 | Bill Bleyar

[my small voice]

Shortly after noon Saturday, a command rang out at Pier 86 in Manhattan: "Bring the ship to life."

With that, crew members in dress blues ran to stand at attention at the rails, radar antennas on the America's newest warship began to turn, black smoke poured from three funnels, sirens rang and the horn blared. And the USS New York - docked across the water at Pier 88 - became part of the active U.S. Navy fleet.

It was a ceremony evoking emotion, pride and patriotism and full of references to Sept. 11 - hardly surprising given that the 684-foot amphibious assault vessel's bow incorporates 7.5 tons of the steel skeletons of the World Trade Center towers.

[my small voice]

Is it just me or is it TEASONOUS that our P.O.S. President didn't show up to this commissioning ceremony????

Seriously?? A tribute to 9/11 and he's not here??!! WTF??!@!

[MSF BU]

Maybe the female billets were not numerous enough and it’s his way of protesting? I don’t know.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

I was in NYC on business Wednesday and saw the USS New York, she is an amazing ship. Looks different from other battle ships. She has quasi stealth technology and looks like a fishing boat or tug boat on radar.

[An Old Man]

"Is it just me or is it TEASONOUS that our P.O.S. President didn't show up to this commissioning ceremony?"

It's not you. That piece of low life is from a different culture. He simply doesn't know any different.

[bmwcyle]

And you need a picture of the ship. Rules you know.

[Red_Devil 232]

Golf at Camp David. I mean it is very hard to get a tee time there.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***P.O.S. President didn’t show up to this commissioning ceremony***

I’m glad he didn’t show up at several places Presidents are known to visit. His presence would have defiled the ceremonies.

[Miss Didi]

Two young sailors were in my neighborhood last night...I stopped and thanked them for their service. They were thrilled to hear it...so cute.

[blues_guitarist]

I'm glad she's an LPD. I spent 3 years on LPD-8 in the early 80's. She looks like the "Star Trek" version of the "Gator Navy!"

[bmwcyle]

Good work!

[GBA]

If it’s all the same, it’s an honor that pretender needn’t be a part of.

[onedoug]

Yeah, he’s from a different culture alright.

But Hirraly Crinton was there!

[mass55th]

"Is it just me or is it TREASONOUS that our P.O.S. President didn't show up to this commissioning ceremony????"

Not to worry, he sent Hillary Clinton, the wife of the man whose incompetence helped bring 9/11 upon us.

[BIGLOOK]

Personally, I'm glad Obama wasn't at the christening of USS New York. I'd bet that the Sailors and Marines aren't put off by his absence either.

[onedoug]

USS Ogden LPD 5 bump.

Armored Cavalry transportee, RVN ‘69

Lord, protect all aboard USS New York LPD 21, And God save The United States.

[Chode]

the boy knows where he's not wanted let alone needed...

[imfrmdixie]

You would have thought he learned after so many negative remarks about how he didn’t go to see her in New Orleans when he traveled there to get his daily dose of adoration.
This was the second opportunity to see this special Navy vessel that he avoided. He is a POS for sure. It is now a proven fact.

[Carley]

Consider the ship blessed that he did NOT come anywhere near our ship.

[YHAOS]

God bless all those who sail in harm's way for our sake.

Fair winds and following seas.

[El Gato]

She looks like the "Star Trek" version of the "Gator Navy!"

That's 'cause that is what the San Antonio class LPDs are. :)