Free Republic

PASCAGOULA -- The Northrop Grumman-built amphibious transport dock ship Arlington will be christened on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the company’s shipyard in Pascagoula. The ship is named for the city of Arlington, Va., in honor of the 184 people who died when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The company said the ship also honors the military and civilian employees, emergency, fire and rescue personnel of Arlington County who provided assistance after the attack. The ship’s sponsor is Joyce Rumsfeld, wife of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Arlington County Fire Chief...

WASHINGTON — The Navy announced it will name two planned ships after the places where two of the planes hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, crashed. The Arlington will be named for Arlington, Va., where the Pentagon is. The Somerset will be named for the county in Pennsylvania where it is believed hijackers deliberately crashed their plane after passengers rose up against them. The ships are amphibious transport docks, the eighth and ninth of the San Antonio class. Each will have a crew of 363 people and will be capable of carrying 699 Marines. The Arlington and Somerset will be built...

  Navy Honors Sept. 11 by Naming New Ships for Arlington, SomersetStory Number: NNS040909-13Release Date: 9/9/2004 3:52:00 PMSpecial release from the U.S. Department of DefenseWASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Gordon England named the eighth and ninth ships of the San Antonio-class of Amphibious Transport Dock ships as Arlington and Somerset. The future USS Arlington and USS Somerset will join USS New York as living tributes to those who suffered in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and to the nation. Arlington was chosen to honor the city and county in northern Virginia, and especially, the 184...