U.S. warship with bow section forged from WTC steel to be commissioned Nov. 7

The fifth in a line of a new class of warship will be commissioned and welcomed into the U.S. Navy on Saturday, Nov. 7, at special ceremonies in New York City. What distinguishes the U.S.S. New York, roughly the length of two football fields and weighing 25,000 tons, from other San Antonio-class vessels is its front edge bow section, forged from 7.5 tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center.

"The scrap recycling industry is truly honored to be part of this special ship and this special occasion," stated Robin Wiener, president of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI), the trade association for the scrap recycling industry, who lost her brother, Jeff, in the attack on the World Trade Center. "We are proud of the role the scrap recycling industry played in recovering and recycling the steel from the World Trade Center. This ship is a tribute to all those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 and a testament to America's indomitable spirit," stated Wiener, who will be attending the special commissioning ceremonies.

The more than 20 tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center was recycled by melting it down at the Amite Foundry and Machine Inc. in Amite, La., and poured into its molds on September 9, 2003.

With the motto "Never Forget," the U.S.S. New York, designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists, has taken on special symbolism of the United States' fighting spirit. Two sister ships are planned to honor victims who died that day in the attack on the Pentagon (the U.S.S. Arlington) and in the crash of the hijacked plane in Pennsylvania (U.S.S. Somerset, named for the county where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed).

After its formal commissioning ceremonies, the U.S.S. New York will head to Norfolk, Va., for about a year of crew training and exercises.