The World Trade Center Reincarnate
Out of the ashes comes the U.S.S. New York
In 1898, looking for a headline that could sell some newspapers, William Randolph Hearst, owner of the New York Sun, told a journalist in Cuba to remain there, adding, "You furnish the pictures, I'll furnish the war."
This came in response to the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine. The subsequent outrage among the American public caused the now famous "Remember the Maine" rallying cry to be coined.
More than a century has passed since that phrase became popular, but I am reminded of the expression when I view pictures of the new battleship, the U.S.S. New York, whose motto is "Never Forget."
What makes this motto significant is how this ship came to be in existence. September 11, 2001 is undoubtedly one of the darkest days in American history. Muslim extremists hijacked several airplanes, two of which slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Subsequent to those impacts, of course we all know that the towers collapsed, killing thousands of Americans, many of whom were firefighters trying to clear the buildings.
In the years to come, work was performed to clean up the site, which had come to be known as "Ground Zero." But what became of the steel that had once gave form to the towers?
We can account for at least 24 tons of it when we look at the U.S.S. New York. Yes, it's true. In a classic thumbing of our collective nose at the likes of Osama bin Laden, we have built a battleship from the steel of the World Trade Center. What is particularly poignant is the purpose that this battleship exists to serve.
The U.S.S. New York will carry 360 sailors and 700 United States Marines, who will be prepared to go ashore using amphibious vehicles, designed to carry out anti-terrorist missions.
The chances of my dream coming true are remote at best, but I would love nothing more than to have crew from this glorious ship be responsible for capturing Osama bin Laden, and have him brought to U.S. soil on board the ship made of steel from the buildings he destroyed, along with thousands of innocent Americans.
With any luck, just as Americans still "Remember the Maine" more than 100 years after it was attacked, Americans in 2109 will Never Forget this beautiful ship, and the men and women who died so it could be created.
