Darlene R. Croston with Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations at the USS New York commissioning. Courtesy of Darlene Croston
Submitted by Yeoman 2nd Class Darlene Croston
NEW YORK, NY — Under a clear blue sky, seven sailors from Navy Operational Support Center in Syracuse joined with over 6,000 others in attending the commissioning of the USS New York on Nov. 7. The USS New York is a $1 billion amphibious transport dock that contains 7.5 tons of World Trade Center steel in her bow stem. Fittingly, her Commanding Officer, Commander F. Curtis Jones, is a Binghamton, NY native.
YN2 Darlene R. Croston, daughter of Rev. Paul and Marjorie Metzger, of Cuylerville, NY, was among those attending from NOSC Syracuse. She currently lives in Binghamton, NY.
Most of the sailors attending the commissioning are members of Military Sealift Command Expeditionary Port Unit 104, a Navy Reserve unit based in Syracuse which supports the Navy’s sealift operations throughout Europe and Africa.
Several distinguished guests were in attendance at the commissioning, along with first responders and relatives of those killed in the attacks. While the mood was festive with music and flyovers, the origin of the ship was foremost in the minds of many. Her motto is “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.”
The U.S.S. New York in the Hudson River. Creative Commons license
The USS New York’s unique heritage was the thread that became the common theme woven through many of the speeches. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley recalled that when the name was chosen for the ship in 2002, those present at the ceremony vowed to “never forget”. “In keeping faith with that vow”, he continued, “the USS New York dipped her colors and rendered a gun salute upon her return to New York City.” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton championed the quality of resilience in stating “New York City is a city that is built of steel, but the strongest steel of New York is in the spine of its citizens.”
Many in the assemblage were moved to tears when Commanding Officer F. Curtis Jones shared a letter from Captain James Gormley, Engine 40, New York Fire Department. In it, Gormley lists the twelve men that he is missing, and relates that they are “still operating at the scene, but that he and his fellow survivors have been unable to relieve them.” He closes by saying that the “USS New York now has the watch.”
It was clear that the Captain and crew of this ship recognize the legacy that has been placed in trust with them. Expectations run high. Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams, Jr., Commander, United States Second Fleet issued this challenge: “All ships named USS New York have made their mark, and I expect no different from this ship. See you in the Fleet.”