H. Res. 856 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

November 4, 2009. 

Whereas, on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four civilian aircraft, crashing two of them into the twin towers 

of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third 

into the Pentagon, and a fourth near Shanksville, Pennsylvania; 

Whereas nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11, 

2001, in the most lethal terrorist attack ever committed 

against the United States; 

Whereas then-Governor George Pataki requested the Navy 

name a ship involved in counterterrorism efforts after the 

State of New York shortly after September 11, 2001; 

Whereas, on September 6, 2002, the Secretary of the Navy 

announced the name of the fifth vessel of the San Antonio-class Amphibious Transport Dock ships would be 

named USS New York LPD 21; 

Whereas, on March 1, 2008, the USS New York LPD 21 

was christened at the Avondale Shipyard in Avondale, 

Louisiana, by Mrs. Dotty England, in a ceremony attended by officials of the New York City fire and police 

departments as well as surviving family and friends of 

those lost on September 11, 2001; 
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Whereas the USS New York LPD 21’s bow is comprised of 

7.5 tons of steel forged from the wreckage of the World 

Trade Center and erected onto the vessel in conjunction 

with a dignified ceremony conducted on September 9, 

2003, and attended by officials of the New York City fire 

and police departments as well as surviving family and 

friends of those lost on September 11, 2001; 

Whereas the USS New York LPD 21 is the newest entry to 

the Navy’s fleet of San Antonio-class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) warships; 

Whereas the USS New York LPD 21 will serve as an integral part of Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Strike 

Groups and will be able to deploy 700 Marines and associated equipment of the Strike Group Marine Expeditionary Unit; 

Whereas the USS New York LPD 21’s primary mission will 

be to deploy amphibious assault capability anywhere in 

the world, on short notice, and that this force is the only 

force in the United States Armed Forces with such capability, and that such amphibious operation is central and 

key to suppression of terrorist organizations; 

Whereas the USS New York LPD 21 displaces 24,900 tons 

at sea, with the capability of cruising at speeds in excess 

of 22 knots; 

Whereas everyday, the men and women of the United States 

Armed Forces continue global efforts to protect and defend the United States; 

Whereas nearly 10 percent of the commissioning crew of USS 

New York LPD 21 hail from the Empire State; 

Whereas the USS New York LPD 21 has a main passageway 

dubbed ‘‘Broadway’’, the ship’s insignia references the 
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Statue of Liberty, the Twin Towers, the New York Police 

Department, and the Fire Department of New York, and 

the galley features a pre-9/11 neon outline of the city; 

Whereas the motto of the USS New York LPD 21 is 

‘‘Strength Forged Through Sacrifice. Never Forget’’; and 

Whereas the USS New York LPD 21 will be officially commissioned November 7, 2009, Commander F. Curtis 

Jones, United States Navy, commanding, a native son of 

New York, in New York waters on Pier 88 on the West 

Side of New York City next to the USS Intrepid CV 11: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) recognizes the commissioning of the USS New 

York LPD 21; 

(2) congratulates the captain and commissioning 

crew of the USS New York LPD 21 on the occasion of 

their vessel entering into the service of the United States 

Navy; 

(3) recognizes the sacrifices made by the men and 

women in uniform who put themselves in harm’s way in 

order to protect and defend the United States; 

(4) honors those who lost their lives at the World 

Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001; and 
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(5) recommits itself to the counter-terrorism mission of the USS New York LPD 21 and all the members 

of the United States Armed Forces. 

Attest: 

Clerk.