H. Res. 856 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
November 4, 2009. 
Whereas, on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four ci-
vilian 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, Penn-
sylvania; 
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 Anto-
nio-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 at-
tended 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 Trans-
port Dock (LPD) warships; 
Whereas the USS New York LPD 21 will serve as an inte-
gral part of Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Strike 
Groups and will be able to deploy 700 Marines and asso-
ciated equipment of the Strike Group Marine Expedi-
tionary 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 capa-
bility, 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 de-
fend 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 com-
missioned 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, Pennsyl-
vania, on September 11, 2001; and
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(5) recommits itself to the counter-terrorism mis-
sion of the USS New York LPD 21 and all the members 
of the United States Armed Forces. 
Attest: 
Clerk.