U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, center, the commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, gives closing remarks during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony aboard the newly commissioned amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) Sept. 11, 2014, in the Pacific Ocean. Terrorists hijacked four passenger aircraft Sept. 11, 2001. Two of the aircraft were deliberately crashed into the World Trade Center in New York; one was crashed into the Pentagon; the fourth crashed near Shanksville, Pa. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks. The America embarked on a mission to conduct training engagements with partner nations throughout the Americas before reporting to its new home port of San Diego. The America was set to be ceremoniously commissioned Oct. 11, 2014.