Shortly, after the tragic September 11, 2001, George E. Pataki, Governor of New York, wrote a request letter to the Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, to bestow the name USS New York (LPD-21) on a surface warship involved in the War on Terror in honor of 9/11 victims.  Governor Pataki said he understood state names are currently reserved for submarines but he gave special consideration so the name could be given to a surface ship.  On August 28, 2002, the request was approved.

The construction of the ship was built with steel.  Twenty four tons of the steel came from the small amount of rubble from the World Trade Center actually reserved for posterity.  Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down at Amite Foundry and Machine in Amite, Louisiana to cast the ship’s bow section.  It was poured into the molds on September 9, 2003.  With seven tons melted down and cast to form the ship’s bow.  The shipyard workers reportedly treated it with reverence by gently touching it as they walked by.  In 2003, the contract to build New York was awarded to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of New Orleans, Louisiana in 2003.  New York was under construction in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina. 

On March 1, 2008, New York was christened in a ceremony at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Dotty England, the ship’s sponsor, smashed the traditional champagne bottle on the ship’s bow and christened the ship New York.  Several dignitaries attended the christening, including Louisiana Congressman William J. Jefferson, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, members of the New York Police Department and New York Fire Department and family members of 9/11 victims.

Starting May, 26, 2008, History Channel International will premiere “Hero Ships”, featuring interviews and insiders look into the real heroic stories of sailors.