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USS San Antonio Visits New York City to Commemorate 9/11

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060912-17
9/12/2006

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Glassburn, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NEW YORK (NNS) -- More than 300 Sailors aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17), homeported in Norfolk, Va., with Marine elements aboard from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Norfolk, arrived in New York harbor Sept. 11 to commemorate the five year anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center buildings.

The ship passed Ground Zero around 8 a.m. EST., with the Sailors and Marines manning the rails in their dress uniforms. Private First Class Angel Trejedu, a Long Island native and Marine aboard San Antonio, was in New York City Sept. 11, 2001.

“I was in school that day and now I’m a Marine. I feel I’m part of something bigger," he said. "I’m proud to be back in New York to remember Sept. 11th.”

Two Sailors stationed aboard San Antonio, Senior Chief Storekeeper Santiago Barrera and Master Chief Engineman Alan Wilkey, reenlisted Sept. 11 at Ground Zero, the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

“I’m not from New York, but when we got to the bottom of the World Trade Center site and I saw the memorials, the power of the moment really hit me," Barrera said. "I got very emotional.”

“Many service members volunteered because of Sept. 11th," Cmdr. Brad Lee, San Antonio commanding officer said. "To have two members of the San Antonio crew renew their commitment to the Navy at Ground Zero is incredible. It’s a solemn occasion and something they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

“Many of the Sailors and Marines in the Navy were in High School during the September attacks and now they are serving their country, representing the resolve of the American people," Lee added. "These Sailors and Marines are America’s finest and like San Antonio’s motto in the shadow of 9/11, America will 'Never Retreat, Never Surrender.'”

While in New York, the San Antonio crew will participate in ship tours for New York inner-city children and conduct volunteer work throughout the five burrows.

San Antonio is the first ship in the San Antonio class of Amphibious Transport Dock ships (LPD). The latest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, currently under construction, is USS New York (LPD 21). Twenty-four tons of steel from the World Trade Center were melted down and used in constructing New York.

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/c2f/.