Navy Honors Sept. 11 Victims and Heroes With Warships
By Sharon Anderson, 09.20.04

The tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001 brought shock, disbelief, fear, anger and grief to many Americans. But from sorrow also comes healing and remembrance — this time in the form of Navy warships.

One day prior to the three year anniversary of Sept. 11, Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England announced two new warships which will honor the victims and heroes of Sept. 11, during a naming ceremony at the Pentagon.

The USS Arlington
The USS Arlington will honor the city and county in northern Virginia, as well as the 184 victims, aboard American Airlines Flight 77, who died during the attack on the Pentagon. The ship will also pay tribute to the firefighters, police and medical personnel.

The USS Somerset
The Somerset will honor the area in Pennsylvania County where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed as passengers attempted to regain control of the plane. The passengers actions prevented the terrorists from causing further casualties and destruction at nation’s capital.

In Remembrance…
During the Pentagon ceremony, England explained, that it is the Navy’s tradition to name ships after great national or military leaders; heroes who sacrifice their lives to defend freedom or American communities that represent America’s spirit.

The future USS Arlington and USS Somerset will join the USS New York as a tribute to those who suffered on Sept. 11, 2001.

The USS New York and One Man’s Dream
The USS Arlington and The USS Somerset are not the first ships set to commemorate the Sept. 11 heroes. The USS New York was named in 2002. By September 2003, more than 24 tons of steel were salvaged from the World Trade Center to cast the bow stem of the ship, the forward most portion of the ship.

At that time the Navy had no future plans to commemorate the events of Sept. 11 with more warships. So Herb Wolk, 57, a retired Navy civilian employee, and relative of a victim of the Pentagon attack took action.

After the USS New York was named many Pentagon and Pennsylvania families mistakenly believed that other ships would soon be named, said Capt. Kevin Wensing, the Navy secretary’s spokesman.

“We had requests for many different names, but none seemed appropriate until Mr. Wolk’s letter-writing campaign,” Wensing said.

In 2002, Wolk launched a letter-writing campaign, with the help of other Navy families who lost loved ones in the Pentagon attack. They petitioned members of Congress, local officials and the Secretary of the Navy.

“Mr. Wolk and his family’s effort were instrumental to the Navy’s decision to name the ships, the USS Arlington and the USS Somerset,” said Wensing.

Wolk, his wife and daughter, Devora Wolk Pontell, attended the Pentagon ceremony. Pontell’s husband, Lt. Darin H. Pontell, 26, was a naval intelligence officer who died at the Pentagon.

“I am just so grateful that the Navy has named these ships. They serve as living memorials to those who died. I hope they will motivate and inspire the crews and Marines on these ships in their missions to capture terrorists throughout the world,” Wolk said.
Wolk also said he doesn’t think Americans can ever forget the terrible events of Sept. 11.

“It was too horrendous, but life goes on and memories may diminish. That’s why it is so important for the Navy to have done this,” Wolk said.

According to a Navy spokesperson, each ship will cost approximately $1.2 billion. The USS New York is expected to be complete in 2007, followed by the Arlington and Somerset in 2009.

Wolk said his family will continue to take interest in the ships and hopes to attend the ships’ keel laying and commissioning ceremonies.

“The Department of Defense family office keeps in constant touch with the Pentagon families to offer support and keep us informed, so we will be able to follow the progress of the ships being built,” Wolk said.

Families and First Responders Honored
At the Sept. 10 Pentagon ceremony, England spoke to the victims’ families and first responders.

“We honor and recognize the profound service and sacrifice of all those who lost their lives … who were injured … soldiers, sailors and civilians … and the thousands of rescue personnel and citizens who came forward to provide aid to their neighbors,” England said.

About 20 first responders and 35 family members of the Pentagon victims attended the ceremony, along with Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) and Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The ships are symbols of freedom and military strength, said England.
"The USS Arlington and USS Somerset will help America project power to the far reaches of the earth and will support the cause of freedom as we engage in the current war on terrorism," England said. "The courage and heroism of the people aboard those flights, and in the Pentagon, will never be forgotten by the American people.”

England closed with the words of President Bush in the aftermath of Sept. 11, “We will not waiver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail."
“The USS New York, USS Arlington and the USS Somerset and the sailors and Marines who serve America … will never forget and will never fail,” England said.