— U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, on July 18 inserted the following remarks into the Congressional Record to recognize the christening of the USS Somerset:

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the christening of the USS Somerset.

On July 28, 2012, the USS Somerset will become the latest San Antonio class landing platform/dock (LPD) to join our Navy’s fleet. This ship will commemorate the valor and courage of the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93 who gave their lives to protect our way of life on September 11, 2001.

In waters across the globe, the USS Somerset will continue the fight for freedom that the United Flight 93 passengers and crew began. Wherever the ship travels, her impregnable exterior will symbolize our impregnable resolve to honor their memory and to continue their legacy of sacrifice for the greater good.

About 22 tons of steel taken from a crane near the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, has been incorporated into the ship’s bow stem. Like the steel from that crane, the American people have taken a new form since 9/11. We are stronger and more resilient than we were prior to that fateful day. Like the steel from that crane, we have emerged from the tragic events of September 11th ready and eager to take on new challenges, embark on new journeys and explore new horizons.

The USS Somerset is the last of three ships that have been built in honor of the September 11th victims. The USS New York, christened in March 2008, was built as a tribute to the individuals who lost their lives at the World Trade Center and the USS Arlington, christened in March 2011, was built as a tribute to the servicemembers and civilians who perished at the Pentagon.

Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the christening of the USS Somerset with great pride. It is my most sincere hope that the delivery of this ship will provide the family members and friends of the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 with some measure of solace. For the USS Somerset will carry the story and sacrifice of their loved ones to the sailors and Marines tasked with defending our freedoms, promoting peace and providing assistance across our oceans.



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Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., entered this statement:

This Saturday, July 28, 2012, the United States Navy will perform a christening ceremony in New Orleans for the future USS Somerset.

The USS Somerset is a special ship, bearing the name of the Southwest Pennsylvania county where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on

Sept. 11, 2001.

On that infamous day, a group of defiant and determined Americans challenged a group of Al-Qaeda hijackers hell bent on crashing the plane into the United States Capitol, the White House, or another sensitive D.C.-area target. The terrorists’ goal was not achieved, thanks to the bravery of the Americans onboard. We will never forget their actions in the face of horror.

The USS Somerset will serve as an ongoing emblem of their heroism as it races to the aid of our friends and defends American liberty against our foes. This ship also embodies the American spirit local Pennsylvanians demonstrated shortly after the crash, when they raised the Stars and Stripes atop the crash site as an unforgettable symbol of our country’s resolve during a time of national sorrow.

Wherever the USS Somerset goes, so will a piece of Southwest Pennsylvania. The bow of the ship includes steel from a dragline adjacent to the crash side in Stonycreek Township, where it was a silent witness to an indelible act of American courage and strength in defiance of those who would do us harm.

I wish the United States Navy and the future crew of the USS Somerset safe travels and successful missions defending America – and freedom worldwide.