Keel ceremony set for USS Somerset

Local News

Discussion

November 21, 2009

By BERNIE HORNICK The Tribune-Democrat Sat Nov 21, 2009, 10:37 PM EST

Construction of the USS Somerset – named as a tribute in the wake of 9/11 – has reached another milestone: The keel-authentication ceremony has been set for Dec. 11 in Avondale, La.

The amphibious transport vehicle is being built by general contractor Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding.

Company spokesman Bill Glenn said last week from Pascagoula, Miss., that the ceremony will formally mark that the keel, laid in September, “has been truly and fairly laid.”

“We’ll have some speakers,” he said.

“The final thing we’ll do is the sponsor – Mary Jo Myers – will have a keel plate and she will sort of sketch her initials in it and a welder will come in and trace it. That will be the big thing. Everyone will have their welding masks on. They make little commemorative keel plates.”

Myers is the wife of retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, who was the 15th

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Other milestones will be the launching of the vessel in fall 2011 to be followed by the christening at a date to be determined, delivery to the Navy at the end of 2012 and the commissioning in 2013.

Construction began in May 2008.

The ship’s bow stem, the part that cuts through the water, contains steel from the bucket of a dragline excavator at the abandoned strip mine near Shanksville where Flight 93 crashed.

The craft is one of a series of San Antonio-class transports dedicated to the memory of Sept. 11, 2011 – including the USS New York, which is in service, and the USS Arlington, which is farther along than the Somerset in the construction process in Pascagoula.

The main purpose of the ship will be to transport and land Marines. It also can carry helicopters, land vehicles and weaponry.

The masts of the San Antonio ships are octagon-shaped. That stealth feature allows the boats to better avoid radar detection.

“To build these ships in honor of these heroes from that day, the workers feel that every day,” Glenn said.

“They understand how special these ships are to our company and our nation.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Boswell-based summer camp adding 130 acres
A Boswell-based summer camp is expanding again, with an additional 130 acres of Ligonier-area land expected to provide more space for a growing program for inner-city youth.

February 10, 2012
City not seeking grant for firemen
Six weeks after a second round of layoffs, Johnstown firefighters believe they have found a way to restore their depleted manpower.

February 10, 2012
Six awarded Allegany College scholarships
Six Somerset County residents recently were awarded the Lucas Popernack Memorial Scholarships for study at Allegany College of Maryland in the current 2011-12 academic year.

February 10, 2012
Blogging with heart
Although it was probably high school English classes that propelled by career, I always liked science and history – with some notable, teacher-personality-or-competence-related exceptions.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Commissioners appoint three to arena board
The Cambria County commissioners, looking for new input for the county-owned War Memorial Arena, have appointed three new members to the seven-member War Memorial Authority board.

February 10, 2012
In brief: Police seek suspect in Lower Yoder burglary
West Hills Regional Police are searching for a suspect in the burglary of a Lower Yoder Township home on Tuesday.

February 10, 2012
Lawsuit: Bedford County shooting not 'justified'
The widow of a man who a prosecutor determined committed “suicide by cop” by pointing a weapon at state police during a standoff is suing, claiming the shooting was not justified.

February 10, 2012
Book honors Flight 93 co-pilot Homer
The widow of Flight 93 copilot LeRoy W. Homer Jr. is releasing a book this month on the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

February 10, 2012
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.

February 9, 2012 2 Photos
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.

February 9, 2012 2 Photos
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion