USS New York holds 9/11 ceremony

NORFOLK, Va. (AP/WAVY) - Sailors and Marines aboard USS New York are holding a remembrance ceremony to mark the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The USS New York is an amphibious transport dock that was built with seven and a half tons of steel that were salvaged from the World Trade Center following the 9/11 attacks. The Navy says it also has many design elements and furnishings that serve as tributes to the events of 9/11.

"New York was not built to be a vessel of mourning, but rather a living, breathing symbol of what our country has come together to build in the days after," said Capt. Jon Kreitz , commanding officer of USS New York ( LPD 21).

The ship is home ported in Norfolk but is currently on its maiden deployment. The ship is operating in the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility, which includes the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf.

Marines on the ship are from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.