The U.S.S. New York, built using eight tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center towers after the 9/11 terrorists attacks, set sail from the banks of the Mississippi River Tuesday bound for New York City. 

The new warship was built by the U.S. Navy to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.  It is a Navy amphibious assault vessel capable of carrying more than 800 Marines.
     
"That steel means a whole lot more than just metal. The entire country comes together in the form of that bow stem and I'm so proud that this event puts it in the history books and in people's minds," Ronnie Harris, mayor of Gretna, Louisiana, said.
    
The ship's motto is "Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget."
    
The ship will be commissioned next month in New York City and will be based in Norfolk, Virginia.  It is the first of three ships the Navy will commission and name for location that were involved in the 9/11 attacks.  Still under construction are the Somerset (Pennsylvania County where the passengers and crew of Flight 93 fought back against hijackers) and the Arlington (Pentagon.)

Constructed at the Northrup Grumman's Shipyard outside of New Orleans, La.,  the warship cost $1.2 billion to build.