The USS Arlington, which was commissioned last year in Norfolk, has opened a tribute room in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The room was funded in part by donations from Arlington County and local residents and organizations. It includes a quilt with the names of the 184 victims of the attack on the Pentagon, sewn by 8th grade students at Arlington’s Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the tribute room was held late last week.
The following was written by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric Brown, USS Arlington Public Affairs.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert joined nearly 400 crew members aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by opening a ship tribute room Jan. 24.
The tribute room, which honors the 184 heroes and victims killed in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001, was funded by donations from private individuals, civic organizations and corporate sponsors to the Hampton Roads Navy League.
The new room is located just aft of the bridge on the ship’s fourth level.
“It’s a solemn place with many images from that day in 2001,” said Greenert. “But it also helps us to remember what this ship is all about.”
In the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, five hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 77 crashed the airplane into the west wall of the Pentagon, in Arlington County, Va. Similar terrorist attacks occurred in New York City and Somerset County, Pa.
Arlington is the second of the Navy’s three amphibious transport dock ships named in commemoration of the worst incident of terrorism in U.S. history.
“Arlington is a multi-mission ship, combining expeditionary and amphibious operations, and is a very high-demand asset with a very bright future – it’s all just a matter of how much we can give of her at any time,” Greenert said.
The tribute room’s mahogany display cases and commercial-grade flooring were built for design capability and durability, ensuring it will inspire generations of Sailors and Marines serving aboard USS Arlington for the 40-year projected lifespan of the ship.
The focus of the room is a quilt with the 184 names on it that was sewn by eighth grade students from the Thomas Jefferson Middle School, in Arlington, Va., then hand-assembled by artist Dianne Braden Lumpkin. Other artifacts include a section of an I-beam and remnants from the Pentagon.
Prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Greenert and Arlington Commanding Officer Cmdr. Darren Nelson addressed the ship’s crew, members of the Navy League and 9/11 Pentagon first responders.
“We open this room today to show our Sailors our heritage and to help them understand how Arlington got her name,” Nelson said. “We can never forget that terrible day, but we need to teach our Sailors that our nation, our Navy and our ship are forever resilient. We will always stand up against terror and terrorism. We have the strength, honor and fortitude to continue the fight as long as it takes.”
Arlington is the eighth in Navy’s San Antonio class of ships, designed to be the most survivable amphibious vessels ever put to sea. The third in the U.S. fleet to bear the name, Arlington was commissioned April 6, 2013. The ship combines 21st century amphibious shipbuilding and warfighting technologies to support current and future Marine Corps aircraft and landing craft, and will be capable of taking nearly 1,200 Sailors and Marines into harm’s way.
For more news from USS Arlington (LPD 24), visit www.navy.mil/local/lpd24/.
Photo courtesy U.S. Navy
Recent Stories
With the Yellow Line bridge and tunnel work complete, Metro is upping service on the line. Starting Sunday, Yellow Line trains will arrive every eight minutes all day, the transit…
In honor of the one-month anniversary of this article, we give you a new Mike Mount cartoon. In case you don’t get the reference, it also riffs on some of…
Discover the advantages of setting up an LLC for an investment property in Woloszyn’s Insights.
Apartments proposed along Arlington Blvd, near Courthouse, have cleared the next hurdle on their way to final approvals. Fortis Companies is proposing to remove a lone, single-family detached home, a…
Join MoCA Arlington Summer Camps at Marymount University and learn the fundamentals of handbuilding, throwing on a wheel, glazing, and much more. In this two-week course, students will explore hand building techniques, wheel throwing, and strengthen ideas that exemplify individual artist expression guided by professional working artists. Students of all skill levels are welcome!
Visit MoCA Arlington’s Website here and the registration page to secure your space today!
Please join us on Saturday, June 3, from 2 to 4 pm for the Glencarlyn Home Tour in Arlington’s historic Glencarlyn neighborhood. Among the featured homes will be a sparkling new home by A&N Builders at 5604-4th St. South. The inviting front porch opens to a light-filled space featuring high ceiling, wood floors, gas fireplace, Pella windows, Shrock cabinets, Quartz countertop, and JennAir appliances. Doors from the family room open to a large covered porch with a few steps to the level, landscaped rear yard. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, three bathrooms, laundry room, and linen storage. The big lower level has a rec room, gym space, and a fifth bedroom and bathroom plus even more storage. After leaving the home, stroll to the Ball-Sellers home, the oldest residence in Arlington, the community gardens at the library, Carlin Hall, and the 94 acre Glencarlyn Park. A lovely way to while away a late spring afternoon.
Homebuying 101: Steps to Getting Pre-Approved
Are you ready to jump into homeownership or started considering it but don’t know where to start? Financial preparation is key when thinking about purchasing your first home and the first step to getting pre-approved.
Join ACFCU’s mortgage loan officers
4th of July Celebration & Fireworks
Treat yourself this Independence Day with a world-class, private 4th of July extravaganza at the Military Women’s Memorial – a premier National Capital Region site.
Great food, fun, and the best views of Washington DC’s spectacular fireworks display. Relax, enjoy,
