04/10/2013: USS Arlington LPD24 Commissioning was held in early April 2013.
Credit:Defense Media Activity – Navy:4/8/13
According to Scott McCaffrey of The Sun Gazette:
A crowd of 6,000 gathered April 6 at Naval Station Norfolk for the commissioning of the USS Arlington in a colorful ceremony whose roots date to the year before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
“We are a warship, and we are prepared to do our nation’s bidding,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Darren Nelson, commander of the landing platform dock, as the ship was placed into commission.
The mission of the ship, its 28 officers and 332 enlisted personnel will be to support the movement of up to 800 Marines and their equipment to world hot-spots.
The name “Arlington” was selected to honor the 184 victims of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, and to salute the first-responders whose actions prevented further loss of life and saved the building. In the crowd were about 50 people who lost family members in the attack.
“I want you to know what an outstanding ship you’re getting,” Nelson told the assembled crowd on a pier usually reserved for aircraft carriers. “I couldn’t have picked a finer crew. We will be the bearer of freedom wherever we go in the world.”
Scenes include several shots of the ship.
Second Line of Defense attended the christening of the ship in 2011.
http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/building-the-lpd-17/
http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/a-missed-opportunity/
http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/remembering-september-11th-the-usn-usmc-way/
http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/remembering-911-christening-the-uss-arlington/
http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/the-uss-arlington-the-latest-ldp-17-adding-capability-to-the-arg/