Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that New York City will host 30 members of the crew of the USS New York at the sixth game of the World Series at Yankee Stadium tonight. The USS New York is the US Navy's new warship whose bow was built with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center. The Mayor made the announcement this morning while thanking New Yorkers for their support at the 89th Street D-M subway station in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

"There are few things more American than a World Series showdown at Yankee Stadium, and we couldn't be prouder to bring 30 men and women who will soon be heading back to their new homeport Norfolk, Virginia, to tonight's big game," said Mayor Bloomberg. "It's been a thrill to welcome to the USS New York to our City, and what a thrill it would be for the crew - and all of us - to see the Yankees win it all tonight. I want to thank Major League Baseball for being so helpful in finding ways for us to buy tickets, and let's hope we're able to send our sailors off with a victory celebration they'll never forget."

At the game, the Mayor will sit with the Commanding Officer of the USS New York, Commander Curt Jones, behind home plate. Last Sunday night, Mayor Bloomberg watched Game Four of the World Series with the crew of the USS New York aboard the ship, and he presented Commander Jones with a New York City flag, on which he inscribed, "Forged in the fires of our hearts, this ship sails for freedom." All of the tickets for the USS New York crew were paid for by the Mayor personally.

The USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) arrived in New York City on Monday and will be formally commissioned as a United States Navy warship by the Secretary of the Navy Raymond Mabus at the Intrepid's Pier 86 on Manhattan's West Side on Saturday. Seven and a half tons of steel from the World Trade Center was melted down and used to construct the bow of the ship. A tribute to the heroes of 9/11, this amphibious surface ship is one of the most technologically advanced vessels ever constructed. The USS New York and its crew will leave New York City for its new homeport in Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday, November 12th.

In November 2007, Mayor Bloomberg visited the USS New York while it was still under construction in New Orleans, and in its mast he placed a special coin struck in honor of NYPD Detective and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant James McNaughton, who was killed in Iraq in August 2005.