21-Gun Salute For USS New York This Morning

Heads up—Notify NYC reminds us, "There will be a 21-gun salute [today] 11/2/09 at approximately 8 AM from the deck of the USS New York. The ship will be in the Hudson River near the World Trade Center Site in Manhattan. Expect repetitive loud noises." The ship, which is made from steel from the World Trade Center, is in New York City for her commissioning this Saturday; as for today's festivities, here's what the Navy says:

PCU New York will pass under the Verrazano Bridge and be joined by a flotilla of boats from Federal, State and City organizations as well as local municipalities, ferry companies and private boats. Many of these vessels responded on 9-11 to assist with evacuation, some with firefighting and some with the aftermath as New York struggled to clean-up and rebuild. A few are named after heroes who fell that terrible day, like PCU New York. Many were the vessels that turned Flight 1549 from an air crash into a Miracle. They all come to pay respect to what was lost and to welcome what has returned. It is here, at this time and place that we draw a line in the sand and say, We Will Never Forget. Many events are being planned for the week with public visitation of this great ship a priority. As schedules firm up we will post that information.

The USS New York, which has been traveling from Louisiana where it was built, be open for public visitation this week and next, when she is docked at Pier 88 at 12th Avenue and West 48 Street. Here's the schedule: Wednesday, November 4 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday, November 5 - 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Monday, November 9 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday, November 10 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.