USS New York (LPD 21) ended a week long port visit with a visit from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs Dr. Loree Sutton Nov. 13. The ship's visit to the city marked its second visit since her commissioning in 2009.

During the tour the mayor and commissioner were able to see a variety of items that closely bind the ship to the city, that were donated by various organizations in the city including steel from wreckage of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, patches from New York City Police and Fire Departments, subway maps and street signs, and many other items unique to the ship.

Sutton said that the ship's visit during Veterans Week New York City 2015 was particularly important because of the special bond between the city, the ship and it's Sailors and 9/11.

"They now have a 'lived' connection--it's real. They've been to New York, they've heard stories, they've been to Times Square. We've got our arms around them. We love our Sailors, we love our Marines," said Sutton.

In 2003, 7.5 tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center towers were poured to form the ship's bow stem. More than simply sharing a name, this is a physical connection between the ship and city.

"The crew--Sailors and Marines--thoroughly enjoyed the city, thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many of the citizens here to re-establish the ties between the New York citizens and our USS New York Sailors," said Capt. Kenneth Coleman, commanding officer of USS New York. "And I think, again, for the folks who haven't been here before or are new to our ship, they took away a renewed appreciation of just how special this ship is to...the 9/11 memories that we carry with us."

The relationship between the U.S. Navy and New York City goes back to the early 1800s when the Brooklyn Navy Yard started building ships, continued as a major port of embarkation for service members deploying to support World War II, and has continued through the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Similarly, the New York City Veterans Day Parade, now called 'America's Parade,' is a continuation of a New York tradition that began in 1919 with Gen. John Pershing leading victorious World War I troops in the city's very first Veterans Day parade.

After stopping for a quick #selfiewithasailor on the ship's quarterdeck prior to his departure, de Blasio was thanked by the commanding officer for the city's hospitality, and added that he hoped the ship's crew returned the city by leaving the city better than they found it. de Blasio responded, "What you do returns the favor. Thanks for what you do!"

The ship departed Manhattan with a formation of Sailors on the ship's flight deck spelling out, 'I Love NY,' before returning to the ship's homeport in Mayport, Florida.

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