Avondale, La. -- A ship that will be christened Saturday at Avondale Shipyards has attracted the families of some 911 victims to the city.
The USS Somerset (LPD-25), an amphibious transport dock, sat on the river adorned for Saturday's momentous occasion.
"We're proud of every ship we build because we build them for heroes. In this particular case we get a two-fer," said Irwin Edenzon, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, which owns Avondale Shipyards.
The USS Somerset is named in honor of the victims of United Flight 93, which crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001 as passengers bravely confronted the terrorist hijackers.
"We are so very proud to be here representing those 40 heroes we lost that day," said Patrick White, President of Families of Flight 93.
The terrorists were trying to take the plane to the nation's capitol.
Todd Beamer is remembered for his "Let's roll" statement to passengers who were resisting the hijackers. His father, David Beamer, was at the shipyard Friday for a pre-christening ceremony.
"The passengers and crew of Flight 93 became the first to engage in a counterattack against our enemy on that day," said David Beamer.
"My daughter, Deora, would be very proud to be here for the christening and she would be very proud of the men and women who serve on the USS Somerset," said Deborah Borza.
Avondale workers are more than proud of what they have accomplished so far, and the work yet to be done on the ship.
"It makes you want to go 120 percent, to do your job the best you can," said Michael Miller, a ship construction superintendent at Avondale.
Because of plans to shutter the shipyard, the Somerset is the last ship of its kind that will be built there.
"It's simply the economics of capacity. We have the capacity at Pascagoula to be able to build all of the ships that the Navy is going to ask us to build," said Edenzon.
Heavy rains prevented families of the 911 victims from touring the unfinished vessel Friday. They will get another opportunity at Saturday's christening ceremony.
The ship will likely be commissioned in a year or so in another state, according to Avondale officials.
USS Somerset (LPD-25) amphibious transport dock to be christened at Avondale
