The modern ship was named specifically for Somerset County Pennsylvania, in honor of the passengers who died on United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the terror attacks of 11 September 2001. The passengers prevented the plane from reaching its intended target by forcing it to crash in Stonycreek Township in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The words "Let's Roll," spoken by a passenger of United Airlines Flight 93 before trying to storm the cockpit of the doomed flight, are painted on the ship above the rear deck,[2] along with a "93" seal which mirrors the "93" flag seen flying on the vessel in many photos. In the words of Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England;
"The courage and heroism of the people aboard the flight will never be forgotten and USS Somerset will leave a legacy that will never be forgotten by those wishing to do harm to this country."
Construction
Approximately 22 tons of steel from a Marion 7500 dragline that stood near Flight 93's crash site were used to construct Somerset's keel.[3]
On 3 February 2014, the Somerset was recorded as the last Navy ship to depart from the Avondale shipyard, before its closing. She was commissioned on 1 March 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[7]
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.