The crew of USS Constitution and members of the community commemorated the tragic loss of life and historic significance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Wednesday, aboard the ship.
Cmdr. Nathaniel R. Shick, USS Constitution’s 75th commanding officer, spoke about his experiences on that September morning.
“Eighteen years ago we witnessed these events,” said Shick. “For my own experience, I was down in Newport, Rhode Island attending Surface Warfare Officer School. I remember us going to the highest state of readiness that day and in the days following.”
“I also remember the ash. As far away as Rhode Island, the ash fell each morning on my truck as I would depart for the school parking lot. Each and every day we carry a little bit of that in our memories,” said Shick.
Throughout the morning, Constitution’s crew members commemorated the tragic day by firing gun salutes from the ship’s saluting battery and playing Taps.
At 8:46 a.m., Constitution’s crewmembers fired a one-gun salute marking the impact of American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
At 9:03 a.m., Constitution’s crewmembers fired a one-gun salute marking the impact of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
At 9:37 a.m., Constitution’s crewmembers fired a one-gun salute marking the impact of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
At 9:59 a.m., Constitution’s crewmembers played Taps marking the collapse of the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
At 10:03 a.m., Constitution’s crewmembers fired a one-gun salute, immediately followed by the playing of Taps marking the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Somerset County, Penn.
At 10:10 a.m.,Constitution’s crewmembers played Taps marking the primary collapse of the stricken section of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
At 10:28 a.m., Constitution’s crewmembers played Taps marking the collapse of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
Marine Maj. Ken Starr, who was at ground zero during the attack, spoke about his experiences and what he will never forget about that day.
“Here’s what I’ll never forget: flying into New York on the 6 a.m. shuttle to Boston on such a beautiful, sunny day; looking up and seeing the north tower with a gaping hole, billowing smoke; the amazement I felt watching firefighters, police, and other first responders rushing to the towers while everyone else was running the other way; being inside a dust cloud that was so dense, pieces of paper just floated in the air; the smell that I can’t describe; shoes in the middle of the road because people just ran out of them.” said Starr. “That’s what I will never forget.”
USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, played a crucial role in the
Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.
Designated America’s Ship of State, Constitution and her crew engage in community outreach
and education about the ship’s history and the importance of naval power to more than 500,000
visitors each year.