OTTUMWA — There’s a strong connection between America’s newest warship and the 9/11 attacks on New York City. But there’s an Ottumwa connection, too.

Ret. Rear Admiral Bob Ravitz is the Ottumwa native helping organize the festivities surrounding the commissioning of the U.S. Navy’s newest warship, the USS New York.

The U.S. Navy agreed to name the newly built amphibious assault ship to memorialize the events that took place in New York on Sept. 11, 2001.

“She’s very special ... because she carries 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center,” said Ravitz, 71, who lives in Connecticut. “That’s what makes her unique.”

The ship motto ends with a two-word phrase: Never Forget.

But as a ship of war, the USS New York will carry more than just memories reclaimed from the rubble at Ground Zero.

“This is for Marines. It’s a Navy ship that carries Marines into the theater [of combat operations].

Those Marines won’t always need to hit the beach like they did in World War II, he explained — they’ll go over it, then head to where the enemy is located.

“It’s a new world of amphibious warfare,” said Ravitz. “The [other] thing about the Navy today, they’ve got a lot more missions than just warfare. If it had to go into a foreign country, [it could] perform a humanitarian.... or diplomatic mission.”

Ravitz’ current mission is to help honor both the crew members and those being memorialized, as well as the families of both. The commissioning committee co-chairmen are Ravitz and Robert Wood Johnson IV, owner of the NFL’s New York Jets.

Ravitz is also acting as executive director for planning the event.

“The Navy pays for the actual three-hour commissioning ceremony ... on Nov. 7. But the local civilian committee creates events surrounding the commissioning,” he said.

There will be about a week of such events, including functions with families of those killed on 9/11, the first responders and other rescue personnel and several parties welcoming the ship to New York. Organizers feel that while the USS New York is docked, around 100,000 people will visit the ship.

Sailors will get to celebrate the commissioning with their family members. The committee has raised enough through sponsorships and other fundraising to fly in nearly 200 spouses.

Ravitz knows what it’s like to serve on board a ship.