The ship was built with steel salvaged from the /*World Trade Center*/ site, with more on a ceremony honoring NYPD officer killed in the attacks.
They helped remember 23 police officers who raced into the towers, but never came out.
"There were those who carried 80 pounds of equipment up 31 flights of stairs to get to those who needed help," said Commissioner Ray Kelly.
Most heart wrenching was the site of children who came up here to accept commemorative medallions, some of the kids only about 10-years-old now and too young to have known the heroes that came before them.
Erin Coughlin was a teenager, lucky enough, to know her dad, Sgt. John Coughlin, but still... "At the age of 16, I became an adult within minutes," she said "I mean, I went from being a junior in high school to be the oldest of 3 girls that had to step up right away."
Also honored today were 50 others from the department who have died since 9/11from illnesses that may have stemmed from working at the site.
Detective Robert Williamson was only 42 when he died from cancer.
"And we've reached a point 10 years later, where we have a long way to go.because they refuse. to acknowledge that a lot of young healthy men, developed cancer," said his wife Maureen.
So with all the patriotism, there was still a lot of grief.
