BUFFALO, N.Y. — Another chapter will be added to the Queen City's rich naval and maritime history today when the new USS Little Rock LCS 9 is commissioned as the Navy's newest war ship.
The ceremony is taking place at 11 a.m. along Canalside. Tickets for the event are sold out, but 2 On Your Side will carry the ceremony live on wgrz.com and the Channel 2 Facebook page.
Today marks the first time in the Navy's 242-year history that a ship will be commissioned alongside its namesake.
The new vessel arrived in Western New York on December 4th — a few days ahead of schedule. Prior to the ship's arrival, crew members were conducting tests in Lake Michigan.
The ship is one of the Navy's most advanced. It cost more than $300 million dollars to build, and unlike its predecessor, it's designed to operate closer to shore and in as little as 14 feet of water.
It features state-of-the-art weapons and navigation systems. It is the fifth such vessel to be put into service.
The ship's crew took part in several events in Buffalo in the week and a half leading up to today's commissioning.
Last week, the commander and crew received a key to the city. Some of the crew members also made stops at Oishei Children's Hospital and the VA hospitals in Buffalo and Batavia.
