USS Arlington: 'This is Awesome' [Photos]

NORFOLK — Plenty of reminders of 9/11 are scattered about the USS Arlington, a 24,900-ton landing platform dock set to be commissioned by the U.S. Navy today.

One hundred eighty-four stars are painted in various places — some near the mess hall, for instance, a few more near the ship's store and elsewhere. They were placed where the ship's 1,200-member crew likely aren't to be consumed by their duties so they can reflect on the 184 lives lost when a plane crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

The USS Arlington is a San Antonio-class ship. It can carry some aircraft but is primarily used to transport ground vehicles and personnel. At 684 feet long, sailors and Marines consider it a smaller ship; its size allows it to maneuver close to shore to deploy those vehicles and personnel.

Such ships cost around $1.4 billion. Steel recovered from the Pentagon after 9/11 was used in construction, officials said, and some steel will be placed in a tribute room. A sign for the Pentagon Metro hangs in a small common area near the ship's administrative and payroll offices; an Arlington Boulevard sign hangs on the hangar wall on the way to the flight deck.

Arlington County Board Chairman Walter Tejada was one of several local officials to get a tour of the ship Friday in advance of today's commissioning.

"I might sound like a little kid, but this is awesome," he told Patch on the ship's flight deck. Tejada talked about the ship's capability to assist in missions around the world in the name of our hometown.

"We like that," he said. " ... It's a source of pride for all of Arlington."

More:

• Fundraising for USS Arlington Tribute Room to Continue
• Video: USS Arlington Arrives at Naval Station Norfolk
• County Contributes $50K Toward USS Arlington 9/11 Tribute Room
• Washington-Lee Junior Designs Winning Arlington County Car Decal
• USS Arlington: Fundraising Under Way for Commissioning