The USS New York arrived at its new home at Mayport Naval Station Friday afternoon. About a thousand military personnel and their families will now call Jacksonville home.As is tradition, the other ships on base sounded their horns to welcome new arrival USS New York to Mayport. The move is part of an Amphibious Ready Group coming to Jacksonville.
Two more ships, the USS Iwo Jima and USS Fort McHenry will be arriving next year.
In all about 3,000 new military personnel will be transferred from Norfolk.
Florida senior U.S. Senator Bill Nelson said that will be a boon for the local economy.
"Three-thousand sailors and marines, now add to it all of their families, now add to that all the ancillary businesses that have to be here in addition to support that increase in commercial traffic you're talking substantial impact of $75 million a year to the local economy," he said.
The USS New York was commissioned into service in November of 2009. The ship is called the New York in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The ship’s bow stem includes seven and a half tons of steel salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.
WATCH: The USS New York arrives at Mayport
You can follow Kevin Meerschaert on Twitter @KMeerschaertJax.
