USS Somerset's Bay Area Arrival For Fleet Week Comes With A Special Story
KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales answers the questions you never get to ask on-air.
Q: Hi Roberta! I heard you mention the USS Somerset is in the Bay Area for Fleet Week. Have you seen it? Andy Williams; Mountain View
A: Well yes I have! But not in person….
My friend "fototaker Tony" sent me a picture this morning of the magnificent USS Somerset. It is a beautiful ship. But what amazed me more, was the story I heard from KCBS All News Anchor Stan Bunger. Stan gave me a bit of background on this "special" ship.
The USS Somerset has history to it. The ship is named after the passengers of the ill fated United Airlines Flight 93. During the September 11, 2001 attacks on American soil, the passengers of this flight rose together in an attempt to take it's plane back and regain control from hijacking terrorists. "Let's Roll!" Because of their actions, Flight 93 never made it to it's intended White House or Capitol Building target. The plane crashed, killing all 44 onboard including four al-Qaeda highjackers, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Let #fleetweeksf begin...First to arrive is @USS_Somerset. Welcome! http://t.co/sn0jY8uqBh pic.twitter.com/6KZ7OLE0XX
— Ron (@Sky1Ron) October 6, 2015
Near the Flight 93 crash site sat a crane. Roughly 22 tons of steel from this mammonth crane was used in the building of the USS Somerset.
The tale of the USS Somerset is one of many stories which will be shared over the next few days here in the San Francisco Bay Area while we embrace, observe and celebrate Fleet Week. The honoring of our men and women fulfiling their obligations to American military service will be showcased with airshows, ship tours and the annual Parade of Ships.
For a complete Fleet Week SF Schedule you may visit http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/tag/fleet-week/ and for a Fleet Week Forecast http://cbssf.com/weather.