Sailors from Fast Attack Submarine USS Virginia Stitch Part of History

A group of Sailors from the fast attack submarine USS Virginia (SSN 774) helped stitch the National 9/11 Memorial Flag while it visited Portsmouth prior to its arrival in New York, Sept. 11.

Virginia crewmembers also assisted Portsmouth firefighters fold the large flag for the next stop in its journey to Rhode Island. The flag will eventually make its way to New York City for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

“I’m honored to take part today,” said Information Systems Technician Submarines Second Class Kenneth Krow. “The Virginia and I have a small part of history now.”

The flag was originally destroyed in the aftermath of 9/11 and initially stitched back together seven years later by tornado survivors in Greensburg, KS. Volunteers have taken the flag to all 50 states to provide them an opportunity to add their flag to the overall memorial.

The flag made its New Hampshire visit at a fire station in Portsmouth. Portsmouth is the host community of USS Virginia during her first-of-its-class major maintenance availability.

Virginia is the sixth ship named for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the first-in-class of the Navy’s newest nuclear powered fast-attack submarines. Virginia is slated to return to sea in February 2012.
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Source: navy, September 2, 2011;