MYFOXNY.COM -
The Navy destroyer Michael Murphy, named for a fallen local hero sailor, arrived on the West Side of Manhattan on Monday ahead of its commissioning ceremony.
Coast Guard and other local security boats escorted the ship across New York Harbor and up the Hudson River to Pier 88.
The ship is set to be commissioned on October 6, 2012, when it will officially become known as the USS Michael Murphy.
The destroyer is open to the public for tours on Oct. 2, 3, and 8, from 1 to 5 p.m. on Pier 88 in Manhattan. Visitors must bring a government-issued photo ID.
The guided-missile destroyer, the 62nd in the Arleigh Burke class, is named for Lt. Michael Patrick Murphy, a Navy SEAL from Long Island. The ship was christened in 2011.
Murphy was killed during a mission in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. He exposed himself to enemy fire in order to call for help after his SEAL team came under attack.
While being shot at repeatedly, Murphy calmly provided his unit's location and requested immediate support for his element, according to the Department of Defense. He returned to his cover position to continue the fight until finally succumbing to wounds.
For his actions in the doomed mission, Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration.
Three other SEALs in Murphy's team died that day. Sixteen Navy and Army special forces troops who were on their way to extract Murphy's team died when their helicopter was shot down.
Murphy grew up in Patchogue, graduated Patchogue-Medford High School, went to Penn State, and joined the Navy in 2000, according to the Navy.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Maureen Murphy will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her late son. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when she gives the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"
The 9,200-ton Michael Murphy was built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and has a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
The commissioning ceremony will be live at www.livestream.com/usnavy and the Twitter hash tag #MURPH is being used for the event.
Navy destroyer Michael Murphy passes the Statue of Liberty, Oct. 1, 2012, escorted by Coast Guard vessels. (Photo by PO2 Erik Swanson/ U.S. Coast Guard)
