San Diego, Calif. - Griswold High School graduate and Voluntown, Conn., native Ensign Meghan S. Grenier, is serving aboard the USS Somerset (LPD 25) that was named in honor of passengers and crew of the United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked by terrorists and used in the Sept. 11 attacks.

The actions of the crew and passengers prevented the terrorist hijackers from reaching their target and forced the airplane to crash near Shanksville, Somerset County, Pa.

About 22 tons of steel from a crane that was near the crash site was used to construct Somerset's bow stem to embody the strength and determination of the people of the United States "to recover, rally, to take the fight to the enemy," said James Green, mass communications specialist, first-class for the Navy office of Community Outreach.

Grenier said she is learning about herself as a leader, a sailor and a person while serving with the Somerset's 361-member crew.

"I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to serve on this great ship," Grenier said. "Professionally it's an honor to serve here, and on a personal level it is an exciting place to be. This is a great team."