CT company designs, prints for USS NY

Watertown (WTNH) - A Watertown company is busy these days printing and designing items for the newest addition to the Navy fleet. As the USS New York prepares to sail, the company is making some sales of its own.

The USS New York is the sixth ship to be christened. The last one was a battleship that served in World War II.

Miles from the coast, tucked away in Watertown, a shirt shop is hard at work making a most unusual product.

"I do anything that's got the USS New York name on it, I'm the official vendor," the Connecticut Shirt Man, Gary DeCavage said.

DeCavage won the USS New York contract last year and he's got anything and everything you could ever want; caps are the most popular. But there's also shirts, models, patches, coins. Why so much? This is a most unusual ship.

"The bow of the ship, there's actually seven-tons of steel," said DeCavage.

Steel taken from the wreckage of the World Trade Center are right on the crest along with a phoenix rising from the ashes with three stripes for the police, firefighters and Port Authority in New York. And in between, drops of blood for the fallen heroes. And that's just the insignia; the ship is in a class by itself.

"Beautiful ship, beautiful ship, it's huge," said DeCavage.

The USS New York will be one of the most technologically-advanced ships in the fleet; it's an LPD, or Landing Platform Dock, and can hold 650 Marines, providing close support in combat. And the sale of these help those on-board.

"My company actually supports the USS New York Commissioning Committee which has a foundation that is supporting the sailors and their families," DeCavage said.

It's an unusual way to support the troops but it's one that Decavage is delighted to do. He actually learned his trade while in the corps.

"Very big deal and I'm honored because I am a Marine myself and this ship is primarily a Marine ship," said DeCavage.

The USS New York will be officially commissioned in New York on November 7th.