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WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Gordon England hosted a group of visiting German naval officers at the Pentagon, Feb. 1. Among the group were the German naval attache, Capt. Arnim Dischereit, and Cmdr. Michael Meding, commanding officer of the destroyer Lutjens (D185). In the wake of last year's terrorist attacks on America, Lutjens sailed past USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) from the port of Portsmouth, England, with the German Sailors manning the rails in dress blues and an American flag flying at half-mast from the German destroyer's mast. Lutjens also displayed a large handwritten sign that read: "We stand by you." The gesture brought tears to the eyes of Churchill's crew and illustrated the outpouring of international support for America following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. "This was more than just a gesture to Churchill, this was a gesture to the United States Navy and to the American people on behalf of the German Navy and the German people," England said during the visit. After learning of the gesture, England requested to meet with the German officers to offer his gratitude on behalf of the Navy and the America people for Germany's unforgettable show of support. DDG 81 is named in honor of Sir Winston Spencer Churchill (1874-1965), best known for his courageous leadership as British prime minister during World War II. The ship is the only active U.S. warship named for a foreign dignitary. For more information on Navy destroyers,
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