“We Stand By You”: A German Salute to America After 9/11

In the days following the September 11 attacks, the USS Winston S. Churchill sailed uneasy waters. Patrolling off the coast of the United Kingdom, her crew carried the weight of grief, uncertainty, and canceled port visits. Though far from home, the tragedy in New York and Washington pressed heavily on every sailor aboard.

Then, in the midst of that somber silence, word spread through the ship: the German destroyer Lütjens (D185) had requested permission to pass close along their port side.

Only weeks before, the two crews had shared a cookout together in port, swapping stories, laughter, and camaraderie. Now, circumstances were very different. The sailors of the Churchill gathered at the rails, curious and heavy-hearted, to see what this approach might mean.

As the Lütjens drew near, the sight stunned them. German sailors stood at attention in full dress blues, lining the rails from bow to stern. Above them, an American flag flew at half-mast. And across the destroyer’s side, stretched wide and clear, hung a handmade banner with just four words:

“We Stand By You.”

For a moment, the Atlantic was quiet. On the Churchill’s deck, sailors stared in silence, some with tears in their eyes. The gesture needed no explanation—it was solidarity in its purest form.

One American officer, overcome with emotion, whispered only, “I’m staying Navy.”

The encounter lasted only minutes, but its impact has endured for decades. It was not simply a naval salute. It was a reminder that alliances are forged in friendship, and that grief shared across borders can bind nations closer.

That day, two ships passed at sea. But what truly crossed the waters was a message of compassion: even in the darkest of times, humanity can find ways to stand together.