Photo By David Todd | 160531-N-WE887-060 NEW YORK (May 31, 2016) USS Bataan (LHD 5) departs from Pier 88 at...... read more read more
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Story by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Dunford, Fleet Week New York Public Affairs
NEW YORK – As the last U.S. Navy ship traveled safely up New York Harbor, and the supporting sea service members said their final goodbyes to the area that graciously hosted them during the week’s evolution, 2016 Fleet Week New York (FWNY) officially came to a close, May 31.
Held nearly every year since 1984, the weeklong event gave citizens and visitors an opportunity to interact with nearly 4,500 sea service members, witnessing firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services. It is estimated that more than 53,000 ship tours were conducted in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island during open general public visiting hours.
“We are so thankful to the citizens of New York and New Jersey for their continued support of the armed forces,” said Rear Adm. John Scorby Jr., Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. “I'm very proud of the community outreach and camaraderie that our talented Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen were able to experience throughout the week.”
While visiting, service members participated in numerous community relations projects, including visits to local area schools, rehabilitation projects with Habitat for Humanity, and outreach efforts through Project HOPE, as well as assisting in soup kitchens and senior centers, providing a helping hand wherever needed.
“Participating in the COMRELs was a lot of fun,” said Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Kailee Gulley, assigned to USS Bataan (LHD 5). “We’re the military … we’re here to protect the people, but it’s also good to show them that we’re real people too.”
During school visits and public venues, such as Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, N.Y., and Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J., more than 16,500 people experienced Navy and Marine Corps aviation teams who showcased a variety of troop insertions, flyovers, and static displays; Coast Guard helicopters demonstrated Search and Rescue operations in the open water at the amazement of onlookers, and the Marine Corps Battle Colors Detachment and Coast Guard Silent Drill Team demonstrated the precision of their choreographed maneuvers.
“I saw the helicopters land … it was spectacular,” said 12-year-old Lara Kilmetis. “The best part though, is getting a chance to speak to the Sailors and Marines because I respect what they do and it’s really interesting.”
In Times Square, military bands performed a wide variety of patriotic and contemporary songs, and Navy Divers played tic-tac-toe with children in the Navy Dive Tank, while also taking time to promote the importance of the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
“I’ve been to Fleet Week as a midshipman, but I’d say this time around was better because of the amount of time and energy that so many people have put into making it such an awesome week,” said. Lt. j.g. Jose Iglesias, USS Farragut (DDG 99). “It’s really eye opening.”
Citizens were also able to observe a joint reenlistment and promotion ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial, which celebrated service members’ renewed commitment to uniformed military service.
“I’m glad I reenlisted at the 9/11 Memorial because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s not often you get this chance, so I thought it would be a good experience for me,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Steven Hinkle, USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). “Fleet Week has been awesome – the hospitality of the people of New York has been great.”
Additionally, Fleet Week-sponsored sporting events, such as the annual Navy versus Marine Corps tug-of-war challenge and going to major league baseball games were a highlight for many, but most said they enjoyed the opportunity to see the sights and sounds of the Big Apple, and experience the variety of cuisine that is available in the city for tasting.
“I’ve gone to two Broadway plays, a Yankees game, we went to the Freedom Tower, the Empire State building, as well as checked out a lot of good food spots,” said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Megan Newsome, assigned to Naval Operations Support Center Earle. “There was a lot of support and people thanking us for our service, so it was just a great experience.”
For up-to-date information on next year’s Fleet Week events, visit the official Fleet Week New York website at www.fleetweeknewyork.com, "Like" FleetWeekNewYork on Facebook, and "Follow" @FleetWeekNYC on Twitter. Fleet Week New York photos can be viewed on Instagram at www.instagram.com/fleetweeknyc and Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/fwynpao. Join the conversation on social media by using #FleetWeekNYC.
| Date Taken: | 05.31.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.31.2016 16:14 |
| Story ID: | 199582 |
| Location: | NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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