New York City welcomed members of the military who keep the world safe by water. Nearly 3,000 sailors, marines and Coast Guard members from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard participated in New York’s 22nd Fleet Week from May 20 through May 27.
The annual celebration honors the nation’s sea service and allows locals to mingle with military personnel. Fleet Week also gave many service people a chance to visit the Big Apple, and for many, it was their first trip.
Several naval ships also rolled into New York piers and were on display. Over the Memorial Day weekend, locals and out-of-towners toured ships that set port along Manhattan’s West Side and Staten Island. Vessels, including the assault ship the USS Iwo Jima, guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf and patrol costal ship USS Tempest, were open to the public.
Exhibits were also on display showing off the technology of the maritime services. Throughout the week, city streets were taken over by parades honoring current and veteran servicemen. Naval, Marine and Coast Guard units paraded streets in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Inwood in Manhattan and Staten Island.
Cara Campbell, 23, is a native from Jamaica, Queens, and has been in the Navy for five years. She is an operations specialist and works with a team of people to protect the ship. She decided to be in the Navy in order to pay for college. “I wanted to travel,” she said. “I’ve been to Japan, Thailand, Australia, Korea and Israel. I think it’s a great experience for me because you get to meet a lot of people. To me, it’s a stepping-stone to better yourself and your life. My family supports me as well.”
