Fleet Week is back! Officially starting Wednesday (although the first ship arrived this morning at Pier 90), New York’s piers, harbors and sidewalks will be awash with an ocean of service members, here to honor the legacy of the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. After brushing up on how to distinguish service members by their uniforms, join the celebrations in Hell’s Kitchen — home to the historic USS Intrepid and many of the city’s Fleet Week events.
THE PARADE OF SHIPS
You can catch three US Navy ships, two US Coast Guard vessels and four US Naval Academy Yard Patrol boats this Fleet Week, as well as Marine ships from Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom in this year’s Parade of Ships on Wednesday May 24 between 7:45-11:00am (approximate times).
Here are the locations of each:
Manhattan, Pier 88 South: (Tours will be closed Sunday)
· Amphibious assault ship, USS Wasp (LHD-1) from Norfolk, Virginia
Manhattan, Pier 88 North: (Tours will be closed Sunday)
· Ocean survey vessel HMS Scott (H131) from Plymouth, United Kingdom
Manhattan, Pier 90 North:
· HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701) from Nova Scotia, Canada
· ITS Virginio Fasan (F 591) from La Spezia, Italy
Manhattan, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Pier 86:
· Four US Naval Academy YPs, Annapolis, Maryland
· Fast response cutter USCGC Warren Deyampert (WPC-1151) from Boston, Massachusetts
Homeport Pier, Staten Island:
· The Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) from Norfolk, Virginia
· Spearhead class fast transport USNS Newport (T-EPF 12) from Norfolk Virginia
· Medium Endurance cutter USCGC Legare (WMEC-912) from Portsmouth, Virginia
You can take a tour of the Manhattan and Staten Island-docked ships from 8am to 5pm — aside from Sunday May 28 on Pier 88 in Manhattan, due to cruise ship arrivals. Ship tours on Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Pier 86, will be conducted daily from 10am to 5pm
THE SALUTE TO FREEDOM GALA
The Intrepid Museum’s annual Salute to Freedom Gala will honor Secretary of the Navy and Hell’s Kitchen local Carlos Del Toro, former crew members of the USS Intrepid in commemoration of the legendary carrier’s 80th commissioning anniversary, as well as Executive Vice President of Paramount, General Tax Counsel and Chief Veteran Officer Richard M Jones on Thursday, May 25.
Del Toro, a 22-year naval vet as well as the 78th Secretary of the Navy, emigrated with his family from Cuba to Hell’s Kitchen in 1982. “It is an honor to be back in my hometown celebrating Fleet Week New York, highlighting the incredible work our Sailors and Marines are doing in support of our national and economic security,” he said. “I am humbled to receive the Intrepid Freedom Award, and it is a testament to all who have supported me throughout my career in service to our Nation. It is my hope that others will see the opportunities that the Navy provided me with and will also be inspired to answer the call to serve.”
“The work of the Fisher Family, the Intrepid Museum and its Board are the living, breathing embodiment of the call to action that President Abraham Lincoln challenged us with at his Second Inaugural Address, ‘To care for [those] who shall have borne the battle’ . . .” added fellow honoree Richard M Jones. “It has been a great honor to have worked these many years with the Intrepid Museum and to support its impactful, life-changing mission — and it is an even greater honor to be recognized for this year’s award for which Paramount and I are so grateful.”
MORE INTREPID MUSEUM EVENTS
On Friday May 26, the museum kicks off its Summer Movie Series and the 80th anniversary of the Intrepid’s commissioning with a free screening of Top Gun at 7pm on the deck!
Saturday May 27 and Sunday May 28, there are a wide variety of interactive activities and exhibitions from the US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Regiment Gaming, USO, Claymore Vets, American Red Cross, Guide Dog Foundation/America’s VetDogs, Coca-Cola, Veterans Moving Forward, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, as well as public tours of USCGC Legare, one of six 270-foot cutters stationed out of Portsmouth, Virginia, on Pier 86.
There will also be live performances from the US Coast Guard Jazz Band (Saturday), US Marine Corps Band (Saturday), the casts of Titanique, Rock & Roll Man (Saturday) and A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway (Sunday), and New York, New York (Sunday).
On Memorial Day (Monday, May 29), the Intrepid Museum will host a commemorative ceremony to honor fallen service members, including remarks from elected officials and a special wreath-laying ceremony as a tribute to those who have given their lives, and a fighter jet flyover, all at Pier 86. Later that afternoon the US Coast Guard will host a search and rescue demonstration, also at Pier 86.
BROADWAY SHOWS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS
The Theatre Development Fund (TDF)’s Veterans Theatregoing Program is extending its no-cost Broadway ticket offer to active service members for Fleet Week. Service members can enjoy a performance of musicals Aladdin, Chicago, Hadestown, Hamilton, Moulin Rouge, SIX and Shucked; as well as plays Fat Ham, Life of Pi and Peter Pan Goes Wrong. “At TDF, through our Veterans Theatregoing Program, we have helped thousands of local vets experience the thrill of Broadway shows at no cost,” said TDF Executive Director Victoria Bailey. “We are delighted to partner with the Community Foundation of New Jersey and the United States Navy to send active service members to Broadway and extend our veterans’ programming to include active duty military.”
TIMES SQUARE PLATOON PERFORMANCES
Kicking off the Fleet Week Times Square festivities are demonstrations from The Silent Drill Platoon, a 24-person rifle platoon specializing in conducting precision drill movements and the Quantico Marine Corps Band, who will perform May 24 at 6:30pm for the public at Military Island (the W43/44th Street Plaza). Later that week, the US Navy Ceremonial Guard and US Navy Band perform Friday May 26 at 7pm, the Marine Corps Band and Navy Band perform Saturday May 27 at 7:30pm, and the Marine Corps Band and Navy Band perform Sunday May 28 from 4pm to 5:30pm.
WATCH THE PARADE FROM ANOTHER BOAT!
And if you want a guided cruise, try the Classic Harbor Line Military History Tour of New York Harbor on May 24, 26 or 29 for an expert-led 2.5-hour tour. It will visit landmarks of the harbor, including the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn Army Terminal, The Sullivans Pier at Staten Island, the Bayonne Dry Dock and the Intrepid.
