Ships sail into New York for Fleet Week celebration

New York City will host more than 3,700 sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen for the annual celebration of Fleet Week from May 24-30.

Nearly every year since 1984, Fleet Week has celebrated the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard and provided residents and tourists with the unique opportunity to meet service members, tour their ships and experience the capabilities of today’s naval forces. The theme for this year is "Celebrating the Sea Services and Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Seabees."

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge (LHD 3), guided-missile cruiser San Jacinto (CG 56) and guided-missile destroyer Lassen (DDG 82) will be among the ships featured in the "Parade of Ships." An oceanographic research ship from Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and a Royal Canadian Navy ship from Canadian Forces Base Halifax will also participate in the parade.

Ships will be visible along the Hudson River from Battery Park to just south of the George Washington Bridge. Kearsarge, the flagship, will fire off a 7-gun salute as they sail past Long Island's Fort Hamilton. Fort Hamilton will respond with a 15-gun salute. The parade of ships is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. 

There will also be performances by the Coast Guard Silent Drill Team, Navy Band Northeast and the Marine Battle Color Detachment. Other exhibits include a search and rescue demonstration by the Coast Guard, dive tank demonstrations by Navy divers and a parachute jump by the Navy Parachute Team, "The Leap Frogs." 

Military personnel will also collaborate with Habitat for Humanity New York City by helping with revitalization projects in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan as part of a community service project called "A Brush with Kindness."

All events are free and open to the public. For more information on all Fleet Week events, visit the official website at http://www.fleetweeknewyork.com.