NEW YORK — The 27th annual Fleet Week New York, held from May 20-26, 2015 across New York City's five boroughs, aimed to celebrate the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard and increase the public's awareness of the work they do in the defense of our nation via ship tours, skills demonstrations and other events.
In honor of Fleet Week 2015, we compiled a series of candid portraits of U.S. Navy sailors and U.S. Marines who traveled to New York aboard the USS San Antonio. The photo essay, inspired by Brandon Stanton's Humans of New York website and body of work, looks to pay homage to the servicemen and women who make the respective branches strong, but who are too busy serving our country to step into the spotlight. The following photographs and captions are meant to provide a glimpse into each service member's backstory, time in uniform, perspective on military life and/or general insights into their experience as part of the U.S. military.
The Marines pictured in the essay are all based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and were transported by the USS San Antonio, while the sailors interviewed for the piece — unless otherwise stated — comprise the normal staff of the ship, which calls Norfolk, Virginia, home.
