NEW YORK CITY |  Five U.S. Navy ships, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter (USCGC), and a Military Sealift Command ship — all of these ships docked in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx tomorrow signaling the arrival of the 2017 Fleet Week New York (FWNY).

Now in its 29th year, FWNY is the city’s time-honored celebration of the sea services.  It is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tristate area to meet sailors, marines and coast guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services.

Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Airman Rezin Barnes takes a selfie with former New York Giants player Atiib Kiambu Hakeem-Ah “Tiki” Barber aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during Fleet Week New York 2017

What kinds of ships were on display — and where?

  • USS Zephyr (PC 8) pulled into the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point
  • USS Lassen (DDG 82) docked at the Homeport Pier in Staten Island
  • USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61) took over the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal (in the Red Hook community)
  • USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) welcome the public at Pier 88
  • USNS Yuma (EPF 8) arrived at SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx.
  • Navy ships, USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) and HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701), were also in the area.

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On May 24, 2017, sailors and marines man the rails of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) as it transits up the Hudson River during the 29th annual Fleet Week New York’s Parade of Ships. |  U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Travis Simmons

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Throughout the weeklong event, nearly 3,700 sailors, marines and coast guardsmen participated in numerous community relations projects, including visits to local area schools, revitalization projects with Habitat for Humanity, and outreach efforts through Project HOPE, as well as assisting in soup kitchens and senior centers to provide a helping hand to the citizens of New York who graciously hosted them.

The 29th annual Fleet Week in NYC took place from Wednesday, May 24, 2023 to Tuesday, May 30, 2017.


Here’s an Interesting tidbit.  In US Navy history, just four ships have borne the name Kearsarge.  The first, a Civil War sloop, sank the CSS Alabama off the coast of France in 1864.  The next one, a battleship, sailed around the world with Theodore Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet.  The third, an aircraft carrier, recovered astronauts from the sea during Project Mercury, the US’s first human-spaceflight program.

The current USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship that docked in New York City for Fleet Week, has a lower profile, but has a special mission, according to Lt. J.G. Christian Sedarski, a deck-division officer on the Kearsarge, in a Business Insider interview. “We are strictly landing and bringing back Marines from the beach. So the way I like to explain it is, we are a glorified hotel with a F-150 flatbed.”

It also has extensive medical facilities, capable of taking in wounded troops as well as survivors of natural disasters. Its ability to hold 600 patients makes it second to only the Navy’s ready-reserve hospital ships in medical capacity.

In a display of its versatility, the Kearsarge deployed to provide flood relief in Pakistan in August 2010, steaming west six months later to support operations in Libya as part of Task Force Odyssey Dawn.


At public venues, such Eisenhower Park, USN and Marine Corps (USMC) aviation teams showcased a variety of troop insertions, USCG helicopters demonstrated Search and
Rescue operations, and USN Divers showcased their skills in Times Square. Navy Band Northeast, as well as the USCG Silent Drill Team and USMC Battle Color Detachment, performed for thousands of onlookers throughout the city.

Service members also participated in a reenlistment and promotion ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial, which celebrated service members’ renewed commitment to uniformed
military service.

As of today, more than 35,000 citizens visited and toured U.S. Naval Academy, USN and USCG ships, witnessing firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services. Ships are open for public tours today.

That’s not all.  Service members from the U.S. Navy (USN), Marine Corps (USMC) and Coast Guard (USCG) participated in several community events Sunday, including the Fleet Week Freedom Run, the 2nd annual Fleet Week at Liberty State Park, Community Music Festival on Staten Island, Navy Band Northeast performance in Times Square, and general public ship tours.

Sea service members and New York-based first responders participated in an annual “Fleet Week Freedom Run” from North Cove Marina to the 9/11 Memorial plaza. USMC Battle Color Detachment were scheduled to perform following the run.

During Veterans Appreciation Day & Memorial Tribute, which took place at Rye Playland, a ceremony in honor of Memorial Day made a USMC aviation static display possible.

Pearl Harbor Survivor Visits 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Sadly, death marred Fleet Week.  A U.S. Navy SEAL died in a parachuting incident Sunday after his parachute failed to open, causing him to fall into the Hudson River, officials said. Multiple agencies responded to the incident at a Fleet Week event in Jersey City. The man’s parachute failed to open properly, he fell into the Hudson River and later died at the Jersey City Medical Center.

A tweeted picture showed a parachute in a parking lot, and the photographer said several emergency vehicles responded. The chute landed in the parking lot when a parachutist realized it would not open, and detached it so he would land in the Hudson River.  The parachutist, who was participating in a Fleet Week show, was recovered from the river, NJ.com first reported. Officials later confirmed he died.

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2nd annual Fleet Week at Liberty State Park
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey (1 Audrey Zapp Dr., Liberty State Park)
Events included the USN Parachute Team, The Leap Frogs; USN Dive Tank; Navy Band
Northeast performance; USN helicopter static display; USCG Search and Rescue
demonstration; military static displays; kid’s activities; and much more.

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Fleet Week New York Community Music Festival
Location: Staten Island, New York (40 Mithorne St., Flagship Brewery)
Flagship Brewery and community members will host a music festival in honor of Fleet Week.

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Navy Band Concert
Location: Manhattan, New York (Military Island, Times Square)
Navy Band Northeast “Rhode Island Sound” will perform a concert at Military Island in Times
Square.

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Fleet Week NYC 2017 is a seven-day celebration in New York City, which honors the members of the United States Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. Every year, the weeklong party kicks off with the Parade of Ships—a flotilla of visiting vessels and tall ships that cruise along the Hudson river—and continues with military demonstrations, a Memorial Day ceremony and more outstanding things to do around some great New York City attractions.

Where is Fleet Week NYC?  A range of New York venues hosted the weeklong itinerary of events for Fleet Week, including the New York Harbor, Pier 92 in Manhattan, USS The Sullivans Pier in Staten Island, Military Island (Broadway and 7th Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets), Eisenhower Park, the Flagship Brewery and the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Monument.

For information on all FWNY events, visit the official FWNY website at www.fleetweeknewyork.com, “Like” FleetWeekNewYork on Facebook, or “Follow”
@FleetWeekNYC on Twitter.

FWNY photos can be viewed on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/fwnypao and Instagram at www.instagram.com/fleetweeknyc.

Join the conversation on social media by using #FleetWeekNYC.

US Navy man Brandon Bridges (right)
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