Janice R. Andrews
The 2024 Parade of Ships marked the official start of Fleet Week in New York City on Wednesday. The stunning vistas of this nautical extravaganza are captured in our extended Chopper 2 film.
Details for Fleet Week 2024:
- Dates: May 22–May 28, with the last day being the day following Memorial Day.
- Themed: “Fleet Week New York…Celebrating Those Who Serve.”
- Goal: To give the public a chance to interact with U.S. Coast Guardsmen, Marines, and sailors while also seeing the newest military equipment.
Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Rear Adm. Wesley McCall, stressed the importance of the ceremony in recognizing veterans and building community ties. He emphasized the value of honoring those who gave their lives in the line of duty as well as the contemporary armed force’s diversity and inclusivity.
Service Members Involved: It is anticipated that some 2,300 service members will take part, taking in the sights of New York City as well as ship tours, band concerts, and other festivities.
Observing the Parade of Ships: Tony Sadiku joined the US Navy Band at Pier 88, and CBS New York’s John Elliott gave live coverage from the ocean with the US Coast Guard. An aerial view of the procession was provided by Chopper 2.
Details of the Parade: On Wednesday, May 22, the Parade of Ships got underway. Although the precise time was not revealed, the previous year’s event began at 8:45 a.m. and ended at approximately 11 a.m. After passing by the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, Hudson River Park, and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, eight military warships entered New York Harbor and came to an end close to the George Washington Bridge.
Ships Taking Part:
- USS Bataan (LHD 5): Named for WWII soldiers from the Bataan Peninsula, this amphibious assault ship is based in Norfolk, Virginia.
- German ships FGS Frankfurt am Main and FGS Baden-Württemberg will be present at Pier 90 North on Saturday.
- Four U.S. Naval Academy YPs are Annapolis, Maryland-based training ships for midshipmen.
- USCGC Sturgeon Bay (WTGB 109): A search and rescue and ice-breaking ship out of Bayonne, New Jersey.
- USS Marinette (LCS 25): Mayport, Florida-based littoral combat ship that went into service last autumn.
- USCGC Calhoun (WMSL 759): Based in Charleston, South Carolina, this cutter is the Coast Guard’s newest and most technologically equipped vessel.
- Serving the Long Island Sound is the USCGC Katherine Walker (WLM-552), another icebreaking ship based in Bayonne, New Jersey.
A week full of celebrations and honors is planned for Fleet Week 2024, which will bring the public closer to those who defend and serve the country.
