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Home » Blog » Family Vacation Destinations » Northeast Destinations » Fleet Weeks

Fleet Weeks

June 7, 2012 //  by Eden Pontz//  9 Comments

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FleetweekLeadPicThe fleets have come ashore and gone back to sea once again, much like the waves they sail upon. But while in port, they made waves on land, as they took to the streets in their dress whites and made us landlubbers proud to be New Yorkers. While docked, they enticed us with a chance to see what it’s like to live a current-day life of work and travel on the high seas.

Held almost every year since 1984, Fleet Week New York is considered a celebration of the “sea services,” allowing New Yorkers and those from the tri-state area to meet and tour with men and women in the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines as they give you a close-up look at their ships and their ship’s capabilities. This year, more than six-thousand service men and women participated. This year’s event also marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

BoardingJapaneseshipAdmittedly, I’m not what you’d describe as a “military junkie,” but watching the Tall Ships sail into port, seeing sailors from Japan, Spain, Mexico, the United Kingdom and other destinations around the world, hearing the military bands play music, not to mention a constant stream of salutes, and I was soon getting into the patriotic spirit of the festivities.

Although many ships were docked in Manhattan ports, our family visit took us to ships docked in Brooklyn, which included among others, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, a Mexican sailing ship, a Japanese destroyer, and a schooner from the Spanish Armada. Guided-missile destroyers and multi-purpose amphibious assault ships were also on hand.

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The Spanish ship, for example, was the Juan Sebastian de Elcano, the oldest tall ship still sailing worldwide and the second biggest sailing ship in the world, with more than 250 sailors on board when the ship is at sea. (The Spanish sailor who gave us our free tour told us that Italy is home to the biggest.) The ship transports visitors back in time. It’s currently used mostly for practice/training maneuvers. We looked through port holes, saw the dining hall (where it appeared they’d been celebrating the night before), learned about where the captains and officers stayed as opposed to the other sailors and civilians, and “steered” the beautiful, old ship’s wheel. When we arrived at the kitchen, they were busy cooking, and my daughter said, ”It smells like popcorn.” We’d brought a friend of hers along on the tour, who immediately asked, “Do they sell popcorn on board?” Sorry kids, no such luck. But once back on land, the food options at Pier 6 allowed for a snack.

JapaneseDestroyerShiraneThe Japanese warship, the Shirane, allowed for a fantastically organized tour that included weaponry including rapid fire guns, anti-submarine rocket launchers and torpedoes. The easy-to-follow guides also gave us a chance to see Japanese “police tape”, what Japanese “Navy curry,” looked like, and to climb in and out of rescue helicopters that take off and land from the ship. You could pose for pictures wearing official head and eye gear, and the sailor’s polite bows and salutes made us all smile. They also posted signs and pictures allowing tourists to see the rescue efforts they made last year immediately following the Japanese earthquake/tsunami, and expressing gratitude to the United States for their relief help through “Operation Tomodachi.”

Throughout the week, service members participated in events and activities as diverse as barbeques at the Staten Island Yacht club, military band performances in Times Square, a memorial ceremony at the grave of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and mentoring inner-city school children.

As the week came to a close, Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen paid respect to those who had fallen before them—a tribute played out in a run ending at the Ground Zero site.

Fleet Week New York 2012 may have wrapped, but other “Fleet Weeks” may be coming soon to a port near you as the celebration continues. Stops during 2012 include New Orleans, San Diego, San Francisco and more. So don’t hesitate to take part and get your sea legs.

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Category: Northeast Destinations

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Eden Pontz

About Eden Pontz

Eden Pontz is an award-winning journalist, writer and media professional who served as Executive Producer at CNN's New York Bureau, for more than a decade. She's produced and reported from around the world. She's contributed to CNN.com., Techlicious.com, TravelingMom and blogged for NYC Moms and Technorati. Her humor essay on motherhood appears in the anthology "See Mom Run: Side-Splitting Essays from the World's Most Harried Moms" (Plain White Press). Eden lives in Brooklyn , New York with her husband and tween-aged daughter--who secretly hopes someday her parents, will have the moxie and means to move back to Manhattan.

View Eden's Posts

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Evan

    June 8, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Sounds like you all had fun! Nice benefit of living near the water (even if it’s not the beach). Not many military shipt here 250+ miles from the coast, but at least we are not in Kansas!

    Reply
  2. leslie pontz

    June 8, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    The article really captured the energy of the event. It was really a fun time and I am only sorry that I arrived too late to get on board. Glad you could get the full dose of the ships. Keep writing.

    Reply
  3. Curt

    June 9, 2012 at 3:23 am

    Anchors aweigh, mate, which is another way of saying that I enjoyed reading the article.

    Reply
  4. Ari

    June 9, 2012 at 6:37 pm

    We want cute stories about the kid, with funny anecdotes and witty one liners. Sorry to say, but this one misses the mark.

    Reply
  5. Cecily

    June 10, 2012 at 1:36 am

    Very interesting. Wish Atlanta had a port!

    Reply
  6. Lanie

    June 11, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    Great post & I am with Cecily – wish Atlanta had a port.

    Reply
  7. EdenEden

    June 11, 2012 at 11:39 pm

    Sorry–but during this trip, the kids were genuinely interested in what they were seeing–not too many funny quips! (Although they did ask if they could buy some fresh popped popcorn on board!)

    Reply
  8. lebeau

    June 12, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    Such fun! Maybe we’ll try to go next year. How do you get tickets? Are they needed?

    Reply
  9. EdenEden

    June 14, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    [quote name=Mary Lebeau]Such fun! Maybe we’ll try to go next year. How do you get tickets? Are they needed?[/quote]
    Tickets aren’t needed–you just show up!

    Reply
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