New York City celebrates sailors during Fleet Week
Elizabeth Jones
Friday, May 25, 2012, 1:59:12 PM
Nearly 6,000 sailors, Marines, coast guardsmen from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships arrived in Manhattan recently for Fleet Week, a celebration of maritime services that has been held in New York City almost every year since 1984.
Tourists and locals alike will mix and mingle with servicemembers May 23 through May 30 to enjoy boat tours, naval exhibitions and parades of warships, AM New York News reports. This year is particularly special since it marks OpSail 2012 and the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
The week of events kicked off on Wednesday with a star-studded concert for troops, headlined by Katy Perry, CBS News reports.
"I think if anyone deserves a party, I think it's probably the people in service. They are the ones that are actually deployed and protecting us from all the bad guys, and they deserve to celebrate, and they deserve to be celebrated," the singer, who recently filmed a music video at
Camp Pendleton in California, told MTV News.
Country singer Trace Adkins is also visiting the Big Apple to celebrate the troops. He boarded the USS Wasp to welcome the ship's crew to New York, and gave a free concert for sailors at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. He also performed the national anthem Thursday to kick off the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum's 21st annual "Salute to Freedom" dinner, according to CBS.
Visitors will also get to see some of the latest capabilities of today's Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, including demonstrations by naval vessels and the Blue Angels, Militarynews.com reports. Over the weekend, the military celebrations will take over Times Square, with Military Day on Saturday featuring a show from the Navy Band Northeast Jazz Ensemble and a concert of a number of military groups on Sunday.
<hr/>
News brought to you by
PCS-Lodging.com - your one stop shop for
military lodging.
Related News
|
|
Revised Stolen Valor Act passes through Congress
There was a considerable outcry from the military community last year when the Supreme Court struck down a law that made it illegal to lie about earning a military medal on free speech grounds. 5/23/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Army voices support for new round of BRAC
Base realignment and closures (BRAC) are often met with consternation from many members of the military community, but as the debate as to whether another round is necessary wears on, the Army has voiced its support for the plans. 5/20/2013
|
Coming soon to the military: Smartphones
Mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad have entered nearly every realm, but the military has remained one of the lone exceptions. However, that may soon be over, as the Pentagon's Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) recently approved them for use. 5/17/2013
|
Use of solar energy on military bases on the rise
Over the last several years, the military has made a concerted effort to be more energy efficient in a wide variety of ways, with some of the heaviest emphasis being placed on the use of solar power. 5/17/2013
|
|
|
Lawmakers may revisit Military Lending Act
Service members and their families have often been targeted by predatory lenders, and despite efforts from legislators to offer the military community protection, unscrupulous pay-day loan companies are still findings ways to take advantage of troops and their loved ones. 5/15/2013
|
more Military News...