Fleet Week service members gather for Memorial Day ceremony

Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Bobbie Curtis | Members of a veterans' organization color guard carry on the colors during the annual SoldierÕs and SailorÕs Memorial Day Observation, at the Soldier's and Sailor's monument in New York, March 31. Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force New York, and the USS Iwo Jima gathered with New York citizens and veterans to honor U.S. service members who fought and died in wars past and present. More than 3,000 Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen are in the area participating in community outreach events and equipment demonstrations. This is the 26th year New York City has hosted the sea services for Fleet Week.  

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES

06.01.2010

Story by Cpl. Bobbie Curtis 

Communication Directorate             

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. - Every Memorial Day, citizens and veterans from New York City gather at the Soldier's and Sailor's monument in Manhattan, N.Y., for the annual Soldier's and Sailor's Memorial Day Observation.

This year, Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force New York, and the USS Iwo Jima attend the ceremony during Fleet Week 2010 to honor U.S. service members who fought and died in wars past and present.

Each year the ceremony revolves around a different service. This year's honors went to the U.S. Navy.

The ceremony was attended by Rear Adm. Mark S. Boensel, commander, Navy Mid-Atlantic Region and Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York.

Both Bloomberg and Boensel made emotional speeches and honored some of New York's lost service members.

The men along with representatives of multiple veterans' organizations laid wreaths upon the memorial during the emotional ceremony.

During his speech, Bloomberg said that today was to honor not only veterans who fought in past wars, but the brave New Yorkers who died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It is a privilege and duty we have to honor them today," he said.

He also said it was an honor for his city to host Fleet Week and asked the citizens of the city to stop and thank service members during their visit.

Lance Cpl. Carlos Garcia, a radio operator with, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, and an audience member during the ceremony explained that he enjoyed his time at the event and at fleet week.

"I appreciate everything this city has to give to us," he said. "The ceremony is just another way for people … to remember all the fallen soldiers and the fallen heroes of our time.

The last day of Fleet Week events, June 1, will include a run honoring the victims of the World Trade Center attack, MAGTF demonstrations and karaoke at the Hard Rock Café.

• Date Taken: 06.01.2010
• Date Posted: 06.01.2010 00:50
• Story ID: 50612
• Location: NEW YORK, NY, US