Ronald Longfellow and Brian Dvorak have just the one tie to New York, but it’s special.
"We are very proud to be here, especially to be on the USS New York, which was made [of steel] from the World Trade Center," said Longfellow. "We are very proud to represent New York City."
The 24-year-old Quakertown, Pa., sailor and his 23-year-old Virginia Beach seamate said they plan to mix and mingle with Staten Islanders while their ship, named for New York City, berths here for her first-ever Fleet Week; the 24th edition of the celebration began with yesterday’s Parade of Ships and continues through Wednesday.
The two sailors are among the 3,000-plus members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard in port for the festivities, which include ship visits, demonstrations and displays, and interaction that foster a connection between the community and the military.
The visitors had Stapleton, Tompkinsville and St. George awash in white, blue and brown, as sailors headed to the Staten Island Ferry, strolled neighborhood streets and sampled the local fare.
"I can tell you, our sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen are excited to be in New York for Fleet Week," said Fleet Week spokesman Chris Zendon.
Zendon added that the vessels, which paraded under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge, paid special tribute when they passed Ground Zero. The sailors, he said, "remember that New York was on the front lines, and certainly they recognize the honor, courage and commitment that was seen here in the city during 9/11."
The New York has company at the home port: The USS Kaufman, the USS Carr, the USS John L. Hall, and the Coast Guard cutter Katherine Walker.
Missing this year were any historic tall ships or foreign vessels.
"We are very busy," said U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, by way of explanation. On a recent single day in March, for example, a Navy Strike Group that had been deployed to Afghanistan was moved to Japan to deliver medical assistance to earthquake and tsunami victims. Elsewhere, Navy ships, submarines and helicopters were deployed to Libya to enforce the NATO-led no-fly zone, while other Navy vessels conducted drug interdictions from the Gulf of Mexico to the Horn of Africa and the South Pacific.
About 325,000 sailors and 220,000 Marines are serving on more than 280 vessels around the world, Mabus said.
Back on Island shores, sailors Darryl O’Neil, 26, of Houston, and Tim Vernon, 22, of Charlotte, N.C., weren’t wasting any time. Late in the afternoon, they were standing at an S51 bus stop on Bay Street and making a trek into Manhattan. Vernon said he was looking forward to possibly seeing a Broadway show.
O’Neil was equally enthused, though he allowed that he misses his 1-year-old daughter, Myiasia.
In this recession, Fleet Week could prove a boon for local businesspeople like Frank Osmani, owner of Frank’s Pizzeria in Stapleton. "They come in and out and we deliver food to them as well," said Osmani.
The fleet typically consumes 1,000-plus pizza pies during the week. The faves? Sausage, pepperoni and chicken marsala pies.
Locals like Robert Smith, 58, and Sal LaPorte, 62, both of Stapleton, are glad of the influx. "It would give the area a good shot in the arm," said Smith. "This area could use it, big-time; it’s very depressed."
LaPorte said he was looking forward to bringing his grandson to the activities at the home port.
Beginning today and through Tuesday, the ships will be open to the public for tours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 11 a.m. today, the Monsignor James Dorney will bless the fleet.
On Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., visitors can enjoy the Fleet Week Music Festival.
At the home port, visitors can also enjoy plenty of food, including hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, juice and coffee. Fleet Week memorabilia will be on offer.
Folks are invited to drop off letters, posters and banners at the home port as part of the Pen Pal Program. Anyone who wants to host an event or volunteer can call Donna Cutugno of Staten Island Fleet Week Inc. at 718-273-9626.
"We are very proud to be here, especially to be on the USS New York, which was made [of steel] from the World Trade Center," said Longfellow. "We are very proud to represent New York City."
The 24-year-old Quakertown, Pa., sailor and his 23-year-old Virginia Beach seamate said they plan to mix and mingle with Staten Islanders while their ship, named for New York City, berths here for her first-ever Fleet Week; the 24th edition of the celebration began with yesterday’s Parade of Ships and continues through Wednesday.
The two sailors are among the 3,000-plus members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard in port for the festivities, which include ship visits, demonstrations and displays, and interaction that foster a connection between the community and the military.
The visitors had Stapleton, Tompkinsville and St. George awash in white, blue and brown, as sailors headed to the Staten Island Ferry, strolled neighborhood streets and sampled the local fare.
"I can tell you, our sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen are excited to be in New York for Fleet Week," said Fleet Week spokesman Chris Zendon.
Zendon added that the vessels, which paraded under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge, paid special tribute when they passed Ground Zero. The sailors, he said, "remember that New York was on the front lines, and certainly they recognize the honor, courage and commitment that was seen here in the city during 9/11."
The New York has company at the home port: The USS Kaufman, the USS Carr, the USS John L. Hall, and the Coast Guard cutter Katherine Walker.
Missing this year were any historic tall ships or foreign vessels.
"We are very busy," said U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, by way of explanation. On a recent single day in March, for example, a Navy Strike Group that had been deployed to Afghanistan was moved to Japan to deliver medical assistance to earthquake and tsunami victims. Elsewhere, Navy ships, submarines and helicopters were deployed to Libya to enforce the NATO-led no-fly zone, while other Navy vessels conducted drug interdictions from the Gulf of Mexico to the Horn of Africa and the South Pacific.
About 325,000 sailors and 220,000 Marines are serving on more than 280 vessels around the world, Mabus said.
Back on Island shores, sailors Darryl O’Neil, 26, of Houston, and Tim Vernon, 22, of Charlotte, N.C., weren’t wasting any time. Late in the afternoon, they were standing at an S51 bus stop on Bay Street and making a trek into Manhattan. Vernon said he was looking forward to possibly seeing a Broadway show.
O’Neil was equally enthused, though he allowed that he misses his 1-year-old daughter, Myiasia.
In this recession, Fleet Week could prove a boon for local businesspeople like Frank Osmani, owner of Frank’s Pizzeria in Stapleton. "They come in and out and we deliver food to them as well," said Osmani.
Locals like Robert Smith, 58, and Sal LaPorte, 62, both of Stapleton, are glad of the influx. "It would give the area a good shot in the arm," said Smith. "This area could use it, big-time; it’s very depressed."
LaPorte said he was looking forward to bringing his grandson to the activities at the home port.
Beginning today and through Tuesday, the ships will be open to the public for tours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 11 a.m. today, the Monsignor James Dorney will bless the fleet.
On Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., visitors can enjoy the Fleet Week Music Festival.
At the home port, visitors can also enjoy plenty of food, including hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, juice and coffee. Fleet Week memorabilia will be on offer.
Folks are invited to drop off letters, posters and banners at the home port as part of the Pen Pal Program. Anyone who wants to host an event or volunteer can call Donna Cutugno of Staten Island Fleet Week Inc. at 718-273-9626.
