LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 26th celebration of Fleet Week
New York, May 21-27, 2014, and commending the volunteers of Staten
Island Fleet Week, Inc.

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services who have served so faithfully and
courageously in wars in which our Nation's freedom was at stake, as well
as in the preservation of peace during peacetime, deserve a special
salute from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 26th celebration of Fleet Week New York, to be held May 21-27,
2014, and to commend the patriotic volunteers of Staten Island Fleet
Week, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Fleet Week is a United States Navy, United States Marine
Corps, and United States Coast Guard tradition in which active military
ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of
major cities for one week; once the ships dock, the crews can enter the
city and visit its tourist attractions; and
WHEREAS, During New York City Fleet Week 2014, more than 20 vessels
from the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard (USCG),
international navies and the Military Sealift Command will be dropping
anchor at New York Passenger Ship Terminal on the Hudson River on the
west side of the borough of Manhattan, and at the former Stapleton Home-
port in the borough of Staten Island; and
WHEREAS, In this weeklong event honoring the United States' maritime
heritage, three United State Navy ships will take part: the Harpers
Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and the Arleigh
Burke-class Aegis-equipped guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67)
from Norfolk, Virginia, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser
USS Gettysburg (CG 64) from Mayport, Florida, as well as two USCG ships:
cutter Katherine Walker (WLM 552), the "Keeper of New York Harbor" from
Bayonne, New Jersey, and cutter Campbell (WMEC 909) from Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, sailing up the Hudson River from the Verrazano-Narrows
Bridge; and
WHEREAS, Fleet Week New York 2014 will feature numerous demon-
strations, including ship tours, flyovers, Marine Corps martial arts
displays, parachute jump teams, equipment displays, Coast Guard drug dog
exhibits; more than 10,000 sailors, Marines and members of the Coast
Guard participate; and
WHEREAS, Since 1984, Fleet Week has served as a way for the residents
of New York City and the tri-state area to meet members of the service
and to observe the latest capabilities of today's military; New York
City is the only Fleet Week event in the country that allows the ships
to be open to the public, and sets aside specific times for students to
visit, enabling approximately 1,500 school children to tour the ships;
and
WHEREAS, Staten Island Fleet Week, Inc., a nonprofit organization
established in 1990 while the Stapleton Homeport was an active United
States Naval Base, has, since its inception, played a tremendous role in
organizing Fleet Week Activities; an all-volunteer board and staff
enable the group to fulfill its mission to provide recreation, morale
and support the welfare of the visiting crewmembers to the New York City
area; and
WHEREAS, Staten Island Fleet Week, Inc. immediately established the
community-based "Adopt-A-Sailor" program, in which local families adopt
crewmembers for the day and treat them to either a home cooked meal, or
visit the sites of New York City; and

WHEREAS, Staten Islanders patriotically and wholeheartedly embrace
Fleet Week each year; the borough's celebration includes the annual
Splash festival, May 24 and 25, 2014, which features 10 local bands
performing at the Homeport; and
WHEREAS, Visiting sailors are encouraged to give back to the community
via Staten Island Fleet Week, Inc.-organized "Community Service
Projects"; abandoned cemeteries, pediatric units in local hospitals,
senior citizen centers, and veterans' organizations are a few past bene-
ficiaries of this program and, this year, the sailors will join in
continuing Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts with Habitat for Humanity,
volunteering with Meals on Wheels and at the Salvation Army Soup Kitch-
en; and
WHEREAS, Staten Island Fleet Week, Inc. has also incorporated an
educational component to its Fleet Week festivities; not only are
school-age children allowed to experience first-hand the wonders of the
ships and their crews, but seniors at all Staten Island high schools are
given the opportunity to earn mandatory community service credit through
their participation, as well as to gain a better understanding of
service as they work alongside the men and women of our maritime forces;
and
WHEREAS, The dedication and sacrifices of our military personnel
ensure our continued role as a Nation that embodies the ideals of democ-
racy, and is a defender of liberty for peoples throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, Fleet Week New York 2014 provides an opportunity for all New
Yorkers to express gratitude to the men and women of the United States
Armed Forces for their tremendous sacrifices made for our Nation and for
the benefit of all Americans; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 26th celebration of Fleet Week New York, May 21-27,
2014, and to commend the patriotic volunteers of Staten Island Fleet
Week, Inc.; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Staten Island Fleet Week, Inc.