Monday, May 23, 2011
Last updated: Monday May 23, 2011, 5:50 PM
The Record
STAFF WRITER
The tremendous bow of the USS New York will cut through New York Harbor and into the Hudson on Wednesday, with its crew manning the rails. The ship will pass the Statue of Liberty and the forever changed skyline of downtown Manhattan, then continue to the George Washington Bridge before turning around and heading for the Staten Island berth it will call home during Fleet Week New York.

U.S. NAVY
The USS New York “We’re ready to go,” said Gunner’s Mate Seaman Michael Kolbeck, 29, of East Brunswick. Kolbeck was one of three crew members who grew up in New Jersey and took time while off duty to answer questions about this special ship as Fleet Week approached.

The bow stem of the USS New York was forged with 7 1/2 tons of steel salvaged from the collapsed World Trade Center. The amphibious vessel will be one of seven Navy ships and Coast Guard cutters taking part in the annual Parade of Ships, which kicks off Fleet Week. Starting Thursday, visitors can tour the ships.

If you go
Wednesday

PARADE OF SHIPS

•What: The ships will go up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge, then turn and head for their Fleet Week ports.
•When: 8:30 a.m. to noon.
•Best places to watch from North Jersey: Anywhere with a view of the Hudson, including Liberty State Park, Jersey City; Alexander Hamilton Park, Boulevard East pedestrian walkway or Weehawken Waterfront Park, Weehawken; Fort Lee Historic Park, Fort Lee; Maxwell Place Park and Pier A, Hoboken.
INTREPID SEA, AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

•What: A week of activities on the ship and on its pier, including concerts, a special performance of “Wicked” and special demonstrations. Anything on the pier is free to the public. To watch the Parade of Ships from the Intrepid’s flight deck or attend the Memorial Day Ceremony on the flight deck, a ticket to the museum must be purchased.
•When: Wednesday through May 31.
•Where: Pier 86, Manhattan.
•Info and tickets: intrepidmuseum.org.
Thursday

PUBLIC TOURS

•What: Go onboard the Navy ships and Coast Guard cutters. (USS Iwo Jima closed Sunday.)
•When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., through May 31.
•Where: Pier 88, 48th Street and West Side Highway, Manhattan, and Homeport Pier, 455 Front St., Stapleton, Staten Island.
Friday

TIMES SQUARE CONCERTS

•What: U.S. Marine Corps Band.
•When: 2 to 3 p.m.
•What: Navy Band Northeast Jazz Ensemble.
•When: 5 to 6 p.m.
•Where: Times Square, Manhattan.
Saturday

CONCERT

•What: Navy Band Northeast Pops Ensemble.
•When: 2 to 6 p.m.
•Where: Tappen Park, Staten Island.
Sunday

TIMES SQUARE CONCERTS

•What: U.S. Marine Corps Band.
•When: 2 to 3 p.m.
•What: Navy Band Northeast Popular Music Group.
•When: 5 to 6 p.m.
•Where: Times Square, Manhattan.
“We’re ready to present the ship and answer any questions anyone has, explain different areas of the ship and what our main mission is when we’re out at sea fighting the war,” said Kolbeck.

Seeing these impressive ships up close is always memorable, but a tour of the USS New York, with its Twin Towers steel, is different. The ship’s motto is “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.” The ship’s crest simply says, “Never Forget.” The crew hasn’t.

“My shipmates are like family [and] we all hold the meaning to the ship very near and dear to our hearts,” Operations Specialist 2nd Class Shatara Jewell of West Orange wrote in an e-mail.

The USS New York, whose homeport is Norfolk, Va., was commissioned on Nov. 7, 2009 in New York. As part of that week of events, crew members gave tours to first responders and family and friends of people killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

“I cannot adequately express the humbling feeling of giving tours to the families and friends of 9/11 victims, NYC Firefighters, NYPD officers, and Port Authority officers,” Ensign Mauricio Blondet of Springfield wrote in an e-mail. “Their love and admiration towards this ship is what gives all of us the motivation and strength to work hard at performing the ship’s mission.”

Kolbeck agreed that being on the ship creates a special feeling.

“It’s kind of weird sometimes, but there is a connection there,” said Kolbeck, who watched the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks from the open doors of the East Brunswick garage where he worked as an auto mechanic. He wasn’t moved to enlist immediately, but seven years later, he became the third generation of his family to enter the military.

Blondet, 30, who emigrated from Chile to Newark before moving to Springfield, was already in the Navy when the planes struck the towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. He remembers being put on an immediate security detail as his Norfolk base went into lockdown. In 2009, when it was time for his ship selection, he put in his request for the USS New York to be a part of this special crew.

Jewell, 23f, was a high school sophomore sitting in history class. The terrorist attacks motivated her to join the military.

“The USS New York has a special meaning to me because 9/11 is the reason I joined the Navy,” Jewell wrote. “It showed me the importance of protecting what is important to me like family, friends, and protecting my freedom.”

The ship is preparing for a 2012 deployment, but for Fleet Week the crew’s job is to give tours, act as ambassadors, enjoy themselves and visit with family, friends and residents in the area they proudly carry with them wherever they go.

“It is a great honor to be a part of this crew and to represent New York,” wrote Blondet. “I can’t wait to see and experience that welcome we will receive from the people from the tri-state area. It was an amazing experience in 2009 during the ship’s commissioning. It was something I will never forget. I am sure that Fleet Week 2011 will be just as wonderful.”

E-mail: yoriok@northjersey.com

Tags: Crews News, New York Metro, News

SANTA ON WARSHIP GIVES CHILDREN JOY
New York Times, Sunday, December 26, 1915

Little Poor Boys and Girls, 100 of them, Guests of the New York’s Crew

TURKEY DINNER AND GIFTS

The Most Unique Christmas Celebration Ever Known in the Navy Makes the Men Happy

When good old Santa Claus, guiding his prancing reindeer, made his annual trip in the early hours of yester morn, from his mysterious abode somewhere in the land of purple ice and snow, he had a stop in view that the runners of his cutter had never before in the history of the world made an impression. After providing for the sleeping children of Manhattan he guided his spirited animals across the Brooklyn Bridge and was met at the other end of the structure by Chief Bosons Mate Harry Percival, who guided him to the Navy Yard, where Uncle Sam’s great sea fighter New York Lay resting and falling on the gentle roll of the East River.

Leaving his team hitched to a spile, Santa made his way aboard the fighting craft so stealthy that not even the officer of the deck, who was watching for him, got a glimpse of his ruddy face or portly form. In some manner he even lost the bosons mate in the shuffle. Through all the entrances o the various parts of the ship were guarded, no one saw Santa go aboard. Percival is convinced that the jovial old fellow climbed the latticed fighting tops. From there to the smokestack is a small leap for someone as agile as Santa. Once on the stack it was a simple matter to slip down into the inner works of the ship.
While the men of the ship were chagrined by the way that Santa eluded them, they were more than happy with the quantity of toys he left to be given later in the day to 100 of the poorest children in the city who were to be the guests of the crew at one of the most unusual Christmas celebrations ever known, and the first of its kind ever held on a ship of the United States Navy.
Several weeks ago, when it was found that the New York would be at the Brooklyn Yard during the holiday season, some one in the crew that it would be a good thing if the men got together and contributed sufficient to entertain a number of poor children on Christmas Day. The idea was adopted with great eagerness by the crew and approved by the Captain Hugh Rodman, Commander of the ship.

A committee of which Percival was chairman was organized and the contributions came along in fine style. Applicants for tickets were investigated, for the men of the crew wanted as their guests only those children who could not possibly partake of Christmas cheer at any other place. When Thomas A. Edison, the famous inventor, went onboard on Thursday and saw the preparations he asked what it was all about. When he was told he made a substantial donation, and was so pleased that he communicated with the Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. The Secretary, in a wireless telegram to the ship, expressed his approval of the generous spirit of the men which had which had prompted them to provide a happy Christmas for the 100 little children.

At exactly 1:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon the 100 lucky youngsters assembled at Washington and Johnson Streets in the vicinity of Borough Hall. They were surprised to see the old chowder party coach, “The Pride of the Nation” awaiting them. The coach was drawn by ten horses and on the floor inside there was straw inside there was straw to keep the children’s feet warm. The coach, a common sight several generations ago, was a novelty indeed to the children of today
At 2 o’clock the venerable vehicle drew up alongside of the New York
”Heave Ho” Shouted Percival, and the children scrambled out of the coach and up the gangway leading up to the main deck of the vessel, about midships. At the foot of the gangway there were two Christmas Trees, and at the head was an arch of holly and mistletoe with the word “Welcome”.

The children were marched up to the gun deck, the landlubber will understand better when he is told that is one flight below the main deck. On the port side of the vessel, about midships, is a large space that in ordinary times serves as a sort of corridor. This was fitted up with 10 large tables. Japanese lanterns swung from the ceiling, while about the sides of the gun deck were clusters of electric lights fitter with red white and blue globes. Strung over the deck were festoons of mistletoe, holly, and Christmas greens, while wreaths of holly decorated the walls.
Ten women who had volunteered for the occasion brought food to the tables. They wore on their sleeves sailors headbands on which was printed “U.S.S. New York.” The steaming hot turkeys and geese, roasted to a turn, and chickens done to a wonderful brown, were brought from the ships galley and turned over to 6 members of the ship’s crew, who wore white aprons and caps and were armed with large carving knives. Desperately and grimly they attacked the fowl, and soon the plates of all the youngsters were heaped high.
Captain Rodman was one of the happiest men in all creation as he trod the deck, where, instead of upon open ports and guns ready for split destruction, there were the faces of happy children.
“I think this is the finest Christmas entertainment I ever had the pleasure to attend” said the jovial naval officer. “It’s the first time such an entertainment has been given by the men in the navy, and I personally hope that the precedent will be followed by other ships in service.

The ship’s string orchestra, led by C. E. Fielding, played while the children ate. The menu consisted of roast turkey, roast goose, roast chicken, candied sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, dressings, figs, mixed nuts, grapes, dates, candy apples and oranges. The children filled up with a zest that showed that they appreciated the cooking done onboard Uncle Sam’s boats. When they had been crammed with food and their pockets filled with fruits and candies Bos’ns mate Percival was seen very heavy weather with a large bowl containing a huge Jack Tar’s pudding. This was floating on a sea of brandy gravy, and when Percival had placed it in the center of the table he set it on fire. The children cheered and stamped their feet in approval as the flames lapped the sides of the piece de resistance.
Captain Rodman walked among the children, patted a number of them on their heads and asked them how they were enjoying themselves. A youngster 13 years of age proposed “Three cheers for the Captain.” The cheers were given with great enthusiasm. When the pudding had been consumed and things settled down a bit the children were taken down to the berth deck were they were regaled with a Punch and Judy show and funny moving pictures.

The Misses Annie and Rose O’Neil sang a number of popular songs which the children enjoyed immensely, and in the midst of the entertainment Bos’ns mate James Luddy appeared dressed as Sana Claus. Pandemonium then broke loose. The children swarmed about him, pulled his white whiskers, felt of his red velvet suit and admired his highly polished black boots, which came up to his knees. There was no more order on the berth deck.
Luddy led the way to the main deck, forward, where the crew, while the children were dinning, had placed the gifts left by the real Santa. Each boy was presented with a khaki suit, a pair of shoes and some candy and toys. Each girl received a pair of shoes, a set of furs and a doll. Luddy, the volunteer Santa, was breathing hard when a half dozen of sailors and Captain Rodman came to the rescue. The children were gently forced back from the perspiring Santa, and when all order was restored all assisted with handing out the gifts.

Two special prizes, one for a boy consisting of a regulation sailors uniform, cut out by the ships tailor and sewn by the men of the crew, and a beautiful doll, dressed at the home of one of the married Petty Officers, were drawn for. The juvenile sailors suit was won by James Ryan, 13 years of age, of 218 Sands Street, Brooklyn. The doll fell to the lot of Catheren Slavin of 444 Greenwich St, Manhattan.

After the toys had been distributed the children were taken in parties, each one headed by a volunteer from the crew and shown about the ship. It seemed as if the youngsters were in every part of the boat except for the fighting tops. After the tour of inspection, the little guests, in squads, with a sailor man at the head, were escorted to the pier, where motor trucks, provided by a New York contractor, were waiting to take them to their home.
While the party was in progress hundreds of visitors- friends of the Officers and crew- came aboard and everybody showed great interest in the children.

Tags: New York Metro

Story by CBS New York
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Members of New York’s fire and police companies as well as workers of thanked sailors aboard the USS New York as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance Thursday.

They packed big goody bag thank you’s featuring T-shirts and caps, NYPD and FDNY patches, shaving cream and razors for sailors aboard the ship, whose bow is made of World Trade Center steel, WCBS 880 reporter Rich Lamb reported.

LISTEN: WCBS 880 Reporter Rich Lamb with more on the care packages

Lorraine Warnsley, a broker for AON, which lost 176 people on 9/11, packed two of the bags.

“The fact that someone who lives in Manhattan is able to give tribute to a ship that’s named after us, to a ship that is dedicated for service on behalf of us…I don’t even have the words to say how proud I am of that.”

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano also participated in the project.

Cassano packed a bag and said “it makes me proud to be a New Yorker and a member of the FDNY.”

Tags: New York Metro, News