Welcome to the Fleet

Editorial of The New York Sun
May 21, 2008

A parade of ships will steam through the Verrazano Narrows and up the Hudson this morning as part of the 21-year tradition that is Fleet Week in New York, and let us just take this opportunity to lend our voice to the warm welcome New York City will give to the more than 4,000 marines, sailors, and coast guardsmen who will be participating. The ships will pass the World Trade Center site, a reminder of the stakes in the war in which these troops and their officers are enlisted. Among the vessels will be the guided missile destroyer USS The Sullivans, which was the target of an al Qaeda terrorist attack at Aden, Yemen, in January 2000. Another reminder of the current war.

An Associated Press article from earlier in the week reported that "New York City policy bars nuclear-powered craft from the harbor, effectively denying port calls by the Navy's newer fleet carriers." If this is so, this week would be a fine time to reexamine the policy. There's plenty of disagreement among New Yorkers on the Iraq War, but partisans on all sides profess to support the troops. This week is a chance to do exactly that by buying a sailor or marine a drink, saying thank you, offering directions, or just providing some cheerful New York-style hospitality.

The week's activities include not only today's parade of ships but also Marine helicopter raid demonstrations at parks in Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, Westchester, and Long Island; a Navy aviation flyover, concerts in Times Square by the Navy Band, and the opportunity for members of the public to visit Navy ships. It is a testament to the bond between the military and the public in our democracy.