I left early from Forest Hills, Queens, taking the Long Island Railroad train at 6:19am and stopping at Penn Station then switched to the 3 subway line to get off at Chambers Street. I arrived at the World Trade Center site at 7am. The place for viewing was on the North Cove of the World Financial Center where there is a marina. I took a place along the rail facing the Hudson River. The skyline of New Jersey was vi sable from across the river. The weather was typical November weather for New York, cool and a bit wet. There were already a group of Marines and police getting ready on the shore.
There were many reporters setting up their gear and various representatives from the Services including Marines, Coast Guard, Police, Fire Department and what looked like reenacts for the New York Artillery.
At about 7:45, we all looked south along the Hudson River and can see the fire boats spraying water into the air. Some of the water was colored red and blue. We can also see the silhouette of the USS New York in the distance. The camouflage of the ship made it hard to see her in the distance. There were several helicopters floating around the ship as she approached. A about 8am, someone on the shore congregation started to sing the Star-Spangle Banner.
At about 8:15am the ship was coming directly into our view and the ship slowed down. We can see the sailors, marines and crew on the deck of the ship giving us a salute. We then heard the "pop" of the rifles on board the ship giving the shore a 21-gun salute. I was kind of disappointed with this as I was hoping the salute was from her large guns but what why would I think that? Just after that the New York Fire Department Bagpipers were playing "God Bless America".
The ship began to start and speeding up, heading north on the Hudson River where the USS New York will dock at Pier 86 next to the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. As the ship headed north, the various fire trucks, police boats, fire boats blew their horn in response. Shortly afterwards the gathering of people began to brake up at about 9am, heading to what ever the day will hold. The USS New is to be officially commissioned on Saturday 7 Nov at the USS Intrepid site.
It was a long morning and afterwards was glad to head inside the World Finanical Center, Winter Garden shops and restaurant area and grabbed a cup of coffee and danish. It was a very historic day and I was very glad that I could make it.
Godspeed to the USS New York and her crew.
Pictures on my Facebook Link which anyone can see.
Video
Video(Facebook)USS New York approaching from the Hudson
USS New York arriving in front of the World Trade Financial Center
Bagpipes playing as the New York stops in front of the World Trade Finanical Center
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