From sponsoring local units to helping establish Fleet Week New York, we provide direct support to sea service personnel, their families and their units.

 
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Our adopted Units

New York Council Navy League is proud to support our adopted units — USCG Sector New York, USCG Station New York, USCG MSST New York, USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr., USS New York, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Empire State and USS Cooperstown — plus other local units, including 1st Marine Corps District and New York City’s NROTC unit headquartered at SUNY Maritime College.

Council President James Spear welcomed one of the Navy’s newest officers to the fleet with a sword of leadership award at the New York NROTC Mid-Year Commissioning Ceremony on January 31 at SUNY Maritime College. Congratulations ENS Dylan Callies!

NTAG-Empire State personnel and family members enjoyed their first post-COVID holiday party on December 5 with financial support from New York Council. Executive Director Jessica Hitchen was thrilled to join members from our adopted unit for a festive evening at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island.

On October 16, Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich presented the USCG Station New York Enlisted Person of the Quarter award for 3Q24 to MK2 Jefferson Parker. Congratulations on a job well done!

At the August 9 All Hands Meeting at USCG Sector New York, Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich recognized 2Q24 top performers, including ME3 Russel Lindsay from Sector Proper and FN Yahill Pellot-Perez, the Sectorwide honoree from USCG Station New York.

New York Council bid farewell to our first active duty Life Member Jason Bernz during a departure ceremony on July 16 at USCG Sector New York. Looking on were proud parents, Board Member Jon Bernz and Jane Bernz.

New York Council proudly attended the June 21 ceremony at which LT Justino Menendez of USCG Station New York received his Advanced Boat Forces Insignia.

Congratulations to USCG Maritime Safety & Security Team NY’s latest top performers, shown here with their command and Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich. On March 15, the Council had the honor of recognizing MK2 Matthew Kroeze, Enlisted Person of the Quarter for 4Q23, and BM2 Lachaddrick Ellis, 2023 Enlisted Person of the Year.

Council Secretary Veronica Hitchen and Assistant Director Karina Verna brought Council greetings to the February 26 change of command ceremony for USS Cooperstown in Mayport FL. Thanks CDR Dax Moore for your leadership through commissioning and the ship's first year; best wishes to new CO CDR Patrick Earls after all your hard work and dedication as XO.

Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich presented the awards for 2023 Enlisted Person of the Year and 4Q23 Enlisted Person of the Quarter on January 26, 2024. Congrats BM1 Antonio Brancaleone and BM1 Justin Benavante for your outstanding performance and dedication to duty.

New York Council members and friends from VALOR, the military and veterans employee resource group at S&P Global, kept mariners in our hearts during the holiday season by volunteering for a packing day on December 9 at Seaman’s Church Institute’s Port Newark location to assemble gift bags that where shared with mariners away from their families.

Sailors and Marines enjoyed an afternoon of fun at Barcade, where New York Council and USO Metro NY treated the crew of the newly commissioned USS John Basilone to an afternoon of food, drinks and games to celebrate Veterans Week.

Advisory Committee member Tim Hays, Council President James Spear and Board Member Ted Mason congratulate Board Member Frank Russo (second from right), chair of the USS John Basilone Commissioning Committee, for a job well done on November 9 after the ship’s commissioning ceremony.

Congratulations to USCG Sector New York Enlisted Persons of the Quarter for 3Q24 — MST3 Felicia Hallworth for Sector Proper and MK2 Layne McGerald for Sectorwide performance. Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich presented them with their awards on October 10.

On August 4, New York Council member Lu Caldara recognized top graduates of 2024’s 2nd Battalion 25th Marines Corporals Professional Development course.

New York Council continued our annual sponsorship of the children’s area at USCG Sector New York’s Coast Guard Day celebration on August 2. Thanks to our many member volunteers who were joined by Young Marines from our sponsored River Towns Young Marines unit and volunteers from our corporate partner, S&P Global.

Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich recognized another top performer on April 17, this time presenting MK2 Ari Noah of USCG Station NY with his unit’s Enlisted Person of the Quarter award for 1Q24.

New York Council Member Jack LaTorre presented awards to several top performers from Naval Talent Acquisition Group Empire State on March 1 at their All Hands Training and Awards Ceremony at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. After honoring Junior and Senior Sailors of the Quarter from the past three quarters , as well as the 2023 Junior Sailor of the Year MMN2 Johnson Tran and Senior Sailor of the Year EM1 Juan Martinez, Jack also presented his wife Elaine with a special award on their 38th anniversary and celebrated with lunch at the Club on base.

At USCG Sector New York’s All Hands Meeting on February 6, 2024, New York Council honored several top performers, including the 2023 Sectorwide Enlisted Person of the Year, YN1 Joe DeVito, pictured here with Fleet Support VP Charles Blaich, as well as 4Q23 Sector Proper Enlisted Person of the Quarter MST2 Ashley Lampert and Sectorwide Person of the Quarter MK1 Ayisha Loyo of USCGC Wire.

 

Fleet Support events

Each year, we present Swords of Leadership to newly commissioned officers from SUNY Maritime, US Merchant Marine Academy and Fordham University NROTC programs. Shown here is ENS Spencer Wilhelm, USN, SUNY Maritime ’19.

Each year, we present Swords of Leadership to newly commissioned officers from SUNY Maritime, US Merchant Marine Academy and Fordham University NROTC programs. Shown here is ENS Spencer Wilhelm, USN, SUNY Maritime ’19.

Fleet Week is an important part of our schedule each year. For more information about the history of Fleet Week New York and the events we sponsor, visit the Fleet Week section of our site.

Fleet Week is an important part of our schedule each year. For more information about the history of Fleet Week New York and the events we sponsor, visit the Fleet Week section of our site.

When ships visit, New York Council members often give the galley crew a break by serving lunch. Here, members gather while delivering a Tex-Mex buffet to USS Oak Hill.

When ships visit, New York Council members often give the galley crew a break by serving lunch. Here, members gather while delivering a Tex-Mex buffet to USS Oak Hill.