Stearney conducts ceremony at 9/11 Memorial

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Rob Aylward, Fleet Week New York Public Affairs

NEW YORK (NNS) -- Five Sailors were promoted and five Coast Guardsmen reenlisted during a ceremony officiated by Rear Adm. Scott A. Stearney, commander, Carrier Strike Group 4, at the National September 11 Memorial, May 23.

"I can think of no better place for a promotion and reenlistment ceremony than on these hallowed grounds," said Stearney. "Each of these service members will remember this day proudly as the moment they chose to continue to wear the cloth of their country."

Family and friends of the Sailors and Guardsmen were joined by Fleet Week New York participants, along with ground zero visitors, to witness their solemn declaration to uphold the defense of our nation's freedom.

"With freedom comes a heavy burden and tremendous responsibility," said Stearney. "It is my privilege to administer this oath of special resolve and commitment to service members swearing to carry these burdens with honor and courage."

Service members that were promoted or chose to reenlist took time to speak with local media and the crowd that had gathered about the significance of the ceremony's location.

"It was an important moment for me to be promoted here because of what the memorial represents," said Lt. Jack Curran, a Naval Academy graduate, now assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51). "The fact that this site has been rebuilt, is a testament to the resolve of New York City and America to recapture what was taken from us."

Fleet Week New York, now in its 26th year, is the city's time-honored celebration of the sea services. The weeklong celebration is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today's maritime services.

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