Military Bands Perform for Thousands in Times Square

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Isaiah Sellers, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

NEW YORK (NNS) -- Military bands from across the sea services performed for thousands at Times Square in support of Fleet Week New York 2012 and the the Bicentenial of the War of 1812 May 27.

The Navy, Marine and Coast Guard bands performed before a captive audience in one of the heaviest traffic areas of New York City.

Spectators from across the globe traveled to take part in the festivities surrounding Fleet Week.

"We heard the band perform last year and decided that we would not miss it again," said Sara Baynum, a spectator from North Carolina. "They played beautifully."

The U.S. Navy New Orleans Jazz Band, Quantico Marine Corps Band and Coast Guard Dixieland Band caught the attention of wandering tourists and drew them in to the festivities.

"We came to New York to celebrate our three-year marriage anniversary. We heard the music from three blocks over and decided to come over and see where it was coming from," said Douglas Fagan, a native of Chicago.

The joint efforts of each sea service's band provided entertainment to citizens that normally would not have had the opportunity to experience.

Held nearly every year since 1984, Fleet Week New York is the city's celebration of the sea services. Fleet Week New York provides an opportunity for the citizens of New York City and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see, first-hand, the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. More than 6,000 service men and women from the U.S. and coalition nations will arrive aboard the ships.

This year, Fleet Week New York is one of the signature events around the country commemorating OpSail 2012, the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner.

The commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is a salute to all Sailors and Marines who fought gallantly in that conflict, who served in all our nation's conflicts since then, and who are defending freedom around the world today.

For more information, visit the official Fleet Week New York City Web site at www.fleetweeknewyork.com or find "Fleet Week New York" on Facebook.

Fleet Week Sailors Help Display National 9/11 Flag

By Mass Communcication Specialist 1st Class Jeremy K. Johnson, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Mitscher (DDG-57), USS Gonzales (DDG-66) and USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) joined members of the New York Says Thank You Foundation (NYSTY) in a brief ceremony to unfurl and display the National 9/11 Flag at The Sullivans Pier May 26.

Also participating in the ceremony were local Boy Scouts, New York Civil Air Patrol members, Fleet Week volunteers and Fleet Week attendees.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate," said Seaman Dustin Johnson of USS Mitscher.

The 30-foot American flag displayed was discovered hanging on the side of a building tattered and torn, close to where the World Trade Center towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001. The flag was recovered, and has been fully restored by NYSTY volunteers.

"There's a lot of love in this flag," said Jimmy Sands, a NYSTY volunteer and New York City firefighter. "We estimate probably about 6 million people have held this flag since 2008."

Volunteers of the NYSTY organization answered the call to serve after Sept. 11, 2001, and travel around the country to help rebuild communities affected by disasters.

The National 9/11 Flag contains patches from retired flags of all 50 states, patches of flags recovered after the 9/11 disaster, a patch stitched aboard USS Missouri (BB-63) on Pearl Harbor Day by World War II survivors, and many more patches representing the strong history and pride of our nation.

Fire Controlman 3rd Class Jeremy Kirby of Donald Cook said seeing this flag was a very moving experience.

"To see the way these volunteers came together to repair this flag is encouraging. It shows what we can do as Americans if we just believe in ourselves."

Held nearly every year since 1984, Fleet Week New York is the city's celebration of sea services. Fleet Week New York provides an opportunity for the citizens of New York City and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see, first-hand, the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. More than 6,000 service men and women from the U.S. and coalition nations are participating.

This year, Fleet Week New York is one of the signature events around the country commemorating OpSail 2012, the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and the Star-Spangled Banner. The Commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is a salute to all Sailors and Marines who fought gallantly in that conflict, who served in all our nation's conflicts since then, and who are defending freedom around the world.

Service Members Provide Hope to the Help Bronx Morris Ave. Shelter

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Monique K. Hilley, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

NEW YORK (NNS) -- Service members visited the Help Bronx Morris Avenue Shelter in Bronx, N.Y., during Fleet Week New York 2012 to play games, make crafts and have lunch with the children staying at the shelter May 26.

The event was part of a Times Square Church Military Ministry event called Project Hope, which has brought hope to the shelter during Fleet Week New York for the past five years.

"We're here today to work with the families and kids and the program that the Times Square Church has established. To come along and inspire and bring them hope and just show them that there's a different way to do things," said Lt. Cmdr. Matt Weems, a chaplain stationed aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1).

"We thought this was a great opportunity to bring in some Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen to bring encouragement and hope to inner-city children that are living on the streets," said Dr. Bill Butler, volunteer director, Times Square Church Military Ministry. "Most of these kids come from broken families. None of them even have the hope that they're ever going to get out of this neighborhood or the situation that they grew up in. For somebody in uniform to come and spend an afternoon with them to get to know them, encourage them, and just have fun with them makes a world of difference and will have a long-lasting impact on their life and perhaps, maybe even some of these children will choose a career in the armed forces."

The day began with each service member choosing one child to mentor and spend the day with. Once they met and talked for a bit, everyone had lunch while enjoying a musical performance by the U.S Navy Band Northeast. The children enjoyed a puppet show and had their photos taken with their new friends so that they could have a memento to bring home as a reminder of their day.

"I feel good about what I'm doing here today with Chana," said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Jason Webster, stationed aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1). "He may not get much support from other people, but maybe I can show him and give him a tiny little bit of hope, and let him know that this may be where you're at right now, but this is not where you have to sleep."

Chana, the nine year old boy that Webster mentored, said that he was really happy to see all the Sailors at the shelter today and wanted to thank them for supporting him. Chana, who currently lives at the shelter, wants to be a professional sports player when he grows up.

"The Navy does projects like this all over the world because we're a global force for good, and with that, it's a benefit to the Sailor to get outside their normal sphere of influence and influence others and also see the needs that are in the local communities and hopefully inspire and help some people," said Weems.

DOD Offers First-responder Viewing Site for 9/11 Arraignment

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – First responders to the 9/11 attack sites will be able to view military commissions proceedings resulting from the attacks that begin May 5 from a site specifically set up for their use.

Some 400 to 600 first responders, officials say, will watch as five alleged 9/11 conspirators -- including the man who allegedly conceived and designed the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people -- face arraignment at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Wendy Kelly, chief of operations for the Office of Military Commissions, told American Forces Press Service that viewing sites for victims’ families and members of the media have been in place for previous proceedings, but first responders until now have not had access to closed-circuit television coverage of courtroom proceedings.

Kelly explained the sites set up for victims’ families are limited to those injured, and the immediate family members --including parents, spouses, children and siblings -- of those killed in the 9/11 and attacks and the Oct. 12, 2000, attack on the USS Cole in a Yemeni harbor that killed 17 U.S. sailors and injured 39 others.

“In recognition of the very unique situation that occurred in New York City with the first responders, we wanted to [make a site available] for police, fire, paramedics and other emergency workers who lost friends and co-workers,” she added.

The new site, at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., is the result of collaboration between the Defense Department and the New York City government, she said.

City officials are in charge of inviting eligible attendees for this weekend’s proceedings, she said.

Four sites are available for family members of 9/11 victims to view proceedings, Kelly said: at military installations near Boston, New York City, in northern New Jersey and in the Washington, D.C., area.

An additional site is available near Norfolk, Va., where survivors of the USS Cole bombing and families of the victims can view proceedings related to that attack. The Cole is home-ported there, she explained, and all the sites are placed where the greatest concentration of family members live.

Media representatives also can view proceedings from a separate site at Fort Meade, Md.

Kelly said locating the family and first-responder viewing sites on military bases allows DOD to use existing facilities and security measures, which saves cost, and also allows people using the sites to avoid media attention if they prefer to.

Media representatives can gather outside the gates of installations where viewing sites are set up, and those attending the proceedings can engage with them there, she added.

The Office of Military Commissions reaches out to people eligible to attend the proceedings in a number of ways, including through a restricted, password-protected area of the organization’s website, Kelly explained.

DOD administers military commissions through five organizations: the offices of the convening authority, chief prosecutor, chief defense counsel, trial judiciary and court of review.

Under the Military Commissions Act of 2009, those subject to trial include “an alien unprivileged enemy belligerent who has engaged in hostilities, or who has purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States, its coalition partners or was a part of al-Qaida.”

The May 5 arraignment involves charges and pleas in the case of the United States vs. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is alleged to have proposed the operational concept for the 9/11 attacks to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden as early as 1996. He is accused of obtaining approval and funding from bin Laden for the attacks, overseeing the entire operation and training the hijackers in all aspects of the operation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The overall charges allege that the five accused are responsible for the planning and execution of the attacks of Sept.11, 2001, in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa., resulting in the killing of 2,976 people.

They are charged with terrorism, hijacking aircraft, conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, and destruction of property in violation of the law of war.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to death. In accordance with the Military Commissions Act of 2009, each of the accused has been provided learned counsel with specialized knowledge and experience in death penalty cases.

The accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, officials emphasized.

4th Fleet Deputy Commander Visits 18th Annual Hispanic Games in NYC

From U.S. 4th Fleet – U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs

MANHATTAN, New York (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Anatilio B. Cruz, Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) attended the 18th Annual Hispanic Games at the Armory New Balance Track and Field Center in New York City, Jan. 7-8.

The meet was sponsored by the U.S. Navy, and is sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) and the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA).

"The Hispanic Games are an extraordinary track & field competition with more adrenaline-fed energy than one could ever hope for in a live sporting event. These young student-athletes are absolutely amazing. They come from high schools from across the region and reflect the very same richness in diversity that makes this country great," Cruz said.

"The Hispanic Games were started to celebrate the rich Hispanic heritage in the Harlem and northern Manhattan area, and every year it has become bigger and bigger," said Cmdr. Dennis Espiritu, Navy City Outreach, Navy Recruiting Command. "This weekend's event is the largest event at the New Balance Track and Field Center, and has spilled over to two days."

Twenty-three teams from all over the country competed during the two-day event. The meet, open to all high school age athletes competing with their high school teams, took place on a state-of-art six lane, 200 meter, banked track with a "Mondo" surface. Mondo surfaces consist of a rubberized artificial running surface for the sport of track and field.

"The athletes exude many of the same qualities and attributes we typically see in our service men and women...specifically: discipline, courage, dedication, commitment to excellence, tenacity, perseverance, and sacrifice," Cruz said. "The Navy is fortunate to be here as a sponsor and active supporter of The Hispanic Games."

The Navy Diversity Directorate's mission is to provide Navy leadership with the tools and resources to help create and sustain a cultural awareness that values diversity and an environment where every individual prospers and contributes to the mission.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.