President’s Letter First Quarter 2019

Dear Navy League Members and Friends: To paraphrase William Shakespeare’s iconic opening line from Richard III, “now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this [Council] of [New] Upcoming Events York.” The first quarter of 2019, while relatively mild in terms of local weather, continued to threaten discontent to the hard-working For Fleet Week events, please members of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Maritime see the overview on page 4 or Administration, along with the rest of the Department of Homeland refer to your recent Fleet Week Security, who went unpaid but were expected to continue member mailing. Beyond Fleet performing their vital duties. Week, here’s what’s coming up in May and June. May 1: Fleet Week Final Planning Conference May 2: SUNY Maritime Commissioning Ceremony May 8: Board Meeting May 15: Graphics Campus NJROTC Year-End Awards May 17: Fordham University Commissioning Ceremony June 5: George Washington NJROTC Year-End Awards June 6: Commodore John

Barry Book Award Dinner Council officers and directors presented $5,000 of grocery and gas June 6: Tottenville MCJROTC gift cards to help personnel at USCG Sector New York during the partial Year-End Awards government shutdown. (photography by Mary DiBiase Blaich) June 14: USMMA Awards Convocation January June 21 (tentative): River The partial government shutdown, which began on December 22, Towns Young Marines Year-End 2018, extended until January 25, 2019. Financial impact was felt Awards by the families of MARAD personnel and USCG active duty June 26: Coast Guard Art members, civilian employees and retirees. Junior Coasties Program Reception especially found themselves in severe financial straits. Cash, food Please note, the May 15 and even diapers suddenly became out of reach for them. As National Security Briefing has mentioned in last quarter’s letter, your New York Council put been cancelled. $5,000 worth of ShopRite and gasoline cards into their hands and Please go to helped stock the food bank in the Father Capodanno Chapel at the nynavyleague.org to register cont’d next page for New York Council events.

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from page 1 Youth Program Spotlight: Curtis Coast Guard base at Fort Wadsworth. We hosted a morale lunch for NJROTC Unit our fellow tenants of the USCG Battery Building. Council members volunteered their time and Takes It All vehicles, with our example helping to open the generous hearts of others in At the Passaic Drill Competition in early March, the New York area. Captain of the the Curtis High School Port and Commanding Officer of NJROTC took First Place in USCG Sector New York Jason Tama Unarmed Drill, Third Place in was so moved that he took time at our Armed Drill and Second Place 117th Anniversary Dinner on April 2 Overall. Go Cadet Warriors! to thank the Council. Well done New York Council! Fleet Week planning kicked off on January 17 when the Navy Mid- Atlantic staff visited NYC and met with Executive Director Jessica Hitchen and me over breakfast to New York Council shared a morale lunch In addition to taking trophies, talk about new ideas for this very with active duty personnel at the USCG they also took the cake — with a important and much anticipated Battery Building. unit bake sale — annual event. On January 23, Council Vice President Tom McGloin presented the USCG Station New York Enlisted Person of the Quarter award to FN Shane Alfonso. The tremendous initiative FN Alfonso has shown in the early stages of his Coast Guard career earned him the rare honor of being named EPOQ as a nonrate. We conducted outreach to some of our neighboring councils, with and took to the streets — our ED representing us at the Southern and Central New Jersey marching in the Council’s Installation Dinner on January 26 and attending a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. meeting of NY and NJ councils on January 27, led by Jerry Note the new black gloves, Saunders from National HQ. which were purchased with donated funds from the New February York Council Navy League. February was a month for partnerships, with many Council members ably representing us at a variety of events. To start the month, the Morgan Stanley Veterans Employee Network invited a number of New York Council members to attend a fireside chat on February 4 with General John Allen, president of the Brookings Institution. We participated in an event hosted by the Transportation Institute to brief U.S. Congressman Max Rose on issues pertaining to the maritime industry on February 19, joined cont’d next page

2 President’s Letter First Quarter 2019 from page 2 the American Legion Post 754 of the New York Athletic Club for a lunch with Brigadier General Matthew Isler on February 22, and attended a Better Business Bureau Nonprofit Symposium on February 26. On the military partnership side, we presented the Enlisted Person of the Quarter award at USCG Sector New York on February 14 to OS2 Tim Diehl, witnessed the retirement of Navy Recruiting District New York’s Command Master Chief — and new Council member — Bill Caraballo on February 15, joined the Marine Corps District Coordinating Council, and attended Navy Mid-Atlantic’s Fleet Week Initial Planning Conference on February 27. In conjunction with the Fleet Week IPC, the HMCS Charlottetown of the Royal Canadian Navy visited New York and served a wonderful luncheon to us. It’s great to meet representatives from allied navies! March Commander Nancy Setchel, RCN, CO of March events focused primarily on military recognition. On HMCS Charlottetown, and Council President Charles Blaich enjoyed lunch with other RCN March 1, we started the month with the Enlisted Person of the officers and crew. Quarter presentation at USCG MSST New York to MK2 Jeffrey Taylor. We attended the Central and Southern New Jersey Council’s Enlisted Person of the Year luncheon on March 15 where they honored Coast Guardsmen from the New Jersey-based ships. Council Treasurer Frank Russo represented the Council at the Navy Recruiting District New York’s Change of Command aboard the Intrepid on March 22. We enjoyed a dinner on March 26 with the Navy Mid-Atlantic staff and other Fleet Week planning partners, with the Main Planning Conference held the next day. Also on March 27, members of the Fleet Support Committee attended an introductory meeting of the NRD NY Recruiting District Assistance Council, of which our Executive Director was asked to be the founding chairperson. As this letter goes to print, we recently held a successful 117th Anniversary Dinner. Thanks to the efforts of Development Director Erika Myers and the Development Committee for another great event. Many members of the Council pulled together to help this year’s fundraising efforts and our honorees, Admiral Christopher Grady and Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, Maritime Administrator, made it a memorable night at the New York Yacht Club. You will read more about the Anniversary Dinner in the next newsletter, but for now you can view photos at nynavyleague.org. With our staff, including Jessica, Erika and office volunteer Mary Brogan, the second quarter will be an exciting, rewarding time. Semper fi,

Col. Charles R. Blaich, USMC (Ret.) President

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For more information about the New York Council’s Fleet Week events or to register, visit nynavyleague.org, refer to our recent Fleet Week mailing, or call the office at 212-825-7333. Wednesday, May 22 Parade of Ships embark, 3:45 A.M. Embark on a Coast Guard Cutter from Staten Island or Bayonne to join the Parade of Ships. Ships Review Brunch Cruise, 10 A.M.–1 P.M. Purchase a ticket to cruise the harbor with the Council and the National Lighthouse Museum. Thursday, May 23 An Insider’s View of Women in the Military, 5:30–8 P.M., Wasserman Center, 133 E 13th St. This panel, co-hosted with NYU Women’s Initiative, will include female officers and senior enlisted personnel. A reception will follow the panel discussion. CPO/Staff NCO Dinner Cruise, 7:–10:30 P.M., Pier 40 at 353 West St. The New York Council is once again hosting 150 Chiefs and Staff NCOs for a harbor cruise. Friday, May 24 Richard W. Scheuing CO/XO Welcome Reception, 6–9 P.M., New York Athletic Club Join us to welcome officers from all the participating commands while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, beverages and the music of the Navy Band. Tickets are $75 per person and must be paid in advance. Saturday, May 25 Fleet Week Regatta, noon–3 P.M., Viewing from the Willy Wall Yacht Club organizes this friendly sailing competition among the visiting ships. Sunday, May 26 New York Mets Game, noon–5 P.M., Citi Field The New York Council is treating 100 sea services members to a ballgame, including transportation to Citi Field and a Navy flyover. Tickets generously donated by the New York Mets. Monday, May 27 Wreath Laying, 10 A.M.–noon, Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, Riverside Dr. and 89th St. This annual commemoration ceremony honors all who have served and sacrificed. Farewell Cookout, 5–9 P.M., USCG Station New York The New York Council and USCG Captain of the Port will host COs, XOs and CMCs for a casual evening of food and friendship before the Fleet Week fleet departs. Wednesday, May 22–Monday, May 27 Times Square Greeting Station, noon–5 P.M., Joint Recruiting Station Council volunteers will welcome sea services personnel, provide information and distribute water. Thursday, May 23–Monday, May 27 VIP Ships Tours, times vary, Manhattan, Staten Island and piers Each tour is limited to 20 people and children must be nine or older. Please note: times may be changed by the Navy and not all ships may be available each day. Advance registration required.

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