A few weeks ago, the United States celebrated Fleet Week, a time to honor our maritime military–specifically the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. Though New York Fleet Week was only made official in 1982, New York has experienced maritime celebrations and victory tours since the late 1800s, after the American victory in the Spanish American War.
The first Fleet Week was held in California just before World War Two, in 1935. As nations increasingly militarized and American fears over the spread of communism increased, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began to expand the US military. In order to both celebrate this action and reassure the American public, he organized a demonstration of the newly renewed U.S. Naval fleet, bringing 114 warships and 400 planes into San Diego. Thousands of military personnel and civilians visited the fair, and it helped inspire national pride during a period of heightened fear and uncertainty. It also served to recognize the contributions of the military and encourage Americans to keep participating, even after the horrors of mechanized warfare the nation had experienced during the First World War. By the 1990s, cities around the nation, such as Baltimore, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle, and many more, began to celebrate their own Fleet Weeks.
Fleet Week allowed for more than just military recognition, though. It created spaces for military and civilian interaction, where citizens of participating cities could get a sense of military life and service, and those in the military could experience the culture of a new city–an essential experience for military personnel who’d spend weeks or months on isolated vessels at sea. In a sense, it was a time for them to let loose and party with civilians after long periods of isolation and service. Though Fleet week is an expensive event, it brings an invaluable sense of morale to participating sailors.
For New York, Fleet Week began in 1982, though the first year when ships were made accessible to the public was 1988. In 1993, to honor the end of the Cold War and promote peace and cooperation, Russian ships–a destroyer and an oiler–were also present in New York. A Polish submarine was also present, representing the newfound international aspect of Fleet Week. The Russian sailors engaged happily with New York culture, turning the stern deck of their destroyer into a bazaar selling uniforms, brass buckles and buttons, and insignias. They traded and bartered with tourists and New Yorkers alike. This trade represented both their eagerness to engage with others, but also the menial pay offered to Russian seamen that year, a mere $25 monthly base pay, as compared to Americans, who received a base pay of $815. In later years, ships from around the world came to New York, from India, Mexico, Canada, and other nations, demonstrating that Fleet Week didn’t solely represent American patriotism, but that it could serve as a recognition for sailors and military service around the world, and act as a sign of goodwill.
This year, I participated in Fleet Week for the first time, volunteering aboard the USCGC Lilac, the sole surviving steam-powered lighthouse tender now turned museum ship docked on Pier 25. In honor of Fleet Week, we laid out extra maritime safety pamphlets and copies of Sea History magazine in preparation for visitors participating in the event. For Lilac, Fleet Week is extra special, as it coincides with both her birthday weekend and the first weekend that we are open to visitors for the summer. Launched in 1933, Lilac is actually older than Fleet Week itself!
To celebrate Lilac’s 92nd birthday, we laid out cake in the galley and crew mess—essentially the ship’s kitchen and dining area—for all visitors. Kids excitedly led their parents through the ship, marveling that “this ship is 92 years old? And a girl?”, seeking out both the birthday cake and the engine room. While perhaps not as widespread or well-known as Fleet Week, Lilac has done her share of work aiding maritime historical study. After she was decommissioned, she served as a floating dormitory for Seafarers Harry Lundeburg School of Seamanship, meaning she holds history beyond just her years serving in the Coast Guard and, before its incorporation into the Coast Guard, the Lighthouse Service. As such, many people have stories regarding Lilac, and an essential part of the work done at the Lilac Preservation Project involves collecting these stories, often through oral history interviews. Not only does this allow former Coast Guard members to reflect on their time and preserve their stories, but it facilitates a stronger educational experience, and allows visitors to see a more accurate portrayal of what life on Lilac was like.
History Unfiltered 
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