The Intrepid Museum celebrated the 34th annual Fleet Week with a week of special activities and events that celebrated the armed forces. Fleet Week is America’s premier tribute and “thank you” to the men and women who serve in the armed forces.

Fleet Week kicked off on Wednesday, May 25 with the arrival of Naval and Coast Guard ships in New York City as they traveled up the Hudson River. Sailing past Intrepid’s Pier 86 was the USACE HAYWARD, NYPD Fireboat, USS MILWAUKEE(LCS), USS BATAAN(LHD), USCGC SYCAMORE(WLB), HMS PROTECTOR(A173), USCGC DEPENDABLE(WMEC), USNAYPs, and USNASail Boats.

Docked at Pier 88 next to the Intrepid Museum was the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship and the largest visiting ship at this year’s Fleet Week. Also docking nearby at Pier 90 was the HMS Protector, a Royal Navy ship visiting from the UK.

The Intrepid Museum also held its annual Salute to Freedom gala, which recognizes extraordinary leadership and honors the brave men and women who serve in defense of our nation. This year, the Museum honored Academy Award-winning actor, director, producer and philanthropist Denzel Washington with the 2022 Intrepid Lifetime Achievement Award, and General Dynamics with the 2022 Intrepid Salute Award.

Throughout Memorial Day Weekend, the public was invited to explore free hands-on activities and interactive displays from the U.S. Marines, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary/Civil Air Patrol, USO, Claymore Vets, American Legion, American Red Cross, LEGOLAND, Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear, and more! Visitors also enjoyed workshops and activities from the Intrepid Museum and had the opportunity to meet former Intrepid crew members.

On Monday, the Museum held its annual Memorial Day ceremony honoring the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in defense of our nation. Civic and military leaders offered remarks, including the Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor, New York State; the Honorable Eric Adams, Mayor, City of New York; Vice Admiral Guy Robinson, OBE, Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander; Admiral Daryl Caudle, USN, Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command, and more. Following remarks was the laying of four ceremonial wreaths in honor of the fallen. The ceremony concluded with the unfurling of a 100-foot American flag, the playing of Echo Taps and a flyover by Navy fighter jets in the Missing Man formation.

Admiral Daryl Caudle, commander of United States Fleet Forces Command summed up the significance of the ceremony’s location in his remarks: “We’re sitting in between a combined a 150,000 tons of US Navy hardware. We’ve got the Intrepid, the Baatan — what an incredible backdrop. To the entire Intrepid Museum team — thank you for your unwavering efforts in honoring our nation’s heroes and inspiring generations of Americans.”

Enjoy these images from Fleet Week 2022.