Parade of Ships travels along NYC waterfront for Sail4th 250 celebration
The biggest Fourth of July celebration in New York City history is underway, with part of it being the Sail4th 250 event.
Forty ships from the United States and around the world set sail at 9:30 a.m. from the Verrazzano Bridge. They made their way up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge. It was the largest parade of tall ships ever assembled.
The festivities kicked off Friday afternoon when a group of Class B tall ships traveled down the East River from the Hell Gate Bridge to Gravesend, Brooklyn.
Before the main parade of ships on Saturday, an aircraft parade flew in formations over the Hudson River and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
Spectators brave the heat
People packed Alice Austen Park in Staten Island for a prime viewing spot, everyone wearing their red, white and blue.
"If I can live another 50 years, I'll see the 300th anniversary," spectator Michael Mazzone said. "I remember in 1976, I was 10 years old, and I knew how it was on the harbor. I'm sure it's gonna be something spectacular, once in a lifetime."
"This is a way of people in Staten Island coming out to say we love this country. God bless America," Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said.
A Marine Corps band playing jazz provided the soundtrack to the morning.
"It's been amazing seeing just, not just the show of force, but all the people out here to enjoy it," Sgt. Brandon Johnson said. "It's been a wonderful time."
"Waking up this morning to see all of this, that's the greatest part," U.S. Air Force veteran Brian Nelson said. "And we're still free. That's the greatest part."
Pictures of Sail4th 250
Security for the event
Inspector Raul Maisonet, the commanding officer of the New York City Police Department Harbor Unit, said the security operation to prepare for America's 250th birthday was a year in the making.
"The U.S. warships that no one ever gets to put their eyes on, they're here and live, and these are active ships," he said.
The NYPD Harbor Unit also performed proactive dives with scuba teams and randomized sonar scans.
Personal watercrafts were banned from the waters on Saturday, and officers kept a close eye on all vessels.
"We still respond to 911 calls," Maisonet said. "We still do any stops that we have to do – check for boating under the influence or Jet Skiing under the influence."
Visitors had to go through security checkpoints, including bag checks and magnetometers, the NYPD said. Backpacks were not allowed.