New Jersey
Mikie Sherrill welcomes July 4 tall ships to NJ at Sandy Hook
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See video of tall ships in Sandy Hook Bay for America’s 250th birthday
Tall ships anchor in Sandy Hook Bay before joining the Parade of Ships July 4 on the Hudson River in NYC, celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
- A parade of tall ships will enter New York Harbor to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
- New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill welcomed the ships and their captains at Sandy Hook before they departed for New York.
As the nation celebrates its 250 anniversary, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill welcomed tall ships that will enter New York Harbor for an International Parade of Sail. This fleet of giant sailboats will sail around New York this weekend, including a pass by to salute the Statue of Liberty.
But before departing for New York, Sherrill greated the ships and their captains at Sandy Hook.
As temperatures approached 100 degrees, Sherrill was joined in admiring the flotialla by her husband, Jason Hedberg; Rep. Frank Pallone, the Democrat who represents the 9th Congressional District; and ship captains from 20 different countries.
Sherrill summons New Jersey’s role in the Revolution
Sherrill noted that Sandy Hook played a storied role in America’s fight for independence as it was the spot where then General George Washington’s army drove the British back for the final time.
“It’s this harbor that has been the gateway to America ever since. A beacon for freedom, welcoming immigrants, a channel for commerce, building a strong middle class, a stronghold for the military, defending our nation,” she said. “New Jersey has been the backdrop for it all.
The governor took pride in highlighted the cultural and technological advances that have taken place in the Garden State from the laser to the lightbulb and noted that the eyes of the world are on the state more than ever as the World Cup takes place in East Rutherford.
Sherrill a Navy veteran herself was in awe of the tall ships that came from “places as far away as Italy and India, Peru and Poland, Spain and Sweden” representing an “enduring symbol of friendship and cooperation.”
“It’s a joy to be here to celebrate with all of our allies and friends,” she said. “This week, millions will turn out again for another massive vote parade, united by a shared love of country, pride in our history and hope for the future.”
What did Rep. Frank Pallone say?
Pallone said that viewing the vessels reminded him of the voyages of discovery from centuries ago and how difficult it had to be especially without the navigational tools modern vessels use.
The congressman said that when speaking to the captain of a ship from India he found out they took more than 20 days to get here and that is a sign of the respect America’s allies and friends have for this event.
This isn’t the first time the region has played host to such a spectacle. There were similar sailing parades for the bicentennial in 1976, the centennial for the Statue of Liberty in 1986 and the millennium celebration in 2000.
Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com