Hundreds of people gathered at both Freedom Pier and the fishing pier on the Gloucester City waterfront on a windy and sunny Oct. 9 to watch the Parade of Ships celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy.
“It’s our birthday,” said Petty Officer First Class Williams, who was at Freedom Pier organizing a photo shoot for the Navy along with Petty Officer 2nd Class Young and Petty Officer 3rd Class Carafiol. (The officers shared only their last names.)
“This is a super exciting day,” Young said.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” added Carafiol, who was in a great position to shoot photos as the Coast Guard’s USS Cooperstown led the parade up the Delaware River.
It was followed by the USS Billings, a Navy freedom-class littoral combat ship that sailed under the Walt Whitman Bridge on its way to dock in Camden City. Next was the USS Lassen, a Navy guided missile destroyer, which slowed down ahead of the bridge due to its height and was guided by tugboats to its dock at Gloucester Terminal.
Capping things off was the huge USS Arlington, a Navy San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship moored with the help of tugboats at Pier Four in Philadelphia, across the Delaware River from Gloucester City.
“I am very proud of the military and our country,” observed Brian Connelly of Haddon Heights, who watched the parade on Freedom Pier. He was a Marine corporal from 1984 to 1988.
“This is pretty neat,” noted Chris “Obie” O’Brien of Audubon. “The Navy is celebrating 250 years. I grew up on this river, fishing whenever I could.”
“My son, Bobby, works for the Navy as a civil engineer in the Department of Defense,” shared Kathy Sheridan of Magnolia.
“This is fantastic,” said her husband, Robert Sheridan. “I am proud of all of our armed forces.”
The Parade of Ships kicked off a week-long celebration of the Navy; a celebration of the same length for the Marines will begin on Friday, Nov. 7.
Philadelphia was a hotbed of rebel activity during the autumn of 1775, as the Second Continental Congress gave birth to the Continental Navy and the Marines after heated debates by state representatives in Independence Hall.
Spearheaded by John Adams, representatives voted on Oct. 13 to form the Continental Navy in an effort to protect colonial ports and try to stop ships supplying British and Hessian soldiers. They financed the first two American ships that were built along the Philadelphia docks.
Congress approved the forming of the first two battalions of the Continental Marines on Nov. 10. The recruiting station was set up at the nearby Tun Tavern and organized by the owner, Robert Mullan.
To celebrate the history and founding of the Navy and Marines in Philadelphia, the Homecoming 250 committee planned numerous events that began with the parade. The committee – run by Judge George Leone of Haddonfield – featured a U.S. Navy and Marine Corps 2.5-mile run on Oct. 11. And Navy battled Temple University in a football game at Lincoln Financial Field.
From now through Nov. 11, Homecoming 250 and the Tun Legacy Foundation will offer a lineup of free and ticketed events to honor the Marine Corps.
“These commemorative experiences will offer the public and Marines alike an opportunity to engage with the Corps’ rich history and enduring legacy through special programming, performances, and ceremonies,” the organizers said in statement.
There will be a tour on Nov. 7 of the Masonic Temple Library and Museum and Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to explore rarely seen archival items, including artifacts from the Tun Tavern and exhibits showcasing the deep-rooted connection between Pennsylvania Freemasonry and the Marines.
On Nov. 8, there will be a Tun Lunch and Learn, where guests can enjoy lunch and a panel discussion with representatives of the six organizations with a heritage at the tavern, including the Society of St. George, St. Andrew’s Society and the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St. Patrick.
The Philadelphia Veterans Parade and Festival will be on Nov. 9, when veterans and Marines will march through Center City during a festive tribute hosted by Philadelphia. There will be a ceremony at the Resting Place of the First Commandant on Nov. 10. And the public is invited that day to the historic Arch Street Meeting House grounds to honor Samuel Nicholas, the first commandant of the Marines.
Capping those events will be a Veterans Day Ceremony aboard the Battleship New Jersey on Nov. 11. The ceremony – free and open to the public – will include a tribute to the Marines and their core values of honor, courage and commitment.
For information and a complete schedule, go to homecoming250.org.
