Community Corner

Springfield Native and Navy Ensign Welcomes All Aboard the USS New York

Ship was built with material from the World Trade Center.

It’s Fleet Week in New York City from May 25 to June 1. About 3,000 active duty members of the Navy, the Marines and Coast Guard will take to New York. Five naval vessels will be docked and open for tours. 

One crew-member and one ship will have special significance for Springfield residents. Jonathan Dayton High School graduate and Naval ensign Mauricio Blondet will be giving tours of the ship he has served on for two years, the USS New York. 

Built in 2009, the USS New York is an amphibious assault ship was built with seven and a half tons of steel from the fallen World Trade Center and steered by the motto “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.”

This Fleet Week is the first time the New York visits its namesake harbor. For Ensign Blondet, who will be leading tours of the ship while it is moored at the Homeport Pier in Staten Island, it will be a busy homecoming. 

“I am looking forward to giving tours and connecting with people from the
tri-state area,” Blondet said in an email. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and give a tour to someone from Springfield.

Click here for more information about and pictures and video of the USS New York.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here