Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen visited patients and staff members of the Staten Island University Hospital during a community outreach event as part of 2016 Fleet Week New York (FWNY), May 27.

The hospital has hosted service members for the past 10 Fleet Weeks and the staff was excited to have them come back, said Vivian Alestra, the hospital's Child Life Specialist and tour guide for the event's military visitors.

"We have done this a number of years now in order to celebrate the military and all they do for us," she said. "We love for them to come meet the children and even the parents and other patients get real enjoyment out of the visits."

While only one child was in the pediatric unit during the visit, the 10 service members were given specially decorated cards made by the pediatric patients earlier in the year in anticipation for the visit.

"We have been planning this since January, but had no way to know if children would be here for the visit, so we had them make special cards during their stay to express their appreciation," explained Alestra.

After being treated to breakfast and a tour of the hero-themed pediatric unit, the service members were allowed to visit with older patients in the hospital's Adult Rehabilitation Unit where they shared stories with veterans and parents whose children are currently serving.

"This was a fun opportunity. This is my first Fleet Week, and I never realized it was so community involved," said Coast Guard Ensign Gabriella Deza, assigned to Sector New York at Fort Wadsworth. "It's opportunities like this that remind you why you joined the service - to protect those who can't protect themselves. It is great to make people smile and if our visit can make them feel better then that's a great day."

As the Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen walked through the halls, they were greeted with smiles, waves and words of thanks.
"We just want these young men and women to always remember that when they are away from home that there are people back here rooting for them and praying for their safe return," said Alestra, who made sure to ask where every service member was from and why they joined their respective branches.

"This was fantastic, and I was honored to represent the Navy and put some smiles of people's faces," said Electronics Technician Brandon Audain, a native of Plantation, Fla., and assigned to the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). "This is exactly why I wanted to be part of Fleet Week."

FWNY, now in its 28th year, is the city's time-honored celebration of the sea services. It is an unparalleled opportunity to for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. The weeklong celebration has been held nearly every year since 1984.

For up-to-date information on all FWNY events, visit the official FWNY website at www.fleetweeknewyork.com/, "Like" FleetWeekNewYork on Facebook, or "Follow" @FleetWeekNYC on Twitter. FWNY photos can be viewed on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/fwnypao/ and Instagram at www.instagram.com/fleetweeknyc/. Join the conversation on social media by using #FleetWeekNYC.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Mid Atlantic, visit www.navy.mil/.