Veterans Day Reception

Marcus has become friends with a Navy public affairs officer here in the city. He occasionally invites us out to receptions and other functions - we like to joke that this is the only time we ever get to go out. On Monday night, as a part of Veterans Week, we were invited to visit LPD-21 -- the USS New York, which was visiting the city. She's an amphibious transport dock - a type of ship designed primarily to transport and deploy marines and equipment. 

The New York is special in that it bears many tons of steel from the fallen World Trade center as a part of its construction.

We didn't take this picture - but this is what she looks like in daylight.

This is where you enter - she's smartly designed in that you can walk right on, entering one of the bays where vehicles and other equipment would be stored while underway.

This is the ramp down from the flight deck to the vehicle storage deck. Below that is a well deck (we didn't get a picture) where hovercraft and other landing craft can enter and exit the ship while she remains a fair distance from the shore.

The hanger bay where the reception addresses and entertainment took place. 

The Navy brought in a fantastic jazz and pops band for the evening.

Marcus took this cool photo sphere of the Intrepid, which is permanently docked one peer over.

A CH-53 Sea Stallion on display on the flight deck.

Chase would have loved the helicopter...Marcus did too.

Proof that Erica was there.

The food at these is always good. Especially the meatballs.

And the Cake Boss cake.

Entertainment from the USO is also always a great time.

This is us and CDR Corey Barker, Marcus' PAO friend, along with his colleague LT COL Elizabeth Ortiz, who is the Air Force PAO in NYC.

It was a great way to remember those who have served, and a very fun evening.