From sponsoring local units to helping establish Fleet Week New York, we provide direct support to sea service personnel, their families and their units.
Our adopted Units
New York Council Navy League is proud to support our adopted units — USCG Sector New York, USCG Station New York, USCG MSST New York, USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr., USS New York, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Empire State and USS Cooperstown — plus other local units, including 1st Marine Corps District and New York City’s NROTC unit headquartered at SUNY Maritime College and the Naval Reserve Center.
It was fantastic to welcome “home” the crew of our adopted unit USS New York during Fleet Week. Members of the Council took Command Master Chief to lunch on May 24 to talk about how we can support the ship throughout the year. Pictured here (l to r): Mark Stone, Council Liaison to the ship; Joe Fila, VP of Fleet Support; CMDCM Adam Singleton; Norma Milio, VP of Membership; Frank Russo, Treasurer. Thank you to Joe Lisi for your hospitality at Bar Dough!
Thanks to a donation from the New York Council, a foursome from USCG Station New York joined the golfers at the Coast Guard Foundation’s tournament on May 5.
On April 9, the New York Council helped the families of USCG Sector New York celebrate the Month of the Military Child, designing and donating a cake with support from Alfonso’s Pastry Shoppe.
Congratulations to BM2 Jordan Post, USCG Station New York Enlisted Person of the Quarter for 4Q 2024, shown here with New York Council Executive Director Jessica Hitchen receiving his award on February 7.
Executive Director Jessica Hitchen was on hand at USCG Sector New York on February 6 to congratulate 2024 Enlisted Person of the Year, ME3 Abbey Murphy, a member of USCG Station New York. Also receiving honors that day: HS3 Veronica Moore, 4Q Enlisted Person of the Quarter for Sector Proper, and SN Kelly Dittoe of USCGC Sturgeon Bay, the Sectorwide Enlisted Person of the Quarter.
New York Council members and friends from VALOR, the military and veterans employee resource group at S&P Global, kept mariners in our hearts during the holiday season by volunteering for a packing day on December 9 at Seaman’s Church Institute’s Port Newark location to assemble gift bags that where shared with mariners away from their families.
Advisory Committee member Tim Hays, Council President James Spear and Board Member Ted Mason congratulate Board Member Frank Russo (second from right), chair of the USS John Basilone Commissioning Committee, for a job well done on November 9 after the ship’s commissioning ceremony.
Congratulations to USCG Sector New York Enlisted Persons of the Quarter for 3Q24 — MST3 Felicia Hallworth for Sector Proper and MK2 Layne McGerald for Sectorwide performance. Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich presented them with their awards on October 10.
At the August 9 All Hands Meeting at USCG Sector New York, Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich recognized 2Q24 top performers, including ME3 Russel Lindsay from Sector Proper and FN Yahill Pellot-Perez, the Sectorwide honoree from USCG Station New York.
New York Council continued our annual sponsorship of the children’s area at USCG Sector New York’s Coast Guard Day celebration on August 2. Thanks to our many member volunteers who were joined by Young Marines from our sponsored River Towns Young Marines unit and volunteers from our corporate partner, S&P Global.
New York Council proudly attended the June 21 ceremony at which LT Justino Menendez of USCG Station New York received his Advanced Boat Forces Insignia.
New York Council Navy League honored three 2025 graduating cadets from SUNY Maritime College on May 23 with the Council’s Leadership Awards, one from each academic track: Carina Bersani (non-license), Aisling Donnelly (engine) and Richard Lent (deck).
With so many sera service members visiting for Fleet Week New York, we made sure that our local units had fun too, like these Sailors from NTAG Empire State. For more Fleet Week photos, visit our Fleet Week 2025 page.
Board Member Tom Breglia, who serves on the Fleet Support Committee as the Council’s liaison to the NYC NROTC unit based at SUNY Maritime College, attended their change of command on April 23. Midshipman Candice Wahl is the new Cadet Commander, relieving Midshipman John Barr.
New York Council VP of Fleet Support Joe Fila and Executive Director Jessica Hitchen were at USCG Sector New York’s All Hands on April 8 to present Enlisted Person of the Quarter Awards for 1Q 2025 to Sector proper awardee SK2 Ryan Knick and Sectorwide recipient EM2 Sean Kane of USCG Detachment Sandy Hook.
Council President James Spear welcomed one of the Navy’s newest officers to the fleet with a sword of leadership award at the New York NROTC Mid-Year Commissioning Ceremony on January 31 at SUNY Maritime College. Congratulations ENS Dylan Callies!
NTAG-Empire State personnel and family members enjoyed their first post-COVID holiday party on December 5 with financial support from New York Council. Executive Director Jessica Hitchen was thrilled to join members from our adopted unit for a festive evening at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island.
Sailors and Marines enjoyed an afternoon of fun at Barcade, where New York Council and USO Metro NY treated the crew of the newly commissioned USS John Basilone to an afternoon of food, drinks and games to celebrate Veterans Week.
On October 16, Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich presented the USCG Station New York Enlisted Person of the Quarter award for 3Q24 to MK2 Jefferson Parker. Congratulations on a job well done!
On August 4, New York Council member Lu Caldara recognized top graduates of 2024’s 2nd Battalion 25th Marines Corporals Professional Development course.
New York Council bid farewell to our first active duty Life Member Jason Bernz during a departure ceremony on July 16 at USCG Sector New York. Looking on were proud parents, Board Member Jon Bernz and Jane Bernz.
Fleet Support events
Each year, we present Swords of Leadership to newly commissioned officers from SUNY Maritime, US Merchant Marine Academy and Fordham University NROTC programs. Shown here is ENS Spencer Wilhelm, USN, SUNY Maritime ’19.
Fleet Week is an important part of our schedule each year. For more information about the history of Fleet Week New York and the events we sponsor, visit the Fleet Week section of our site.
When ships visit, New York Council members often give the galley crew a break by serving lunch. Here, members gather while delivering a Tex-Mex buffet to USS Oak Hill.