Tag: history

Tall Ships Parade on the Hudson celebrating the US 250th

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New York City celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in several ways: the Times Square ball dropped multiple times (the first time that had been done other than on New Year’s Eve), the Statue of Liberty was a part of a laser light show, and of course there were fantastic fireworks at night (starting about 30 minutes earlier to avoid some thunderstorms!). My favorite part of this very special celebration happened in the morning and early afternoon of July 4th: initially, a spectacular aerial show over New York Harbor, flying over the Hudson River north; followed by a magnificent parade of tall ships along with some Class B sailing ships, tugboats, and NYFD water boats, all passing through the Harbor, sailing up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge, and then circling back to return.

I decided to watch all of this from the lower portion of Riverside Park, at about West 68th Street. Because of the West Side Highway on an overpass just east of the park, I knew from experience that there was good shade to be had, at least until early afternoon. This turned out to be even more important than usual, as NYC was entering the fourth day of an oppressive heat wave. However, I was able to find a place to sit in the shade, later moving to a standing position next to a rail, moving again to sit on the grass, and finally standing on the sidewalk almost in a bed of plants – all to avoid the sun as it slowly rose higher in the sky behind us. Although there were those who stood out on piers to be closer to the ships, and certainly were able to get stunning photos because of the proximity, I was happy with the view I had, and stayed much longer than I would have been able to in the sun.

Starting at about 10:15 AM, there was a wonderful aerial show. I had never been to a show like this, and was amazed at how closely the airplanes flew to each other. From my perspective, at times it seemed they were almost on top of each other! Led by the Blue Angels, there were a variety of US and international fixed and rotary winged aircraft. I looked it up later and learned that I saw the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the U.S. Air Force “Bomber Trifecta” (B-1, B-2, B-52), F-15 and F-22 fighters, Marine F-35s, France’s Patrouille de France and the UK’s Royal Air Force. You can see a video compilation of some of it on my Instagram posts HERE and HERE.

With the tall ships parade scheduled to start at 9:30, I was expecting to see the tall ships around 10:30, but the parade actually started about 10, so they got to where I was viewing by about 11. First there was a pilot boat, and NYFD water boat, among others. It was exciting at this point because every now and then you could hear one of the ships sounding its horn farther south.

The tall ships were even more impressive than I had imagined! It was easy to tell which were the true tall ships versus the Class B sailing ships, which were scattered in with the tall ships. Often the ships would sound their horn as they passed by and everyone would cheer! You can see video of some of the ships on my Instagram reel HERE.

There were so many more ships than I had expected. Eventually some of the first ships were coming south again after turning around at the George Washington Bridge. I noticed that later in the parade more of the ships had their sails furled, perhaps to give them more control since they would be passing other ships coming south.

It was a lovely “Saturday in the park . . . I think it was the Fourth of July” (I made an Instagram reel using that song HERE haha). One of the things I loved about this was the international aspect of it – countries from all over the world here to celebrate our birthday, as we are reminded of our place alongside them. I doubt there will be another parade of tall ships like this for another 50 years, which I will not see. That knowledge made the experience all the more special, and I held a hope within my heart that those seeing the 300th birthday parade of tall ships will be doing so in a world and country that has improved in terms of peacefulness and quality of life for all.

Anne Frank The Exhibition in NYC

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If you have ever been to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, you know what an incredibly moving experience it is to be there in the actual space where a German-born Jewish girl, Anne Frank, along with her family and some others, hid from the Nazis from 1942-1944. The diary that Anne kept during that time was found following the end of World War II by her father after Anne, her sister Margot, and their mother Edith all died in concentration camps after their hiding place was discovered. The very personal story it told has now been translated into more than 70 languages, become a movie and a play, and continues to be taught in schools today to illuminate the horrors of the Holocaust. The Anne Frank House has limited tickets per day and you need to plan far ahead if you want to visit when in Amsterdam (and I would highly recommend doing so). But on January 27, 2025 (Holocaust Memorial Day, that date marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz camp), Anne Frank The Exhibition opened just off Union Square in NYC.

Anne Frank The Experience is located at 15 East 16th Street, just off Union Square. Timed tickets for this also sell out well in advance, but if looking to go sooner, I have noticed that a few tickets get released one or two days in advance even for all these dates that appear sold out earlier, so keep checking. Or, just plan to see it later this summer or in early fall, as it has been extended at this point through October 31, 2025.

Most of the exhibit prohibits the taking of photographs, to keep the experience respectful and educational. I will give you an idea what is presented, but highly recommend you go and experience yourself if you live in or near NYC. It will likely take you about an hour to move through the exhibit and read and reflect on everything that is presented. The exhibit is extensive, occupying gallery space of over 7500 square feet. Initial rooms describe Anne’s extended family and its background, and introduce us to her parents, sister, and Anne herself. Woven into this story is the parallel story of the rise of fascism and the Nazi party in Germany and the danger it presented to many. I had not realized that Anne had extended family members in NYC who tried to find asylum for her family but had it repeatedly denied. The Franks’ move to Amsterdam was initially a way to escape danger in Germany, but eventually it was no longer safe there as well. The exhibit clearly describes first the limitations on freedom that were imposed, leading eventually to the need to hide in the Annex.

The different rooms leading up to the recreation of the Annex are very well done and often multi-media. In one room there is a large screen showing a photo of Anne and the rest of her class at school, and slowly one by one different children are highlighted and their eventual fate is displayed. There are also some actual artifacts that are on loan from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. You can see an excerpt from a neighbor’s wedding video where Anne can be seen hanging out of a window for about 20 seconds.

Finally, going through the replica of the actual Annex feels very much being in the actual location in Amsterdam. The windows are covered as they would have been during the over two years the family and four other Jewish inhabitants were in the Annex.

Leaving the Annex, the exhibit continues with the fate of those in the Annex after they were discovered (Anne died at the age of 15 in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany; seven of the eight inhabitants died in concentration camps). Her father, the only survivor, found her diary and tried to get it published. Many of the rejection letters he received are shown, suggesting that it was not likely to find a readership. But then the exhibit expands to show the movies and plays that have been based on the book, as well as endless copies of the book (Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl) translated into languages all over the world. It has sold over 30 million copies.

After looking at the long, long line of different versions of the diary published throughout the years, in a multitude of languages, you are invited, if you wish, to pull out your phone as you leave to take your picture with the montage of photographs of Anne (above). This still felt presumptuous to me, inserting myself into her story in any way. We humans are storytellers, though, and often the best way for us to relate the experience of a group is to tell the story of an individual. This is the magic of the diary of Anne Frank, in that we are able to relate to something almost too large to process, the Holocaust, through the lens of this one person. Primo Levi once said, “One single Anne Frank moves us more than the countless others who suffered just as she did but whose faces have remained in the shadows. Perhaps it is better that way; if we were capable of taking in all the suffering of all those people, we would not be able to live.” We can witness Anne’s story, encourage others to do so, and then expand the connection we have made with her to the larger multitudes of the Holocaust – and the lessons this teaches us. This exhibit states that it wants us to know more about Anne through the “multifaceted lens of her life—as a girl, a writer, and a symbol of resilience and strength” and for me, it succeeded brilliantly.