Fleet Week is back in the Big Apple.
Members of the US Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps made their annual march into New York City for a week of extravagant events leading up to Memorial Day.
The U.S. Navy’s submarine tank, a Fleet Week tradition, has returned to the center of New York’s Times Square.
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Navy divers demonstrated their service by donning diving gear and swimming in a clear tank, waving to visitors and playing games with children in the audience.
Fox News Digital spoke with Navy Diver First Class Christopher Brewer on top of the tank, who said a diver’s duty is to become an expert on “everything underwater.”
He said: “We dive all over the world. We’re experts in salvage. We’re experts in everything underwater. If it’s necessary, we’ll do it.”
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Brewer, a native of North Pole, Alaska, said he has “always wanted to serve” and did his part.
“I’ve always loved the water,” he says, “and I was a lifeguard as a kid.”
A Navy diver with 10 years of experience, he was on his first visit to New York to showcase his crew’s capabilities and described meeting the community as “amazing.”
U.S. Navy diver Christopher Brewer tries on a diving helmet at the start of Fleet Week on May 24, 2024, in New York City. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
“People are coming around and interacting with us and trying on helmets,” Brewer said.
He said, “There are divers in the middle of Times Square. This is probably one of the coolest places to dive. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
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Brewer said people “from all over the world” seem to be “pretty interested” in what it’s like to be a Navy diver.
“I just love talking to people and listening to their stories and telling them my work,” he said.
“I am very excited about this job and am passionate about what I do. [about] “Serving the community and serving the people here. They’re all valuable.”
With tensions rising around the world, Brewer said he hopes the personal interactions with military personnel will give civilians a “sense of belonging.”
“We’re normal people,” he said, “going through the same difficult times as them.”
Master diver and senior chief Ryan Ilagan, a salvage diver with 21 years of experience, shared his excitement for his second Fleet Week.
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“Navy divers [and] End Time [explosive ordnance disposal] “It’s for our technologists to interact with the crowd, showcasing our capabilities and letting the people of New York know who we are,” the California-based Ilagan told Fox News Digital.
Ilagan said the tank demonstration was a way to convey “gratitude” to both military and civilians.
The annual Naval Ship Parade featured capital ships such as the USS Bataan (LHD-5) out of Norfolk, Virginia;
“It’s a great way to do a little work and have a little fun,” he said. “It benefits the civilians and it benefits us.”
Master divers reported that many applicants viewed the exhibit and expressed interest in joining the U.S. military.
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Brewer also thanked his parents, wife and daughter for supporting him during his active duty.
Fleet Week kicked off with the annual Naval Ship Parade on May 22, featuring capital ships such as the USS Bataan (LHD-5) of Norfolk, Virginia, FGS Baden-Württemberg and FGS Frankfurt am Main of Germany.
A Memorial Day message will be displayed in Times Square on May 24, 2024. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
The week continued with the World Trade Center Freedom Run, a re-commitment ceremony and other events.
In addition to the many exciting experiences, Brewer and Ilagan both said their favorite memory was enjoying New York City specialties like bagels and pizza.
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“I went to Joe’s. [Pizza] “The pizza last night was amazing,” Brewer said. “Great pizza. Dave Portnoy, if you’re listening, let me know, I’m going to give it a 7.8.”
“The people in New York are amazing. The food is amazing. The culture is amazing. The diversity is amazing,” Ilagan added.
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