NYC welcomes Marines, sailors during Fleet Week New York 2011 Parade of Sail

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Fleet Week 2011, Marines, Memorial Day, military, Navy, NYC

A member of a military Honor Guard stands at parade rest during a Memorial Day remembrance at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Boston Common in Boston, Thursday morning, May 26, 2011. Ten thousand American flags have been place near the monument to represent the number of Massachusetts citizens who have given their lives in America's wars. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

I remember as a little girl the Memorial Day Parade which back in those days took place less than two blocks from my house over on Eastern Parkway. My mother would get us all up, fed and dressed by 8 a.m. The girls would be dressed in new red and white outfits, white ankle socks and crisp white sneakers.  My brother, a pair or dark blue slacks or white shorts with a white shirt and blue cap and a pair of white sneakers.  One of my uncles was in the Marines and the other, the Navy. Even though the parade would not start for at least another hour, we would get to our spot by 8:30 a.m.  My mother would bring old newspapers for us to sit on right at the curb and she would stand behind us.  There is no arguing that they were the best seats on the block. Decades later, as an adult, I still tear up at the memory of the parade, which was moved from Eastern Parkway more than forty years ago, but we, New Yorkers, are still blessed to enjoy the flood of servicemen and women that comes along with Fleet Week. It was an amazing time then and it is an amazing time now.  It never gets old. Of course, the videographer in the final video will probably receive a visit today or tomorrow from Homeland Security.  I hope not but some may have interpreted his behavior as being a tad overzealous.