On July 4, 1976, New York City celebrated the Bicentennial of American independence with a parade of ships that began at the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and moved up the Hudson River. Officially titled “Operation Sail,” more than 200 ships gathered f...
On July 4, 1976, New York City celebrated the Bicentennial of American independence with a parade of ships that began at the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and moved up the Hudson River. Officially titled “Operation Sail,” more than 200 ships gathered for the event. With more than six million spectators, it became the largest crowd in New York City’s history. For America's largest celebration staged in New York and across the nation, Bicentennial planning had begun a decade in advance. It focused on celebration and unity. Operation Sail was intended to both lift the nation’s spirits and demonstrate that the city could find unity through celebration. What would set apart Operation Sail was that the Nation’s largest City should have what would be the largest celebration and that it should be maritime to honor immigrants, all who came to the U.S. aboard ships, notably through Ellis Island. Beyond immigration, New York’s maritime history represented the achievement and success of a young nation. As well as something New Yorkers’ themselves would feel proud of their city, seeing as an event at this scale could only be possible in a city like New York and could bring New Yorkers together to create an unforgettable experience. Out Nation is one of astounding achievement, incredible ingenuity, unwavering principle, bravery, charity and humanity of the highest magnitude and simultaneously, the deepest of divisions, unforgivable cruelty, violence, inequalities and injustices that do not die, they lurk, they mutate. They live as the darkest parts in all of us. But. They are NOT who we are. Our story told is one in which we have been complicit in base evil acts of which humanity is capable. It is also one in which is shown the absolute brightest heights of which humanity is also capable. And our story is still being written. Our Nation’s 250th Birthday is now upon us. I ask you, as my fellow New Yorkers, fellow Americans, and fellow citizens of the World with all that we are, the good and the evil, the beauty and the profane, but most importantly, with the highest resolution of hope and belief in who we are and what we could be…how we gonna celebrate this mothafuckin’ birthday because we deserve it! submitted by /u/Such-Opportunity6490 [link] [comments]
