Blog – Bicentennial in New York Harbor July 3-4, 1976 – Operation Sail

 

It was going to be exciting! A celebration to be remembered! Everyone wanted to be in New York City on that day.

My uncle had connections to get us over to the docks in New York Harbor to see the Tall Ships. That vantage point was perfect, and the day began bright, sunny, and clear. There were going to be hundreds of them sailing into the harbor and going up the Hudson River.

I look at the pictures of myself on that day, in my one-piece jumpsuit and realize how skinny I was at 15. The photos back then are not very good, but I am on the dock and next to all the huge lifts that pull things off the boats.

I remember that day and knew we were going to get to see some amazing, tall and old ships from all over the world.

The ships had to plan to arrive at the event on time and I can’t imagine the amount of coordination that needed to happen between the captains of the ships, the crews, the docking authorities, the tugboats, the police, and fire departments to make that happen. And then … where to put all the boats?
President Ford was going to be there, and all the entourage needed to protect him.
I remember, the boats spraying water in all directions celebrating each ship as it arrived. I remember the music wafting in from the boats following along and from the celebrations happening on the docks.
And I remember the feeling that day. It was a much simpler time. A time with less upset and struggle. A more carefree attitude. A time when the major celebrations still felt like a town fair.

New York was a very big town but the friendliness and ease that we all shared with each other that day, I now long to feel again in our country.

It seemed almost every country sent a ship to celebrate the ideals of the America that we were back then.
It was an America that I believe is still in the hearts and souls of our people.
On the dock there were Nathan’s Hot Dog stands, drinks, chips, hamburgers, ice cream, popcorn etc. Each dock had its own party going and those with the connections got a front row seat to the event.

There were ships with flags from everywhere.
Old tall ships, massive Naval ships, a tons of party people out on their personal boats to celebrate the ships arrivals and to follow them in.

Everyone was excited and happy. The energy was enthusiastic and people and there were smiles everywhere and enthusiasm with each ship coming in.
From that celebration, we were eventually off to Battery Park to watch the fireworks around the Statue of Liberty.
That was going to be so exciting.

Problem was that everyone was going to want to be there. They anticipated having 2 million at the park itself that night. And millions would watch on television. The city had suggested to use the public transportation.
Fortunately there are multiple subway stops located near Battery Park. The Number 4 and 5 stop at Bowling Green. The R train stops at Whitehall Street. And the Number 1 stops at the South Ferry Station.
We went to get on the trains headed in that direction only to have the driver tell us through the intercom that all the trains were backed up and we could not stop at the stations so we were going to have to walk through the tunnels to get to the stations close by and walk the rest of the way.

Needless to say, that was an adventure walking through the dark tunnels of the subways.

But everyone was excited and the streams of people willingly left the train and helped each other down, and walked together through the darkness to finally reach a station.
From there it was simple.
You just followed the crowds.
Everyone knew where they were going but I was clueless.
We come out and it is getting dark, about 9:15 pm. And the streets are a jumble of souvenirs sellers, food and drink sellers, balloons, and my favorite … neon necklaces, that when you cracked them they started to glow and emit light. You could put them around your neck or wrists. Everyone was buying them.

It was not in my budget, but I thought they were very cool. They were something that I had never seen before.

We get to the beach just after the fireworks had begun. We could hear the booming in the distance and the sounds of millions oohing and aweing.

I had never seen so many bodies all crowded together in one spot.

After the fireworks we made our way back to the trains and on the opposite corner was standing a person from Dallas that had not seen in years.
We stood in shock at seeing the other, exclaiming “Is that really you?” and then we were hugging on the corner marveling at the way the universe works and how two people who did not know the other was coming to the event, could magically find the other among 2 million spectators at Battery Park.
The Universe works in mysterious ways.
I think about that day and marvel at the fact that even though at the at time in New York City, many things were very dangerous (in certain parts of the city). But on that day, everyone behaved perfectly, and the police did not have any trouble at the park with 2 million people crowded into a small space for the Bicentennial. There were no fist fights, no pickpocketing, no crimes to speak of.

On that special day, Americans shared a perfect moment that fit the beautiful gifts of freedom that are a part of the American ideal.

I hope in another 50 years at our Tricentennial that it goes as smoothly.

~Suzanne Wagner~

 

 

 

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