***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FDNY HOLDS 7TH ANNUAL BLESSING OF
THE FDNY MARINE FLEET

The New York City Fire Department will host the 7th Annual Blessing of the FDNY Marine Fleet tomorrow at Pier 17 of the South Street Seaport. For more than 130 years, the FDNY’s Marine Division, the largest unit of its kind in the world, has played a critical role in emergencies throughout the history of New York City. The Marine Division is comprised of eight ships that assist in fire suppression and conduct water emergency missions along the City’s 560 miles of waterfront.

In honor of Flag Day, FDNY fireboats will be giving a red, white and blue water salute to the American flag as they pass the pier. The Fire Safety Education Unit will be conducting fire safety demonstrations and distributing educational literature, coloring books and red helmets. The FDNY Fire Zone will be selling clothing to raise money for the FDNY Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports FDNY initiatives including training, education and equipment.

***Photo-Op Note: Procession of the ships will start at the Brooklyn Bridge and pass alongside Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport

Press Contact: Francis X. Gribbon & Tony Sclafani, (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny