NYHC wants to take the opportunity to remember the 50 veterans that reportedly died in the Long Island nursing home. To date, there are more than 1000 veterans in VA health system sites that have been lost due to Covid-19 infections. Along with the veterans who are not getting the proper ceremonial honors at their burials due to Covid-19. However, hundreds of other veterans were lost in the state-run homes.  We ask, how many of these veterans would still be alive today if they were fast-tracked to USNS Comfort.  And for those who would have succumbed to the infection, how many would have been happier spending their final hours on the military hospital ship?  Of course, these are tough questions.

On this Memorial Day Observance, NYHC is honored to have Congressman and veteran Max Rose offer words of thanks to the crew of USNS Comfort.  A purple heart recipient, Max Rose served as a platoon leader in Afghanistan and was wounded there in 2013.  In addition to his representation of the 11th Congressional District from Brooklyn and Staten Island, he currently is attached to the New York Army National Guard for active duty.

NYHC is proud to have found men and women of distinction to help tell our Covid-19 New York story.  The time span of the documentary is from March 7th (the first covid deaths in NYC) to April 30th (when Comfort leaves NYC).   The key focal characters are Rachel Hartley, who answered the call for ICU nurses, sailing her temporary residence into New York Harbor and USNS Comfort’s Chaplain, Lt. Johnny Bravo.  There is a strong spirituality between the two, told from their respective ships.  The working New York Harbor personnel is represented by the Sandy Hook Pilot, Captain Tim Ferrie, who navigated Comfort into its NYC pier.  USNS Comfort’s Commander Amersbach offers his precise detail of the Hospital ship operations.

New York Harbor is in lock down for all passenger ship traffic.  The cruise ship industry ties NY waters to the oceans of the world.  We also touch on Erika Butters’ plight stuck on a Cruise Ship stranded in the Atlantic Ocean.   As Covid-19 tears apart careers and industries, Erika’s 56 day saga offers a musical therapy as she records a consistent daily post on Facebook from her ship.  Erika’s music offers uplifting melodies under our visual footage.  NYHC has taken the best of our interviews over the past two months to piece together this unique story.

Governor Cuomo and President Trump provide the Covid-19 reality as well as the backstory as to why Comfort was in NYC for only 30 days.  The hospital ship only treated 182 Covid patients over a mere 14 day period.  Despite the political tension that permeates the atmosphere, Comfort does exhibit its  marvelous medical deployment and staff acumen.  Not a single Covid-19 patient treated on-board was lost.

We conclude with shout outs from New Yorkers including one from  Congressman Max Rose.  With Comfort’s return to the Norfolk Naval Station, one missing element remains… a Mission Name.  We invite everybody who was touched both physically and spiritually to offer a name for the Navy Command to consider.  NYHC has chosen ‘Operation Gentle Shadow’ as its reach in dark times has brought calm and compassion to the waters of New York Harbor.

After USNS Comfort sailed out of New York Harbor, the torch had been passed to a visiting nurse from Lynchburg, Virginia and the hundreds of other healthcare workers like Rachel Hartley.  Of course, we cannot forget about the thousands of healthcare workers who started this battle when Covid-19 first entered the NYC hospital system back in February.  Departure day for the Comfort marked a significant Turning Point for New York.  The number of Covid-19 cases was slowly, but steadily on the decline.

NYHC wishes to take this opportunity to personally thank the men and women of the USNS Comfort for their service to the nation   The ship exemplified professionalism.  What’s more, the hospital ship also served as a ambassador.  It was indeed a Gentle Shadow that spread compassion from the waterfront to all the New York and New Jersey front line workers.   As you sailed out of the harbor, you took your excellence with you to serve on another mission.  For New York, Operation Gentile Shadow will live on as a shining light that helped bring us out of the unknown darkness.  We wish you fair winds and following seas!

For more in depth articles and interviews found in New York Harbor Channel, please click below

Commander Amersbach

Captain Tim Ferrie

Erika Monet Butters

Nurse Rachel Hartley

Chaplain Johnny Bravo

The post Memorial Day Thank You from New York Harbor to the Comfort Community appeared first on New York Harbor Channel.

We remain optimistic that this will be the only case of Coronavirus fears in New York Harbor.  Four guests that arrived on the ship Friday night were sent to a local hospital in New Jersey for screening and observation to detect if they had contracted the Coronavirus.  Anthem Of The Seas so far has been the only cruise ship on the East Coast of the United States to be affected with screenings and/or quarantine.  All passengers were advised there was no threat of infection.  Three cruise ships in the China Sea have quarantined passengers or have been denied access to dock.

The post Royal Carribbean’s Anthem Of The Seas Finally Leaves appeared first on New York Harbor Channel.

In the summer of 2019, New York Harbor Channel traveled through the Norwegian Fjords on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam. The on-board chamber music ensemble was so inspirational, we highlighted the experience here in this article. Craig Laurie, Vice President of Artistic Directions at RWS Entertainment Group, offers insight into his creation with Lincoln Center Stage. In addition, the musicians of the 2019 Nieuw Statendam voyage to the Midnight Sun lend their words and music.

The on-board chamber music ensemble was so inspirational, we highlighted the experience here in this article. Craig Laurie, the Vice President of Artistic Directions at RWS Entertainment Group, offers insight into his creation of the Lincoln Center Stage.  In addition, the musicians of the 2019 Nieuw Statendam voyage to the Midnight Sun lend their words and music to our piece.

RWS Entertainment currently maintains eleven quintets for Holland America. The Lincoln Center Stage family  has expressed their desire to spread the language of chamber music to an ever expanding audience that includes young adults.  There is a growing community of music students who are increasingly interested in promoting the art of chamber music.  The LCS musicians are the new global ambassadors.

What’s To Come In The Near Future

This Fall, Holland America ships will be making New York Harbor their port of call. Passengers will arrive blocks away from Lincoln Center and have the opportunity to experience LCS chamber music where the ensembles originated.  It’s a unique experience blending the sounds of music molded here in New York and carry it out to sea.

NYHC will follow the LCS ensembles of the Zaiderdam and the Zaandam as they voyage around the world. We are pleased to greet them as they port at Pier 66 in NY on September 7th and September 22nd.  NYHC will be on hand before the ensembles create the soundtrack to accompany the Canadian foliage of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.

For more Lincoln Center Stage Chamber Ensemble and Craig Laurie’s Extended Interview:

For a few selections of the on-board compositions, click here.

For the full NYHC audio interview with Craig Laurie Vice President of Artistic Direction of RWS Entertainment Group check below!

COMING SOON: Podcast with student musicians in the New York City school programs who will have special access to the LCS community.

The post Music On The Water: From Manhattan to the Midnight Sun and Journeys Beyond appeared first on New York Harbor Channel.