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Col. Melissa Cantwell, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton; Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy; and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Riding, Fort Hamilton’s senior enlisted leader, present command challenge coins on July 4, 2026, to Soldiers and Airmen of the ceremonial cannon‑firing team from the New York National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield and the U.S. Army New York City Recruiting Battalion. Both units, tenant organizations at Fort Hamilton, were recognized for their support to America’s 250th birthday during Sail4th 250 and the International Naval Review. (U.S. Army photo by Mark Getman- Fort Hamilton Garrison Public Affairs)
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Fort Hamilton leaders presented Good Neighbor Awards on July 4, 2026, honoring Ilene Sacco—a civic leader with the 68th Precinct Community Council, Bay Ridge Community Council, and Dyker Heights Civic Association—and Sonia Valentin, a community advocate serving on Community Board 11 and the 62nd Precinct Community Council, for their longstanding support to the installation and its community. The awards were presented by Col. Melissa Cantwell, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton commander; Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy; and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Riding, USAG Fort Hamilton senior enlisted leader, shortly before the Sail4th 250 festivities began as part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations. (U.S. Army photo by Mark Getman- Fort Hamilton Garrison Public Affairs)
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The U.S. Navy Blue Angels soared past Fort Hamilton on July 4, 2026, performing a low‑altitude flyover along the Verrazzano‑Narrows as part of Sail4th 250 and the International Naval Review celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Spectators gathered at Engeldrum Bluff to watch the formation streak above New York Harbor, adding a dramatic aerial highlight to the historic Semiquincentennial observance. (Courtesy photo by Ed Shevlin)
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Col. Melissa Cantwell, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton; Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Riding, the garrison’s senior enlisted leader; and Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, render honors during the final ceremonial cannon fire on July 4, 2026, marking Fort Hamilton’s role in Sail4th 250 and the International Naval Review as the fleets sailed past the installation. New York City’s only active‑duty Army post then provided a prime vantage point as tall ships and naval vessels passed under the Verrazzano‑Narrows Bridge for America’s 250th birthday celebration. Soldiers from the New York National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield and the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion delivered additional salutes as families watched tall ships, Coast Guard cutters, and military aircraft move through New York Harbor near the historic 1776 Battle of Brooklyn landing site. (U.S. Army photo by Mark Getman-Fort Hamilton Garrison Public Affairs)
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The Italian tall ship Amerigo Vespucci sails through New York Harbor on July 4, 2026, surrounded by escorting vessels during Sail4th 250 and the International Naval Review. The ship passed Fort Hamilton, New York City’s only active‑duty Army post, as families gathered near the historic 1776 Battle of Brooklyn landing site to watch tall ships, Coast Guard cutters, and military aircraft move through the harbor as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration. (Courtesy photo by Ed Shevlin)
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U.S. Army helicopters fly in formation above the Verrazzano‑Narrows Bridge as a tall ship sails beneath the span on July 4, 2026, during the combined aerial and maritime displays of Sail4th 250 and the International Naval Review. The simultaneous flyover and fleet movement passed Fort Hamilton, New York City’s only active‑duty Army post, highlighting the installation’s role in America’s 250th birthday celebration as tall ships, Coast Guard cutters, and military aircraft moved through New York Harbor. (U.S. Army photo by Mark Getman- Fort Hamilton Garrison Public Affairs)
(Photo Credit: Mark Getman)VIEW ORIGINAL
The ceremonial cannon salutes that opened Sail4th 250 in early July 2026 carried added significance for Fort Hamilton, which marked its 200th anniversary during the 2025–2026 bicentennial period.
Soldiers and Airmen from the New York National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield and the U.S. Army New York City Recruiting Battalion, tenant units at Fort Hamilton, formed the installation’s ceremonial cannon‑firing team, delivering salutes into New York Harbor as part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration.
The observance connected modern military tradition with the fort’s historic role in coastal defense. Fort Hamilton stands near the shoreline where Continental Army forces maneuvered during the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn, the first major battle of the Revolutionary War and a pivotal moment in the defense of New York.
On July 4, Fort Hamilton opened its gates from morning through afternoon, welcoming more than 3,000 visitors for waterfront viewing of the aerial and maritime portions of Sail4th 250.
During the ceremony, the installation presented its Good Neighbor Award to Ilene Sacco and Sonia Valentin, honoring their longstanding support to the military community.
As the garrison commander of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton, Col. Melissa Cantwell led the day’s official recognitions and received Congressional Citations from Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, acknowledging the installation’s contributions to America250 and its enduring role in New York City.
Both representatives praised the significance of the Semiquincentennial, with Jeffries highlighting America’s “enduring commitment to freedom and democracy,” and Malliotakis noting the importance of celebrating “the service of those who protect our nation.”
Cantwell, joined by Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, Superintendant for the United States Military Academy at West Point, and garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Riding, also presented command challenge coins to the cannon team, linking Fort Hamilton’s bicentennial legacy with the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
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