Fleet Week - Sunset Parade USS Wasp

I was invited to join a number of military families and dignitaries for the Sunset Parade aboard the USS Wasp during Fleet Week.

The Sunset Parade featured the Marine Corps Band from Quantico and USCG Silent Drill Team, a ceremonial lowering of the flag and a reception afterwards.

Below are pictures and videos I took during the evening. Enjoy!

First things first. When you walk up the first few ramps into the Wasp you are inside the ship, in the Hangar area. So, how do you get topside for the ceremony? Well you could climb more ramps... or take the faster way up - the elevator. And when I say elevator in this case, I mean the elevator they use to transport planes from the flight deck down inside the ship....

This is definitely more people than you can usually fit in an elevator!

When I arrived on Deck the Marine Corps Band was wrapping up playing New York New York, and once we all got up there and in place, the ceremony began.

Here's a video of the Coast Guard Silent Drill Team. They were phenomenal:

And as we know what goes up... must come down.. . Here's my view on the elevator as we were taken back down into the ship.

The reception was in full swing

We were even treated to a performance from the crew of the Indonesian Tall Ship that is taking part in Fleet Week.:

And what event is complete without some USO girls!