The last leg

Friday morning we will be making the last leg of the voyage. The trip
through the harbor and up the river will be impressive. All cadets and
officers will be dressed in their formal uniforms. The ship, freshly
cleaned and painted, will be sparkling. We will enter the harbor under
the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, blowing the Ship's horn as we do. Like so
many other voyagers from the past, we will be welcomed to the harbor by
the Great Lady, the Statue of Liberty. We will pass Ellis Island where
so many of our ancestors entered this country. We will sail past the
Battery and Manhattan's formidable skyline and enter the East River. As
we traverse under each of the 7 East River crossings from the Brooklyn to
the Whitestone, we will again blow the horn. Well wishers will wave at us
from the River's promenades. Finally, after the Whitestone Bridge, we
will round the point and the College will be in sight. There will be
hundreds of people there to greet their loved ones returning from the sea..
Banners and flags will be everywhere. The College's band will play us in
as we dock. Fireboats will spray us a watery salute. The tugs will ease
us to the dock, the lines will be cast and attached and the mighty ship
and her crew will be home.