Coast Guard Foundation Announces New York’s 2026 Salute to the United States Coast Guard

New York is preparing for an exciting night of celebrating maritime heroes from the U.S. Coast Guard and the communities that contribute to their support. Pencil this date on your calendar; October 8 at 6:00 pm. The Lighthouse at Pier 61 will be poised to present a truly spectacular event.

Coast Guard service members in New York are charged with maritime safety, maritime security, maritime mobility, protection of natural resources, and national defense missions. Their two main operational modes are prevention and response; by first preventing bad things from happening and then responding to emergencies, these modes aid in successful mission completion.

Coast Guard forces in New York execute their missions from Sandy Hook, NJ, to the Long Island Sound/Connecticut border, plus up to 200 miles offshore in any direction. That’s a span of over 6,000 miles and a lot of responsibility, making the Coast Guard an invaluable asset to the safety and security of the community.

The third largest U.S. port is the Port of New York/ New Jersey. It has the largest civilian population in a U.S. port area, and ultimately serves over 35% of the total U.S. population.

Notable statistics include:

• 2024 total value of cargo through the Port– approximately $264 Billion. 
• 12% of the international goods arriving into the U.S. come through this Port. 
• 85 million metric tons of general cargo, that serves 80 million people or 35% of the entire U.S. population. 
• 1st in the U.S. for movement of petroleum, (aviation fuel, gasoline & home heating oil). 
• 1st in the U.S. as an ocean-borne auto-handling port, moving 722,000 vehicles annually. 
• 3rd largest U.S. port for containerized cargo shipments, with 4.8 million TEUs of containerized cargo (7,300 containers each day). 

Supporters from the tri-state area’s most prominent communities will be in attendance, marking it as an unforgettable event:

• Coast Guard leaders from all along the East Coast
• Dedicated Coast Guard members serving on maritime security frontlines
• Port officials from New York and New Jersey
• Maritime business executives driving international commerce
• Local government officials and community leaders

Event Details:

Date: October 8, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Venue: The Lighthouse at Pier 61
Address: The Lighthouse Pier 61, Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011 
Parking: Available on-site and in nearby harbor areas

Please join us in our salute to the Coast Guard, whose members work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the U.S. waterways.

Title image: Banquet hall at Pier 61 is set for the New York Salute to the United States Coast Guard. 2025