Marine Helicopters Land at Eisenhower Park on May 23 As Part of "Fleet Week 2009"

A U.S. Marine Corps helicopter squadron will descend on Eisenhower Park’s Kite Field on Saturday, May 23, as part of “Fleet Week 2009” activities in New York, announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

The free “Raid New York” event, which begins at 10 a.m., features AH-1W Cobra and UH-1N helicopters performing an area sweep, while CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters transport the raid force Marines to the landing zone. Marines will perform an assault demonstration, after which the helicopters will land and be on public display, along with the weapons typically used by a Marine Corps rifle platoon. Marines supporting this event are part of a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., recently returned from Afghanistan.

A restored UH-34D Seahorse helicopter, which was used for combat rescue in Vietnam, will join in the landing. The helicopter is provided by Marine Helicopter Squadron 361 Veterans Association, Inc. The family-friendly event will also feature camouflage face-painting for youngsters.

The helicopter landing is presented in cooperation with the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums. The Kite Field is located just south of the Veterans Memorial, with parking at fields 6 and 6A. For more information about this event, call 516-572-0396.