NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Tall ships from across the globe lined the riverfront as part of Sail 250, a celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
Among the ships docked was the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk. New Orleans residents Sharon Hannahan and her fiancé toured the vessel after planning their visit a week earlier.
“Very excited to see all of the ships from all over the world,” Hannahan said.
But the Mohawk’s role extends beyond the celebration. The vessel helps defend the United States by intercepting drug-trafficking and illegal migrant vessels.
“Their missions, which are various things that they do and then also the security that they have,” Hannahan said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Pauline Stamp traveled from the Boston area and watched through the rain as the Eagle docked at the port. She said she had not seen ships this size since she was 12 years old. As a teacher, she said she takes America’s 250th birthday seriously both inside and outside the classroom.
“I talked to all my students about it all the time and any chance I get to talk about our birthday in our history, I’m all about it,” Stamp said.
Marco Chavez, the lead IT specialist aboard the Mohawk, said events like Sail 250 help people better understand the sacrifices behind the freedoms they enjoy every day.
“Every vessel tells a story,” Chavez said. “The freedom that we have is because of service members that go abroad and do missions that not everybody is willing to do.”
“Thank these wonderful men and women that keep us safe,” Hannahan said.
ADVERTISEMENT
New Orleans is the first stop on the Sail 250 tour. The fleet will continue to Norfolk, Virginia, before making stops in Baltimore, New York City and Boston.
“To celebrate 250 years is the founding of the United States. It is important that we show our pride and we show that it’s necessary for everybody to unite and be together,” Chavez said.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.
Copyright 2026 WVUE. All rights reserved.