Today Hot Report

Aboard the USS Kearsarge - Thousands of Marines and sailors prepared to descend on New York this morning - and for many, it will be homecoming.

“I grew up in Queens,” said PFC Christian Vargas, 18, aboard the USS Kearsarge. “It feels awesome to represent the US Marine Corps and the Navy as I come home.”

Five Navy ships and three US Coast Guard ships, are among the vessels sailing up the Hudson River today as part of the annual Fleet Week celebration.

Seaman Michael Diaz, 23, said he can’t wait to see his family in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

“Being from New York, people are real generous to us,” he said.

Diaz said he was excited to show his fellow sailors around his hometown.

“I’ve been telling them places to go,” he said.

Many of the sailors and Marines have never been to the Big Apple before.

“I can’t wait to eat the food here,” said Cpl. Adam Johnston, 21, of Chicago, who just returned from Iraq in January.

“I want to go to Coney Island and eat a Nathans hot dog,” Johnston said.

Lt. Cmdr Nick Garcia, a 36 year-old helicopter pilot from Oklahoma, said he’s looking foward to a warm big city welcome.

“Everybody says people in New York are tough and hard as nails,” he said. “But everybody is very, very friendly.”

Petty officer Carl Perry, 22, of Roselle, NJ, said Fleet Week is an emotional experience.

“It makes me feel proud of what I do,” he said.