NASA star and Navy vet Suni Williams rings in Marine Corps 251st birthday ahead of Veterans Day in NYC
This party is out of this world.NASA superstar Suni Williams kicked off Veterans Day celebrations in the Big Apple early Tuesday by ringing in the Marine Corps’ 251st birthday.The Navy veteran and this year’s Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshall joined active sailors and Marines for the bash aboard the USS San Antonio — which landed in the city this week for the first time in 11 years and came fresh off a 14-year deployment.“It’s just incredible to be on this Navy ship.
It’s done so much in its history and its class of ships has done so many amazing things,” Williams told The Post.“It is just a small symbol of what the military is doing and has done for many years.I’m just honored to be here as part of the Veterans Day celebration to really appreciate all those who have come before us.”Williams became a household name in 2024 when she spent nine months stuck in space after technical problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft extended her planned eight-day mission.
She and her crewmate, Butch Wilmore, eventually returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.The Navy hosted the Marine Corps on its vessel for the blockbuster bash just one day after the 684-foot ship docked at Pier 88.Members of its Ceremonial Guard Drill Team and band performed on the ship’s top deck before the two military branches shared slices of birthday cake.In line with tradition, the oldest Marine cut the cake with the Mameluke — or the ceremonial sword — before handing it off to the youngest Marine on the crew.That meant Master Sgt Jacob Chmielewski, 33, and Lance Corporal Mason Degado, 19, both of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, had the honors of kicking off the corps’ 251st year.“Today, we have the opportunity to honor the past and meet the challenges of the future,” said Rear Adm.Craig Sicola.The party also marked the first time the USS San Antonio had been in the Big Apple since Fleet Week in 2011 — and had just completed a 14-month d...