I went to the largest maritime gathering in US history, featuring ships from 20 countries, for America's 250th birthday. Here's what I saw.

The largest maritime gathering in US history offered an impressive display of ships and modern naval alliances. What surprised me, though, were the personal connections.

On active-duty US Navy shipsolder veterans regaled crew members with tales from their time at sea, comparing the advancements in technology and the patches on their uniforms.

On the foreign ships, visitors chatted excitedly with uniformed crew members in their native languages — Spanish, Polish, Swedish, Italian — either as native speakers themselves or in broken sentences as they attempted to practice their skills. A crew member on Uruguay’s Capitan Miranda told me that ships serve as “floating embassies,” promoting international relations while also providing a taste of home to citizens and expats abroad.

Boarding ships from Poland and the Dominican Republic, two countries included in my own family’s history as American immigrants, also held special significance for me. I sent a steady stream of photos to the family group chat, marveling at seeing parts of our journey to America represented by the towering sails.

It was definitely one of the best birthday parties I’ve been to in a while.