VOA常速英语2014--纽约迎来“舰队周”（在线收听）

Fleet Week Begins in New York 纽约迎来“舰队周”

NEW YORK — 'Fleet Week' lands in New York this week, bringing a diverse group of nearly 1,500 sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen to the city. This year, the annual celebration of America's sea services coincides with Memorial Day -- making the celebration even more meaningful.

这个星期，纽约又迎来了“舰队周”。参加今年“舰队周”活动的有将近1500名水手、海军陆战队员和海岸警卫队战士，他们从美国各地来到纽约市。“舰队周”是为那些从事海洋工作的美国人而举行的每年一次的庆祝活动。今年的“舰队周”刚好和“阵亡将士纪念日”重合，因此使得这次的纪念活动更有意义。

The USS Oakhill docked in New York City, carrying men and women of the U.S. Navy and Marines from their base in Norfolk, Virginia. Like the country itself, service people represent many cultures and ethnicities.

美国“橡树山号”登陆舰（USS Oakhill）就停靠在纽约市的码头，舰上有来自维吉尼亚诺福克海军基地的海军和海军陆战队的男女军人。像美国一样，美国的军人也代表着许多不同的文化和民族。

According to the Navy, Latinos are the third-largest group in that branch of the armed services.

根据海军的统计，在美国武装力量中的海军兵种里，拉美裔属于第三大的一个群体。

Petty Officer Asbielle Alcantare was born in the Dominican Republican and came to the U.S. as a child. He has served in the Navy for 11 years and cites his parents as his inspiration to enlist.

士官阿斯贝拉·阿尔坎塔尔出生在多米尼加共和国，从小就来到美国。他在海军服务了11年。他说，是他的父母让他有了从军的愿望。

“They did their part to give us a better life, give us a better education, and I just wanted to give back and do what is right for my country,” said Alcantare.

阿尔坎塔尔说：“我父母为了我们生活得更幸福已经尽了他们的力量，让我们受到了良好的教育。我要回报给他们，要做我的国家需要的事。”

Giving back was a popular theme among first-generation Americans serving in the Navy, like Guyana-born Diana Pollydore.

回报—在第一代美国海军军人中是非常普遍的一个想法。圭亚那出生的戴安娜·波利多尔就是其中之一。

“I've been in America for approximately five years and I’ve gained my associates degree and working on my bachelors degree, I’ve gained so many things and I felt the only way I can give back to the government, because he sent me to school for free, is by serving,” said Pollydore.

波利多尔说：“我在美国生活了差不多五年，读完了大专，准备读本科。我得到了许多东西。政府免费送我读书，所以，我觉得，我回报政府的唯一方法就是从军。”

Nyleen is a proud Navy wife of her Colombian-born husband. She’s excited to reunite with him in New York.

尼琳的丈夫出生在哥伦比亚，她对自己成为一个海军军人的妻子感到自豪。尼琳为能够在纽约与丈夫相聚感到非常激动。

“It’s an honorable pleasure to be up here and actually see for the first time, cause I’ve never been to a Fleet Week, and to have my husband coming in, is an amazing feeling,” said Nyleen.

尼琳说：“到纽约来，第一次参加‘舰队周’，真是令人感到荣光军和高兴的事情。我过去从来没有参加过这个活动，我丈夫也来了，这种感觉实在好极了。”

While the prevailing emotion is one of excitement, the fact that Memorial Day coincides with the event adds a certain solemnity for some.

不过，人们普遍感到激动的时候，也有一些人的心情比较沉重。这种沉重的感觉来自跟“舰队周”重叠的“阵亡将士纪念日”。

“I had a friend, I lost him a couple years back. I’m basically from New Jersey so the World Trade Center that was a big thing. And you know, Memorial Day is a very important time of the year for me and my family because I’m proud of what I do,” said Alcantare.

阿尔坎塔尔说：“几年前，我失去了一个朋友。我是从新泽西州来的，所以世贸中心对我非常重要。阵亡将士纪念日对我和我的家人来说是一年中最重要的日子。我对我的工作非常自豪。”

During Fleet Week, civilians can board Navy vessels and see the ships' latest technological capabilities. They can also interact with the men and women of the sea services.

在“舰队周”期间，民众可以登上海军舰只，参观这些舰只上配备的最新的技术装备。人们还可以同海军军人相互交谈。

It's an experience that may give extra meaning to those in New York celebrating the Memorial Day holiday on Monday.

舰队周的经历对于周一在纽约庆祝“阵亡将士纪念日”的人们来说或许有着不同寻常的意义。