Best of the East is a monthly gallery that features some of the top photojournalism made by AP staff photographers and freelancers based in AP’s 10-state U.S. East region.  

This month’s selection begins with some post-game action at Fenway Park in Boston.

Another tradition was carried out at West Point as Cadets toss their caps into the air after graduating from the United States Military Academy.

Elsewhere, New York City police officers, including members of the Emergency Services Unit, walk down a cable on the Brooklyn Bridge during a training exercise in New York. The 400-team unit, an elite group of officers trained to handle the city’s most dangerous rescues, trains for months not only on technical rescue techniques, but also on how to talk to people to get them down safely.

In Philadelphia, a woman places a flower on placards barring the names of loved ones during an annual ceremony for fallen police and fire personnel at the Living Flame Memorial.

In Old Orchard Beach, Maine record breaking heat brought out beachgoers in May.

Back in New York, a child dances as the Navy Band Northeast performs at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park.

At the New York Stock Exchange, Singer Barry Manilow gavels trading closed on the bell podium.

At Fenway Park in Boston, Adam Jones prepares to bat prior to the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox. The teams played the final game of their series, one filled with player ejections and fan controversies.

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby takes a hit from Washington Capitals’ Matt Niskanen during the first period of Game 3 in an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinal hockey game against the Washington Capitals.  The Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup.

On the water at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, NJ the Michigan women’s varsity eight team competes during a semifinal race at the NCAA women’s college rowing championships.

Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto loses his bat on a swing in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies,

Teofimo Lopez, left, celebrates after knocking down Ronald Rivas during the second round of a lightweight boxing match in Cincinnati.  

And an ending to end the May gallery.  Big cat trainer Alexander Lacey hugs one of the tigers during the final show of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Uniondale, N.Y. Ringling’s circus began its final show Sunday evening after 146 years of wowing audiences with its “Greatest Show on Earth.”

This gallery was curated by Jacqueline Larma, Regional Photo Editor/East for the Associated Press.

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