Annual Fleet Week festivities shifted to full speed as tourists visited naval forces docked in San Francisco Bay during the first week of October.
Activities from Oct. 2 to Oct. 10 brought the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps returning home from all over the world to the piers and parks of San Francisco.
Activities planned by the non-profit San Francisco Fleet Week Association (SFFWA) included ship tours, ship parades, concerts, veteran art, and the Blue Angels air show, all aiming to connect naval forces to the people they serve.
This year’s events honored the late senator and former mayor of San Francisco, Dianne Feinstein, who founded the event in 1981 after its original conception in San Diego in 1935.
“Fleet Week is important for people to see our traditions and where we came from,” said local retired Coast Guard Keith Roberts.
The most anticipated this year were the Blue Angels, the Navy’s demonstration squadron that showcases the teamwork and dedication of the Navy and Marine Corps through their dangerous stunts.
This year, the Blue Angels flew in a missing woman formation as part of their air show in the late senator’s honor. Lieutenant Amanda Lee flew alongside them as the first female Blue Angel in Fleet Week history.
Another event was an exposition at Marina Green, where volunteers and the ship’s crew provided demonstrations for the public.
“The exposition was an awesome opportunity to ask the different vendors any number of questions about what they do and what they’re capable of,” said Joash Ward, spokesperson for the U.S. Navy.
Visitors from around the country come to Fleet Week every year to support the troops coming in from deployment and participate in the activities provided.
“It’s important so citizens can see what the country is doing for them beyond their borders,” said Erick Streeval, who flew in from Columbus, Missouri.
While tourists visit the various attractions, the crew aboard naval ships can explore the city after weeks to months at sea.
“It was so nice to be getting some reminisce of normality again; exploring the city felt like I was back in the world again,” Roberts said. “It felt like a breath of fresh air when you land.”
The Navy’s operations divide their forces into three parts that rotate throughout the year: One deployed at sea, one recuperating after their long voyage, and one preparing for their trip ahead.
Fleet week allows naval forces to recuperate after a long time at sea before they travel out again.
“Everyone in the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps loves the opportunity, when they pull into a port, to experience whatever city they’re in,” Ward said. “There’s nothing like hitting the streets and enjoying some amazing local food, culture, and art.”
Fleet Week saw a great turnout this year, and SFFWA hopes to continue the event and spread its message to every generation.
“Our naval forces continue to provide a safe boundary so that people inside our borders don’t have to worry,” Roberts said. “Fleet Week reminds citizens that you are them, and they are you.”
