Sea and Air Parade Kicks Off San Diego Fleet Week

Navy NewsStand ^ | Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class S. C. Irwin

[SandRat]

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy paraded ships and aircraft through San Diego Bay Oct. 1 to kick-off San Diego’s Fleet Week celebration.

Nearly 100,000 San Diegans and visitors from neighboring towns watched ships, including USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), USS Ogden (LPD 5) and USS Princeton (CG 59) sail through San Diego Bay. People also lined up for ship tours immediately following the procession.

“The Sea and Air Parade is one of the largest salutes to our Navy that we do here in San Diego,” said Executive Director of San Diego Fleet Week Foundation, Tom Caughlan. “We do this so young military folks and the community can connect. We think it’s important to let them [community members] know how great the young men and women of the Navy are.”

The parade also showcased a search and rescue demonstration, Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) hovercraft discharge from USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and a fast-rope demonstration aboard USS Higgins (DDG 76).

“We rarely get to see what the Navy does, but their job is so important,” said Sea and Air Parade attendee Jesse Simms, of Temecula, Calif. “We really appreciate what the Navy does for us and what they [Sailors] do for our country. The military is doing a job for us, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.”

Fleet Week will continue until Oct. 28, and will include a golf tournament, a speed festival, air shows and additional ship tours. Commander, Naval Surface Force Training and Readiness Officer, Lt. Frank Magallon, said Fleet Week events are a way to draw positive attention to the armed forces’ sea services.

“This is an important way to let our community know that they’re a part of this and give them a way to back up our Sailors,” he said. “It helps people realize that their support helps us accomplish our missions and hopefully win the war on terror.”

San Diego Fleet Week's mission is to properly pay tribute and thank San Diego’s military servicemen and women for “Serving America Twice” in the defense of our nation and as volunteers in improving the quality of our communities.

[SandRat]

060930-N-7676W-037 San Diego (Sept. 30, 2006) - Kate Shirley from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) pubic affairs office explains the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Dragon Eye, to Cub Scouts from Pack 555, Fontana, Calif., as they stopped by the ONR display on Broadway Pier during San Diego Fleet Week. The mission of ONR is to: foster, plan, facilitate and transition scientific research in recognition of its paramount importance to enable future naval power and the preservation of national security. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. John F. Williams (RELEASED)

[SandRat]

Fleet Week in San Diego,

You just knew I'd find some Scouts out there --- didn't you?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Scouts were my intro to subs and carriers at Yokosuka.

[unkus]

Makes one proud. Anyone heard about Fleet Week in San Francisco? I hope they skip that "place".

[pfflier]

San Diego isn't much better.

Although it is a "Navy town" and has a huge military payroll, Mayor Dick Murphy and the city council couldn't find the time to pass a resolution supporting the troops when we went to Iraq.

[unkus]

Sorry to hear that. Liberals never cease making me ill. Thank you for your service from a VN combat vet.

[Shimmer128]

Mmm. Nice area for some people.

[SoCalPol]

As a 59 year native of San Diego you are talking fiction
and know dick about my city.

2nd largest city in Calif. with the largest concentration of military in the U.S. Many Marine and Naval Bases.
and Air bases. Also among the fleet here is the USS Reagan.

[SoCalPol]

The guy know dick about San Diego, no not liberal.
San Diego is a red county.

[It's me]

Don't forget that we also have the Midway here.

[SoCalPol]

You are correct, the largest Naval museum.

[Shion]

We're also going to be the first county in California to have a city pass a ordinance punishing landloads for renting to illegals.

Yeah, it's a wussy ordinance, but a step in the right direction. Go Escondido!

I'll see you guys at the Miramar Air Show in a few weeks?

[SoCalPol]

Correct. Illegals learning, we are not taking their stuff any longer.

[pfflier]

Speaking of knowing dick, what about the lack of a resolution? (Coming from a former SD resident of 24 years and still a Padre fan)

[SoCalPol]

There have been any number of support comments and vast number of support projects and on going.

[ThomasThomas]

Miramar Air show October 13,14,15 http://miramarairshow.com/

BLUE ANGELS

[pfflier]

There have been any number of support comments and vast number of support projects and on going.

Alot of these are supported or promoted by Roger Hedgcock, former mayor of San Diego. There are alot of grassroots efforts featured on his radio show too.

Alot of these are supported by County supervisors (Bill Horn) and by North County city councils.

NONE supported by our favorite dick or the SD city council.

[SoCalPol]

Dick Murphy is not the mayor
Gerry Sanders, Republican and former chief of police is the mayor of San Diego.