Fleet Week

The first Fleet Week was celebrated in San Diego, California, during the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition.[2] The years between World War I and World War II saw an increasing military build-up in both Japan and Germany, while the communist Soviet Union (USSR) was given over to the wave of Stalinist nationalism. Most United States citizens experienced little sense of urgency about foreign developments because of isolationism and concerns with the ongoing economic Great Depression. However, then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was intent on expanding the U.S. Navy in response to world political trends. A major aircraft company was moving to Lindbergh Field, (today more commonly known as San Diego International Airport). In this atmosphere, Fleet Week was born.

At 11 a.m. on May 29, 1935, a color guard of the U.S. Marine Corps led a parade across Cabrillo Bridge to Plaza del Pacifico, where the U.S. flag was raised to open the Exposition officially. At 8 p.m., Roosevelt spoke by telephone and designated two selected orphans to press the buttons turning on the lights which bathed the grounds in color. In his remarks, heard over the loudspeaker system, Roosevelt said: "The decision of the people of San Diego thus to dedicate the California Pacific International Exposition is, I believe, worthy of the courage and confidence with which our people now look to the future. No one can deny that we have passed through troubled years. No one can fail to feel the inspiration of your high purpose. I wish you great success."

During Fleet Week in June 1935, 114 warships and 400 military planes arrived under command of U.S. Navy Admiral Joseph M. Reeves, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet. It was described as the mightiest fleet ever assembled under the U.S. flag. It included forty-eight battleships, cruisers and aircraft carriers, with more than 3,000 commissioned officers and 55,000 enlisted men. The U.S. Navy men visited the Exposition and, in turn, thousands of San Diegans and other fairgoers were guests on the various ships.

Blue Angels performing at Fleet Week San Francisco in 2016

For years it was common for several U.S. Navy ships to dock in San Francisco, California for a similar series of events. One or more fleet ships were docked as a "visit ship" for tourists to board, and the local community took in sailors for home visits; drinks were often discounted to uniformed sailors at area bars and restaurants. The highlight of the San Francisco Fleet Week is the Air Show on San Francisco Bay with the Blue Angels as the center of attention.[3] The Air Show also features stunt planes and parachute team and coast guard demonstrations.[4] Another highlight of the Fleet Week SF is a parade of ships under the Golden Gate Bridge.[5]

The revived name of Fleet Week was applied to an expanded and more heavily publicized fleet visit in 1981, in conjunction with Columbus Day Weekend celebrations during the second week of October. Since then, the event has been held each year during the Columbus Day Weekend without a break and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005. The event is estimated to attract over one million people who watch the air show along the San Francisco Bay waterfront stretching from the Ferry Building to the Golden Gate Bridge.[6] The event was canceled for 2013, due to federal budgetary issues.,[7] but was revived in 2014, and continues to be an annual event.

For more than 20 years, Fleet Week Port Everglades has been produced as a signature event for South Florida each spring by Broward Navy Days, a non-profit 501(c)(3). FW PEV provides an annual opportunity for residents to honor and celebrate Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen for their service to their country as well as witness first-hand the latest capabilities of today's modern navy. With the support of sponsors and assistance of hundreds of volunteers representing veterans, civic and service organizations, FW PEV offers opportunities to enjoy shore leave and participate in a wide variety of recreational, vocational and community service activities. Popular events include:

All Hands on Deck Welcoming Party, Damage Control Olympics, Community Relations Projects, Ship Tours, Celebrity Chef Luncheon, Ship Honorary Dinners, Submariners Reception, Take a Hero Fishing Tournament, Golf Tournament, Culinary Competitions, Sailor of the Year Recognition and Dignitary Reception.

The Air & Sea Show was an annual air show in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in which military and civilian performances took place on the four mile stretch of beach from Oakland Park to Las Olas Boulevard. The show existed from 1995 until 2007.

Marines demonstrate Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques at Times Square in 2010.

US Naval vessels had visited New York City in a celebratory manner dating back to the aftermath of the Spanish–American War in 1898, when Commodore George Dewey was celebrated as the hero of the battle of Manila Bay. However, the first official Fleet Week began in New York City in 1982. Fleet Week in New York City is generally timed to coincide with the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

During the New York City Fleet Week, ships are docked at New York Passenger Ship Terminal on the Hudson River on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan and also at Stapleton in the borough of Staten Island. In 2012, ships visited Brooklyn for the first time, docking at the Cruise Ship Terminal.

The practice of US Navy ships visiting the city and being open for tours began in 1988. NYC Fleet Week 1988 included the aircraft carrier USS America and battleship USS Iowa. Other vessels included the guided missile cruiser USS Josephus Daniels and the guided missile destroyers USS Kidd and USS Preble [8]

NYC Fleet Week 1989 celebrated the bicentennial of the inauguration of President George Washington. Visiting vessels included the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal and the AEGIS cruiser USS Ticonderoga.[9]

NYC Fleet Week 1990 included the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. Fifteen Navy and Coast Guard ships were part of the celebration which included commemoration of the bicentennial of the US Coast Guard. third annual Fleet Week. Vessels included the Coast Guard training ship Eagle,[10]

NYC Fleet Week 1991 coincided with Operation Welcome Home to commemorate military personnel returning from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Vessels included the aircraft carrier USS America, battleship USS Wisconsin, and the AEGIS cruiser USS San Jacinto.[11]

NYC Fleet Week 1992 was held from May 20–26. It included 13 US naval ships and 7 vessels from European navies.[12]

NYC Fleet Week 1993 was held from May 27–31, and included ships from several countries including the Russian destroyer Bezuderzhny and oiler Sheksna. The US presence of 12 ships was headlined by the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. Ships at the Manhattan location included USS John F. Kennedy, USS Leyte Gulf. US Navy ships in Staten Island included USS Clifton Sprague and USS Bowen, USS Normandy, USS Wainwright, and USS Donald B. Beary. Ainsworth, rescue ship Ortolan, USS Capodanno The US Coast Guard was represented by vessels Adak, Sorrel, Staten Island, Tampa, and Wire. A Polish submarine also visited.[13][14]

NYC Fleet Week 1998 was May 20-27 and included the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. NYC Fleet Week 1999 included the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp. NYC Fleet Week 2002 began on May 22, and was the first Fleet Week following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center. Thirteen U.S. Navy ships, five U.S. Coast Guard ships, one ship representing the Canadian Navy and one representing the Danish Navy sailed up the Hudson River to piers 86 and 88 near the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum and to Staten Island. US ships included USS Sentry.

NYC Fleet Week 2003 included eighteen ships from five nations, including tall sailing ships from Mexico and India. Nine ships of the US Navy were present, including USS Shreveport, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, the dock landing ship USS Portland, three guided missile cruisers including USS Normandy, and three frigates.

NYC Fleet Week 2004 included the AEGIS guided missile cruiser USS Anzio, and guided missile destroyer USS Barry. NYC Fleet Week 2005 included the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy as the flagship of the event, also accompanied by USS Cape St. George (CG-71), USS Shreveport (LPD-12), USS Porter (DDG-78), USS Carr (FFG-52), PNS Tippu Sultan, PNS Moawin, USCGC Vigorous (WMEC-627), and USCGC Katherine Walker (WLM-552). This marked the first time the Pakistan Navy had participated. NYC Fleet Week 2007 included the cruisers USS Hue City and USS San Jacinto, the destroyers USS Oscar Austin and USS Winston S. Churchill, and the frigate USS Stephen W. Groves.

The 2008 Fleet Week, the 21st annual observance, began May 21 and included Canadian ships in addition to U.S. ships headlined by amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge. Other ships in the lineup included the guided missile cruisers USS Leyte Gulf and USS Monterey, and guided missile destroyers USS Nitze and USS The Sullivans. Two Canadian frigates, HMCS Toronto and HMCS St. Johns, and an oiler, HMCS Preserver, and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Ida Lewis rounded out the lineup.

Maryland Fleet Week is an biennial tradition in Baltimore and is managed by Historic Ships in Baltimore.

Portland, Oregon includes fleet week as a part of its annual Portland Rose Festival[18]

Seattle, Washington includes fleet week during the annual Seafair. Seattle's Fleet Week was an outgrowth of its "Golden Potlatch" event that started in 1911. The Golden Potlatch was suspended in 1914, but was revived in 1934 as the "Seattle Potlatch of Progress and Fleet Week". This Fleet Week included a number of U.S. Navy ships.

The USS Iowa (BB-61) museum hosts Fleet Week at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro

New London, Connecticut sometimes includes Fleet Week as a part of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival.

Naval Station Norfolk opens to the public and conducts ship tours during its Norfolk Fleet Fest.[20]

San Diego annually hosts Fleet Week.

Boston occasionally hosts Fleet Week as a part of larger events and sometimes as a part of their annual Marine Week.

Fleet Week and similar traditions in other cities include:

• OpSail events are sometimes accompanied by warships and opened to the public in various Fleet Week style events, or sometimes combined.
• Pearl Harbor, Hawaii often hosts ship tours prior to major naval exercises such as RIMPAC

• Navy Weeks

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fleet Week.

• Fleet Week New York Website
• Fleet Week Port Everglades Website
• San Francisco Fleet Week Website
• San Diego Fleet Week Website
• Seattle Seafair Fleet Week Website
• Fleet Week NYC 2010