The 11th annual Fleet Week San Diego, the nation’s largest tribute to the military, returns this fall with a string of events planned to honor the men and women who have served, and continue to serve, in the United States military.
The month-long celebration includes a host of events, demonstrations, concerts and ballgames beginning Monday, Sept. 17 and lasting through Sunday, Oct. 28.
Los principales eventos incluyen el MCAS Miramar Air Show, el Coronado Speed Festival y el Port of San Diego Sea and Air Parade, dijo Tom Caughlan, director ejecutivo de la fundación Fleet Week.
“[Fleet Week] señala a los hombres y mujeres jóvenes individuales que visten la tela del país y permite que la ciudad de San Diego diga gracias de muchas maneras diferentes”, dijo Caughlan.
Although officially debuting Sept. 17, the celebration has already started. Two concert events have hosted a total of about 1,000 active duty military personnel and their guests.
In early July, the Port of San Diego and the San Diego Symphony hosted the annual Fourth of July “Bands and Booms” concert for military families, followed by Viejas Enterprises’ Viejas Concert on the Green Aug. 30, at the Viejas Casino Outlet Park Center.
But Fleet Week can’t officially begin without a San Diego Padres game to kick off the month long series of events. The Padres ball club has partnered with Bank of America to donate about 3,000 tickets for military personnel and their families, Caughlan said.
The Padres play the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park on Thursday, Sept. 17.
The following weekend, supporters can attend the Red Bull Air Races located on the North and South Peninsulas of the Embarcadero Marina Park near Seaport Village.
Las carreras cuentan con una carrera de aviones estilo slalom alrededor de "puertas de aire" de 20 metros de altura especialmente diseñadas, hechas de material que se rasga fácilmente si un avión golpea una accidentalmente. Las carreras comienzan el viernes 21 de septiembre a las 11 am, según el sitio web de Fleet Week.
El tributo continúa hasta el fin de semana del 29 de septiembre con un evento emblemático de la Semana de la flota: el Desfile Marítimo y Aéreo del Puerto de San Diego.
The parade will feature a full display of Navy cruisers, aircraft carriers and guided missile destroyers among a host of other specialty craft, including amphibious craft and SEAL support boats.
Se espera que más de 100.000 invitados asistan al desfile el sábado 29 de septiembre, desde el mediodía hasta la 1:30 p. m., según el sitio web de la Semana de la Flota.
The weekend of Oct. 6 marks the start of another favorite fleet week festivity: The Coronado Speed Festival. The speed festival features more than 225 historic racecars that will race on a temporary racetrack built for the event on the Naval Air Station, North Island. Some of the vehicles were built more than 50 years ago, according to Larry Blumberg, Fleet Week Foundation board member and speed festival committee chair.
Blumberg ha estado involucrado en el evento desde su inauguración en 1997 y dijo que el festival de la velocidad es uno de los favoritos entre los corredores que siguen apasionados por los autos que poseen y por los que corren.
Durante las carreras, el personal de la Marina estará listo para responder preguntas sobre las exhibiciones de aeronaves de la Marina, hover-boats y aeronaves antiguas cerca de la entrada.
Blumberg dijo que le gusta participar en el Festival de la Velocidad de Coronado y la Semana de la Flota porque un porcentaje del dinero generado por la venta de boletos se destina a beneficiar a los militares y sus familias.
Fleet Week honors military members who have “served twice,” according to the foundation mission statement. The men and women serve once during their military service and the second time as pillars of their community, Blumberg said.
“These are your little league coaches, your ushers at church, your PTA members,” he said.
Rounding out the last of the featured Fleet Week events is the MCAS Miramar Air Show Friday, Oct. 12, through Sunday, Oct. 14. It’s the biggest military air show in the world, surpassed only by commercial air shows, Caughlan said.
This year’s show features the aerial acrobatics of the U.S. Air Force’s demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds, as well as Marine tactical assault demonstrations.
The event starts at 8 a.m. daily throughout the weekend.
In addition to the string of big events during the month-long Fleet Week celebrations, the community will also have a chance to meet service men and women at a breakfast and several luncheons in the weeks between events, according to Laura Black, Fleet Week Foundation director of business development.
“It is good for the businesses and communities to meet the military families that are protecting our freedoms and who are very committed to the job they have at hand,” Black said.
According to the Fleet Week website, the meals include the San Diego Rotary Enlisted Recognition Lunch Thursday, Oct. 11, in honor of about 200 military personnel who have distinguished themselves in their service within their commands.
Los líderes comunitarios tendrán la oportunidad de conocer a los líderes militares en el Desayuno de la Fundación de la Semana de la Flota el miércoles 17 de octubre.
The Veterans Home of California, Chula Vista, and the city of Chula Vista will host the Veterans Home BBQ for invited and veteran home residents Saturday, Oct. 20.
Además, la Fleet Week Foundation junto con The Kiwanis Clubs of San Diego organizarán el almuerzo Salute to Wounded Warriors para honrar a los veteranos heridos el martes 23 de octubre.
La inscripción para el Saludo a los Guerreros Heridos comienza a las 11:30 am en el Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North. Las mesas para 10 comensales cuestan $1,000 y las mesas para ocho cuestan $800.
Fleet Week events end with the third annual Fleet Week Football Classic. San Diego State University faces off against Brigham Young University Saturday, Oct. 27, at Qualcomm Stadium.
Ticket prices are to be determined, but the Fleet Week Foundation is working with sponsors to allow several thousand active duty personnel for free, Black said.
For details on Fleet Week events, visit www.fleetweeksandiego.org.