The U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) arrives in Los Angeles Harbor during Los Angeles Fleet Week, May 21, 2024. (Megan Alexander/U.S. Navy)
LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service) — Los Angeles city officials and military dignitaries officially kicked off LA Fleet Week — the region’s celebratory salute to the nation’s seafaring military branches — on Wednesday aboard the show-stopping aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson.
The popular coastal event returns this weekend — Friday to Monday, May 24-27 — with tours of active duty ships, equipment demonstrations, aircraft flyovers, neighborhood activations across the Los Angeles region, live music and entertainment, and even a culinary cook-off competition featuring Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force and Army teams (as well as teams representing first responders and the Battleship Iowa).
Fleet Week, as always, is free to the public and will include its main expo venue, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, alongside the Battleship USS Iowa, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., near First Street in San Pedro, just south of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
LA Fleet Week is the largest Memorial Day weekend event in Southern California, officials said — and this year, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier will join the festivities.
“On behalf of the 3,000 men and women who serve aboard this ship, I’d like to extend my personal gratitude,” Capt. Matthew Thomas, commanding officer of the USS Carl Vinson, said on Wednesday, “for welcoming us so warmly.”
The USS Carl Vinson, one of 11 mega warships in the nation’s Navy fleet, arrived from San Diego on Tuesday afternoon.
“My sailors and I have been looking forward to this opportunity to meet Angelenos at various events and neighborhoods throughout the greater LA area and we invite you to come down this weekend to visit USS Carl Vinson,” Thomas said. “We’d love to return the hospitality and give you the opportunity to see firsthand the critical, cutting edge technology and the work our sailors do to preserve the peace and respond in crisis.”
Thomas was joined aboard the aircraft carrier on Wednesday by other military dignitaries, and representatives from the Battleship IOWA, USO, Port of Los Angeles, the LAPD and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ office.
“This week is our opportunity to continue learning about the incredible vessels that protect our shores and to meet some of the Marines, sailors and members of the Coast Guard who serve our country,” said Randall Winston, deputy mayor of infrastructure.
Winston also acknowledged the families throughout Los Angeles who have loved ones serving throughout the world.
“Our city is grateful for the sacrifice that you are making as well,” he said. “I encourage everyone to take a moment to interact with our visiting service members and express your gratitude for their service.”
Thousands of sailors have arrived to Los Angeles Harbor for LA Fleet Week.
Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders and “Rampage,” the team mascot, pose on the flight deck aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in support of Los Angeles Fleet Week on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Rocio Zavala-Ramirez/U.S. Navy)
And thousands of visitors are anticipated to attend events throughout Memorial Day weekend. Among the most popular will be the public tours of the Carl Vinson and Coast Guard cutter Terrell Horne. (A drone ship will also be on display but won’t be open for tours.)
“LA Fleet Week impacts over 250,000 people through more than 100 different community service projects, activities, seminars, displays and band performances in neighborhoods across the 1,000 square miles of the Los Angeles region,” said Jonathan Williams, president and CEO of the Battleship Iowa, who also heads up the LA Fleet Week planning. “It’s an opportunity to connect the community with our nation’s military and the role in safeguarding freedom of the seas, the lifeblood of our international economy.”
A full lineup of events for LA Fleet Week can be found at lafleetweek.com. Admission is free.
“We invite you,” Williams said, “to attend one of the numerous events occurring throughout the LA waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.”
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