This year marks the 30th Anniversary of San Francisco Fleet Week and from October 5 to 11, San Francisco will open its arms and piers to what promises to be the most extensive Fleet Week ever.
San Francisco’s Fleet Week, as we know it today, began in 1981 under the leadership of Mayor Dianne Feinstein and will celebrate its 30th Anniversary this October 5 - 11. Photo by Joel Williams
Published: October, 2011
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of San Francisco Fleet Week and from October 5 to 11, San Francisco will open its arms and piers to what promises to be the most extensive Fleet Week ever.
With more ships, more sailors, more Marines, more Coasties, more free family friendly events than ever and continuing the focus on emergency preparedness, this year’s event also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of naval aviation: an event which started here in San Francisco Bay with the first-ever launch of a plane from the deck of a ship – the USS Pennsylvania in 1911.
As usual, the skilled naval aviators of "The Blue Angels" will thrill with their extraordinary airborne maneuvers. This year’s annual Parade of Ships will feature vessels from the U.S. Third Fleet including the Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson and ships from the U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy and the WWII Liberty Ship Jeremiah O’Brien. Returning for a second year will be the popular "Band Challenge" in which local high school ensembles compete, judged by their counterparts in the Marine Band.
San Francisco and Fleet Week share a long and storied history that began in 1908 with the arrival of President Theodore Roosevelt’s "Great White Fleet" to the Bay during their round-the-world voyage. Consisting of 16 battleships of the Atlantic Fleet and various smaller vessels, this legendary flotilla featured hulls painted white except for the gilded scrollwork on their bows. The 14-month voyage from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to San Francisco was a showcase of American sea power with ships manned by 14,000 sailors. The fleet covered 43,000 miles and stopped at 20 ports on six continents.
The fleet arrived in San Francisco on May 6, 1908 from Magdalena Bay, Mexico, and was greeted by a huge celebration hosted by the City of San Francisco. As each ship passed Fort Point it fired a 21-gun salute, which was answered with a salute from land. Crowds flocked to San Francisco to see the fleet. Transbay ferry traffic from May 5 to May 17 exceeded the normal business by 450,000 passengers. The heaviest travel day was on May 6, when 186,000 passengers were taken across San Francisco Bay to see the arrival of the fleet. It was one of the largest crowds of Californians ever assembled.
Throughout the 20th Century, San Francisco was a major focus of naval operations and served as the headquarters of the United States Naval forces under Admiral Chester Nimitz during World War II. A generation of "Liberty Ships" and other military vessels were built, launched, serviced, berthed and later retired at historic sites at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Richmond’s Kaiser Shipyard, the Marin Shipworks, Treasure Island, Hunters Point Shipyard, Suisun Bay and the Alameda Naval Air Station.
Over the years, millions more San Franciscans have welcomed the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard making its Fleet Week one of the City’s most treasured traditions. Under the leadership of Mayor Dianne Feinstein, the modern Fleet Week tradition began in 1981, honoring the dedicated men and women of the Armed Forces and their colleagues.
The San Francisco Fleet Week Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor the dedication to duty and sacrifices of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and to conduct and offer disaster preparedness training. Its honorary Co-Chairpersons are United States Senator Dianne Feinstein and former Secretary of State George P. Shultz.
Following is an overview of public events for San Francisco Fleet Week 2011. An up-to-the-minute schedule of public events is available online at www.fleetweek.us:
Thursday, October 6:
Blue Angels Circle and Arrival Maneuvers 1-3 p.m. Practice 4-5 p.m.
Friday, October 7:
Fleet Week Air Show Practice 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
PIER 39 live music - Navy Band Southwest from 12 - 2 p.m., Take 2 from 4 - 7 p.m. Meet & Greet The Blue Angels near Aquarium of the Bay from 7:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Interagency Softball Competition at Moscone Field in San Francisco: SFPD, SFFD, USMC, USN - 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday, October 8:
Parade of Ships - 1st ship under the GG Bridge will be USS Carl Vinson at 11 a.m. All ships will berth along the northern San Francisco waterfront
Ship Tour Pier 30-32, USS Bonhomme Richard, LHD 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Marine Band performing at the Cable Car Turn Around in Union Square, then will march up to The Marines Memorial Club at 609 Sutter Street
Fleet Week Air Show 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response Display on Marina Green
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
W Foundation’s Navy in Space Exhibit on Marina Green
Anthem Health’s Bringing Back Recess exhibit on Marina Green
PIER 39 live music - First Marine Division Band 2 - 3 p.m., LoveFool 4 - 7 p.m.
Marine Band Concert at Huntington Park 6 - 7 p.m.
Sunday, October 9:
Fleet Week Air Show 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
140th Annual Italian Heritage Parade – Military Marching Band, Color Guards, Marching Units - San Francisco’s North Beach -Powell & Jefferson Streets to Stockton to Washington Square, followed by a Band Concert at Washington Square.
Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response Display on Marina Green
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
W Foundation’s Navy In Space Exhibit on Marina
Anthem Health’s Bringing Back Recess exhibit on Marina Green
Ship Tours Pier 27, USSS Milius, USS Antiet A.M., USS Chief- 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Ship Tour Pier 35, USCGC Bertholf, USCGC Alert, HMCS Ottawa -
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Ship Tour Pier 30-32, USS Bonhomme Richard - 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
PIER 39-Navy Band Southwest
12 - 2 p.m., Mustache Harbor 4 - 7 p.m.
49ers Salute to the Fleet - Candlestick Park, 49ers vs. Tampa Bay - The Marine Band will be playing at the entrances while fans enter the stadium, The Coast guard will have a singer for The National Anthem for pre-game with two F-18s flying over. Halftime will consist of 150 future Marines/Sailors bringing out a large American Flag along with the Marine Band playing "Stars and Stripes Forever." Following that, USN CF3 Captain Bryne will be doing a swear-in on field for 20 future Marines/Sailors. Immediately after that, Air Force singer A1C Hokay will sing "God Bless the USA."
Monday, October 10, 2011
Ship Tours Pier 27, USSS Milius, USS Antiet A.M., USS Chief- 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Ship Tour Pier 35, USCGC Bertholf, USCGC Alert, HMCS Ottawa -
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Ship Tour Pier 30-32, USS Bonhomme Richard - 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
2nd Annual Fleet Week Band Challenge GGPark Band Shell - 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
PIER 39 - Navy Band Southwest
12 - 2 p.m.
Tuesday, October 11
All San Francisco Fleet Week Ships Depart
Photo by Joel Williams
As usual, the skilled naval aviators of “The Blue Angels” will thrill with their extraordinary airborne maneuvers. Photo by Joel Williams
