The world’s best military and civilian pilots will take to the skies of San Diego during the Fleet Week Miramar Air Show. The Blue Angels are shown above.

With 20 events between Sept. 24 and Oct. 28 as part of the ninth annual Fleet Week 2005, San Diegans will have ample opportunity to pay tribute to the armed forces. “The U.S. military constitutes a large component of our community’s social fabric,” says Sandy Purdon, Fleet Week chairman. “This event is a great opportunity to recognize and celebrate the military’s contribution to San Diego.”

Housing the world’s largest military complex, San Diego is home to one-third of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and nearly one-sixth of the entire U.S. naval fleet. They are part of a defense industry that contributes more than $13 billion a year to the local economy. “It’s important to honor these men and women,” says Purdon. “Military personnel and their families enrich our community and our lives.” It follows that Fleet Week San Diego, presented by the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation, is the nation’s prime military appreciation event.

This year’s theme is “Serving America Twice.” Explains Lorin Stewart, president of the foundation board of directors: “Those enlisted in the military already do so much for this country; they continue to give in their personal lives by volunteering, coaching Little League and being involved in their communities. This venue provides us, the civilians, a chance to recognize those efforts.”

Fleet Week became a local tradition during the summer of 1997 under the leadership of then Mayor Susan Golding. The San Diego Fleet Week Foundation was formed in 2001 to ensure the event’s continued success. Tom Caughlan, executive director, and Laura Black, sponsorship coordinator, are the foundation’s only full-time employees. Working with contract workers and 25 volunteers, they put together the festival. “These two individuals make Fleet Week happen; they are responsible for making this event what it is,” says Stewart.

Raytheon Corp. which specializes in defense electronics, has been a Fleet Week sponsor for five consecutive years. Raytheon’s electronic warfare systems will be on display during the Sea ’N Air Parade Oct. 1 along the Downtown waterfront. Spectators will have a firsthand look at the SM3 missile systems, Phalanx gun systems and a standard defense 20mm cannon. “We are very proud to continue sponsoring an event which recognizes our men and women in uniform,” says Dick Evert, manager of Raytheon’s San Diego field office. “The company’s contribution is dispersed among several activities, such as the Sea ’N Air Parade, the Enlisted Golf Tournament and the Star-Spangled Salute.”

Coordinating Fleet Week events can be difficult. “There are challenges when planning events around the military,” says Stewart. “The military’s schedule needs to be taken into account and timetables can change, especially during times of war.” The signature event of Fleet Week, the Sea ’N Air Parade, is one of the hardest events to plan because featured attractions such as aircraft carriers, helicopters and submarines, could be on deployment.

The foundation is always looking to improve existing events and add new attractions. The seventh annual East County Troop Salute Sept. 24 will be staged at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Rolando. New this year is the Fleet Week Football Classic where San Diego State will host Brigham Young University Oct. 1 at Qualcomm Stadium. Other events, such as the ship tours and the parade, allow the Navy to interact with the public. At the Broadway Pier, citizens can climb aboard Navy ships for tours. During the parade, Navy SEALs will demonstrate bomb disposals and helicopter jumps.

“It’s great to attend these events. Navy personnel enjoy the tremendous support from such a patriotic town,” says Commander Joe Navratil, public affairs officer for Naval Surface Forces. “We are very lucky to be in San Diego.”