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Makin Island Arrives for San Francisco Fleet Week

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101007-01
10/7/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kellie Abedzadeh, USS Makin Island Public Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard USS Makin Island (LHD 8) arrived in San Francisco Oct. 6 to participate in the city's 30th annual fleet week celebration.

San Francisco Fleet Week (SSFW) will take place Oct. 7-12, and is one of many fleet weeks held across the country that gives the military's sea services an opportunity to showcase their operational capabilities.

Makin Island is serving as the flagship for SSFW 2010, which will feature more than 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Fleet Week recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of Sea Services, past and present.

"The Sailors are really excited to be going to San Francisco to enjoy a little bit of liberty, but really to get to interact with the city of San Francisco and show what the Navy and Marine Corps team is all about," said USS Makin Island Commanding Officer Capt. James Landers.

During the five-day event, Sailors and Marines will reach out to the community by giving tours of the ship, volunteering for community projects, and participating in a number of civic events.

Sailors will be volunteer at the zoo and a local church, as well as training with San Francisco's fire and police departments. Makin Island's choir is scheduled to perform at the air show, and the ship's color guard will participate in the opening ceremony of a San Francisco Giants baseball game.

Public tours of the ship are available Oct. 9-11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handler) Airman Christopher Piotrowski, a native of Sacramento, Calif., said he is excited to be returning home to Northern California.

"I'm really looking forward to fleet week because I'm excited to be going home and getting the chance to show my family what my job consists of, and how the ship operates on a day-to-day basis," he said.

Operated by a crew of more than 1,000 Sailors, Makin Island is a multi-mission platform that is equipped to meet the needs of our country, whether that is supporting national objectives or by providing relief to a disaster area. Makin Island's revolutionary technology is estimated to save the Navy $250 million throughout its 40-year lifecycle and is a model for future ship designs.