The largest Italian Heritage Parade the city has ever seen will march through Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach on Sunday, Oct. 12. And that’s saying a lot, considering it’s San Francisco’s oldest civic event, celebrating its 146th year, and the nation’s oldest Italian-American parade.  “This year is going to be the biggest parade we’ve had so far,” said Tony Passanisi, president of the nonprofit Columbus Day Celebration Committee. “We’ve had to stop taking entries.” Eighty-seven units – some containing hundreds of people – will march. It starts at Jefferson and Stockton Streets in Fisherman’s Wharf, proceeds south through North Beach on Columbus Avenue, and ends in Washington Square in front of Sts. Peter and Paul Church. Parade viewing is available throughout the route. Passanisi wasn’t sure why this year attracted so many entrants, but guessed the good weather lately or the excitement surrounding the return of Fleet Week might be reasons. 

The City of San Francisco recently announced Fleet Week’s welcome return to the Bay Area. The event will run from October 6 to October 13.

http://www.baycrossings.com/dispnews.php?id=3188

 

Monday, October 06, 2014

You know it's Fleet Week in San Francisco when the Blue Angels arrive. They arrived in San Francisco in advance of a weekend air show that was cancelled last year due to budget cuts and sequestration. This year, the events surrounding Fleet Week are expected to be better than ever, thanks in part to the arrival of the USS America which will be commissioned in San Francisco. 
The USS America primarily serves the Marine Corps, carrying aircraft and ground troops.  The arrival of the Blue Angels in Oakland symbolizes the return of Fleet Week. This is a tradition that was not seen nor heard last year. Practice will begin on Thursday and they perform on Saturday and Sunday. But it was the Navy's newest ship, the USS America cutting through the dense fog Monday which made for an unofficial start to Fleet Week.  The vessel took two years to build in Mississippi. It left in July, going around Cape Horn, the southern most part of South America and finally arriving late Monday morning in San Francisco. It will be commissioned on Thursday, meaning it will now be part of the Navy's fleet. "Our ship's motto is actually prepared in war or in peace. So that is exactly what USS America is ready to do," USS America spokesperson Lt. Dawn Stankus said. The ship will have MV-22 Osprey helicopters and several F35B aircraft that can perform vertical lifts and take offs. "We can go out and perform humanitarian assistance disaster relief missions with the Marine Core aircraft we have on board," Stankus said. Some crew members went through a number of emergency drills to demonstrate the many things they are able to do once they arrive in a city or country. Those from the Bay Area were glad to be back home.

"Amazing, actually. I haven't seen my family in almost a year, so being away from them actually being able to come home on the USS America during Fleet Week is actually an amazing feeling," USS America Petty Ofc. Calum Jacobs said. An Oprey was on display Monday at the Coast Guard Air Station in San Francisco. It transports the Navy's medical shock trauma platoon which consists of doctors and nurses ready to setup an emergency room practically anywhere in the world.  It was shown to the public at San Francisco General Hospital.  "The STP can treat up to 50 patients, 20 percent being critical without resupply," one woman said. And this is where surgeries would be performed. Up to 18 within a 48 hour period. This kind of field hospital would be extremely helpful in case of a major earthquake.
Fleet Week will run through next Monday. It will include a parade of ships and performances by the Navy's Blue Angels this weekend.

For a full list of Fleet Week events, click here.