SAN FRANCISCO - The 39th annual San Francisco Fleet Week is underway with more than 2,300 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen visiting the city in a celebration of the sea services.

Fleet Week, which runs through Oct. 14, provides communities an opportunity to visit naval vessels, which began arriving Oct. 6, view military equipment and interact with service members from the participating ships and military units. This year will be one of the largest San Francisco Fleet Weeks with eight ships participating.

Among the participating military components are the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25); Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000); Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59); Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18); Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52); the U.S. Coast Guard cutters Terrell Horne (WPC 1131) and Steadfast (WMEC 623); Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class air warfare destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41); the Blue Angels; the Navy parachute team, the Leap Frogs; I Marine Expeditionary Force; 1st Marine Logistics Group; Combat Logistics Battalion 15; 1st Medical Battalion; U.S. Coast Guard District 11; Navy Operational Support Center Alameda; Navy Recruiting District San Francisco; Expeditionary Strike Group 3; Navy Band Southwest; 1st Marine Division Band; and Navy Region Southwest.

This year’s opening press conference began with a welcoming from Lewis Loeven, executive director of the San Francisco Fleet Week Association; the mayor of San Francisco London Breed; Rear Adm. John E. Gumbleton, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3; Rear Adm. Peter W. Gautier, commander of 11th Coast Guard District; Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management; Victor Wyrsch, deputy chief of the San Francisco Fire Department, and San Francisco Chief of Police Bill Scott.

“I would like to thank the San Francisco Fleet Week Association for putting together, what I think to be, an amazing week to celebrate Fleet Week right here in San Francisco,” said Breed. “For 39 years we have been honored to host this opportunity to bring the incredible men and women of our military. From the Navy, to the Coast Guard, to the Marines, having you here is an absolute pleasure.”

For Fleet Week the San Franciscan community and its leaders come together, as they do every year, to welcome its armed service members as they interact with the community and participate in events such as feeding the homeless, visiting local hospitals, volunteering at food banks, meeting with the elderly, navy band performances and many other various events.

“I would like to extend my warmest gratitude to you, the residents and leaders, in San Francisco,” said Gumbleton. “Incredible hospitality for all the uniform men and women of the sea services during the week. 39 years city this has graciously opened its doors to our Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard team.”

During Fleet Week, the community will have the opportunity to visit several of the Navy’s ships for a free tour and to interact with the ships service members. See the tour schedule.

The Fleet Week Parade of Ships takes place from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Oct. 11, with best vantage points from Marina Green, Fort Mason, Aquatic Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 and the Embarcadero.

Other free events for Fleet Week include the air show over the Marina Green on Oct. 11, 12 and 13 from noon to 4 p.m. and the Honor our Fallen Concert at the San Francisco Jazz Center on Oct. 9 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. For more information and events, please visit the San Francisco Fleet Week website at www.fleetweeksf.org.