May 31, 2023

Dear friends,

We have concluded another successful LA Fleet Week and memorable Memorial Day weekend.  The event garnered rave reviews from numerous attendees, including visiting service members. I am most proud of feedback we have received from service members who have attended different Fleet Weeks. They have overwhelmingly declared ours to be the most enjoyable.

Throughout the week, over 250,000 people actively participated in more than 100 different events held across the Los Angeles area. Notably, during the four-day Memorial Day weekend, over 100,000 individuals visited the LA Waterfront as part of LA Fleet Week 2023.

LA Fleet Week not only provides a fantastic experience, but also serves as a platform to prepare our region for the upcoming World Cup 2026 and Olympics 2028. LA Fleet Week is a robust event that promotes community resilience through a wide array of endeavors, including disaster planning, leadership seminars, service projects, morale-boosting activities, community activations, education outreach, veterans’ support, military band concerts, exhibits, entertainment, and much more.

The event leaves a dynamic, impactful, and measurable impression on all of Los Angeles, allowing our community to demonstrate its pride. Moreover, it acts as a significant economic driver for businesses in our area.

The success of LA Fleet Week is attributed to the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, strong planning relationships, and substantial support from numerous organizations and companies representing various sectors. These sectors include media, labor, entertainment, tourism, food and beverage, healthcare, veterans’ services, energy, defense, government, utilities, communications, logistics, and associations. While acknowledging all these contributors individually would require several pages, there are a few that deserve special recognition.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the leadership and dedication of the military teams, particularly the Navy, as well as the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Bass, the Port of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Port Police, the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department, the USO, Battleship IOWA, and the LA Fleet Week Foundation. These entities collaborate tirelessly for nine months each year to plan this remarkable event.

I had the unique opportunity to witness their extraordinary efforts and unwavering commitment to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. I was truly amazed by the dedication exhibited by each of their teams.

It would be a disservice to all the teams involved to attempt to name individuals, as it would be an incredibly challenging task. Nevertheless, internally at the IOWA and Fleet Week Foundation, we have already received feedback regarding those who went above and beyond. Recognizing individuals singularly would not do justice to their collective efforts.

The commitment demonstrated by the entire team was truly extraordinary, and despite their exhaustion today, they continue to persevere. I eagerly anticipate gathering with the rest of the leadership team to seek their input on whom we should acknowledge as going above and beyond.

Naturally, Fleet Week would not be possible without the generous support of our supporters, who contribute through donations, in-kind contributions, and volunteer assistance. LA Fleet Week 2023 was made possible thanks to the generosity and commitment of planning affiliates and sponsors, including the Port of Los Angeles, LA Fleet Week Foundation, National Museum of the Surface Navy, City of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department, USO, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club members, Fox Entertainment, Fox Sports, Dave & Busters, Princess Cruises, Bucked Up, Humana, American Legion Post 283, Sapporo, Stone Brewing, Dante Valve, UPS, LADWP, County of Los Angeles Supervisor Janice Hahn, and Pure Life.

Additional support and funding were provided by UPS, Collier Walsh Nakazawa, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, LA City District 15 Councilmember Tim McOsker, LA City District 11 Councilwoman Traci Park, the Jonathan Club, Boeing, Marathon Petroleum Company, Black Knight Patrol, ILWU, City of Brea, American Legion 43, Central City Association of Los Angeles, and LA County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.

In closing, I am deeply grateful for your support, feedback, and commitment.  Now we rest, reset, and  begin planning for LA Fleet Week 2024 come September.

Jonathan Williams
President & CEO

P.S. How did we do? What did we do well and what could we improve? What were your impressions of LA Fleet Week?

Click the button below to fill out our post-LA Fleet Week survey and you’ll be automatically entered to win a free cruise from Princess Cruises!

Scuttlebutt Podcast | Season 2 Episode 9: What’s It Like To Recommission A Battleship? (Part 2)

What’s it like to go aboard a ship that’s been closed up for nearly thirty years and help bring it back to life? Bob Lemmond and Marty Palmiere know.

They spent years preparing USS IOWA to rejoin the US Navy’s active roster in the early 1980s, and along with Scott Williamson, were there when then-Vice President George HW Bush recommissioned her. 

In the second half of our conversation with them, they reminisce about seeing the trademark rooster tail behind the ship at 36 (yes, you read that right) knots, what it sounded like aboard at speeds that high, the feeling of pride to sail on this grand grey lady, and their gratitude at being able to return to the ship they love.

Find it here or wherever you get your podcasts:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Google
• Amazon
• Buzzsprout

Or head over to YouTube for the video version.