South Florida Welcomes Service Members for Fleet Week Port Everglades 2009

For my good friends in south Florida, another monitoring opportunity is available with the annual Fleet Week. To RW and all, hope you have some success and please pass along any news from this event.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) enters port on opening day of the annual Fleet Week Port Everglades celebration. (U.S. Navy photo by Scott Lehr/Released)

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Joseph R. Wax, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (NNS) -- More than 1,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen aboard multiple ships arrived at Port Everglades, Fla., April 27 for Fleet Week 2009.

The crews of USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), USS Toledo (SSN 769), USCGC Tahoma (WMEC 908), and the Canadian Navy HMCS Preserver (AOR 510), as well as Sailors from Naval Beach Group 2 and Marines from the 2nd Marine Division, will take part in fleet week festivities from April 27 to May 2.

An opening reception was held for all hands at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood, Fla.

"Fleet Week South Florida has become a tradition that the entire community gets involved with," said Joe Millsaps, the chairman of Broward Navy Days. "South Florida is famous for being a military friendly community. Fleet week gives them the opportunity to express their gratitude."

Hard Rock treated the service members to food and drinks while the Navy Region Southeast rock band, Pride, entertained the crowd.

"The ceremony was great," said Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Joey Gonzalez, a member of the Fleet Week Port Everglades security team. "It made me feel really welcome to be here."

While in port for fleet week, the Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will take part in a damage control Olympics, celebrity chef luncheon, blood drive, community relations projects, as well as visit local hospitals and schools.

USS Toledo Returns to Groton After More Than Two Years

By Lt. Patrick Evans, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs Officer

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) returned to Submarine Base New London March 13 following maintenance and modernization upgrades.

Toledo returned to its homeport in Groton after a 27-month depot modernization period (DMP) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. Upgrades were completed on Toledo's fire control, weapons, sonar, navigation, and propulsion plant systems during the DMP, which was the first conducted on a submarine at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.

Toledo Commanding Officer Cmdr. Douglas Reckamp assumed command March 5 in a ceremony held in Norfolk.

Next month, Toledo will participate in the 2009 Fleet Week Port Everglades to be held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 27 through May 1.

Fleet Week Port Everglades is sponsored by Broward Navy Days, Inc., which first began hosting Fleet Week celebrations in 1990. The all-volunteer organization conducts several awards ceremonies during the week to recognize outstanding Sailors from each ship that participates in Fleet Week, as well as arranging several "all hands" gatherings throughout the Fort Lauderdale area during the week.

Modernized Sub to Participate in Fort Lauderdale Fleet Week

For Robert W. and all my good friends in South Florida:--

The commander of the Submarine Force announced that the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) will participate in the 2009 Fleet Week Port Everglades to be held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 27-May 1.

Toledo, homeported in Groton, Conn., is commanded by Cmdr. Douglas Reckamp, who assumed command of Toledo March 5 in a ceremony held in Norfolk.

Toledo recently completed a 27-month depot modernization period (DMP) at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard in Newport News, Va. Upgrades were completed on Toledo's fire control, weapons, sonar, navigation and propulsion plant systems. The DMP was the first conducted on a submarine at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard.

Fleet Week Port Everglades is sponsored by Broward Navy Days, Inc., which first began hosting Fleet Week celebrations in 1990. The all-volunteer organization conducts several awards ceremonies during the week to recognize outstanding Sailors from each ship that participates in Fleet Week. In addition, the group arranges several "all hands" gatherings throughout the Fort Lauderdale area during the week.