America's Navy is coming home to Des Moines, Iowa. Des Moines Navy Week is scheduled for Aug. 15-21, to coincide with the Iowa State Fair.

Des Moines Navy Week is designed to give area residents an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people and its importance to national security and prosperity.

"Des Moines Navy Week will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the greatest fleet and Sailors in the world [to] further strengthen the connection between the citizens of Des Moines and their Navy," said Franklin Cownie, mayor of Des Moines. "We look forward to participating in this exciting event and appreciate the opportunity to bring the fleet to our city."

Des Moines Navy Week will kick off at the Iowa State Fair during the Veterans' Day Parade at 11 a.m., where Rear Adm. Margaret DeLuca "Peg" Klein, senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense for Military Professionalism, will receive a proclamation just prior to the parade to declare Navy Week in Des Moines.

"During Des Moines Navy Week we have approximately 70 outreach events that have been coordinated with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service and diversity organizations in the city and surrounding areas," said Lt. Cmdr. Brett Dawson, lead planner of Des Moines Navy Week. "During this week we will have Navy bands, divers, hometown Sailors, medical personnel, the Ceremonial Guard Drill Team and Navy recruiting assets all on hand to make this a great Navy Week."

The local Navy Reserve and Navy Recruiting Sailors will participate in community service projects at Habitat for Humanity, the Food Bank of Iowa and there will be performances by Navy Band Great Lakes at The Veteran's Community Hospital and the Iowa Veteran's Home.

The band also has several performances scheduled throughout the week including concerts at the Science Center of Iowa, Iowa State Fair, local farmers markets and Cubs Stadium for a Iowa Cubs AAA baseball game.

"The goal for our musicians is to connect with the people of the great city of Des Moines both as Sailors and musicians," said Lt. Geordie Kelly, director of Navy Band Great Lakes. "We have a unique job in the Navy and we look forward to telling the Navy story through our music during Navy Week events. Our talented Sailors are excited to be a part of Navy Week and part of the Navy team coming to Des Moines."

Other events are the Navy presentations at the Walnut Creek and South Suburban YMCAs by several Navy assets on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. During these events, Navy divers will give demonstrations on their equipment, personnel and what it takes to become a Navy diver, as well as displays from Navy Medicine and Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). Divers will also provide displays Wednesday at the Science Center of Iowa and at the Blank Park Zoo for Navy Day at the Zoo Friday, Aug. 19.

The Iowa Cubs will host the Navy for Navy Night at Principal Park Saturday night, Aug. 20, beginning with Navy Band playing as the gates open at 5:30 p.m. and including several displays and performances from the Ceremonial Guard Drill Team, NHHC, local Sea Cadets, Navy Medicine and Navy divers and recruiting.

Des Moines Navy Week will wrap up at the Iowa State Fair with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Day Sunday, Aug. 21. Also during the week at the State Fair there will be displays by Navy divers, STEM, recruiting, Navy Medicine, NHHC and more.

"As with all Navy Weeks, we hope to offer Des Moines an opportunity to see their Navy up close, learn more about the importance of the Navy and its mission, and improve on the already outstanding relationship between the community and the Navy," said Dawson.

Historically, Navy Week events draw thousands of attendees to participate and create dialogue between Sailors and local residents.

Des Moines Navy Week is the 10th of 15 Navy weeks in 2016 that focus a variety of assets, equipment and personnel in a single city for a weeklong series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects.

For a complete schedule and more information about Des Moines Navy Week, visit http://www.outreach.navy.mil/.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.