The U.S. Navy is coming to City of Festivals August 6-12 to strengthen the Navy's long-standing partnership with the city and people of Milwaukee.

This year's Milwaukee Navy Week is being held in conjunction with the 167th Wisconsin State Fair, which draws in more than one million visitors and local residents for events throughout the week. Historically, Navy Week events also draw thousands of attendees to participate and create a dialogue between Sailors and the community.

Navy Weeks bring a variety of units, equipment and personnel for a week-long series of outreach engagements to show cities that don't have a large naval presence their Navy.

"We hope to give the people here as many opportunities as possible to interact with Sailors and to continue to foster the relationship between the community and the Navy," said Lt. j.g. Davis Anderson, lead planner of Milwaukee Navy Week. "Traditionally Milwaukee has been a great supporter of the Navy and we are excited to be here again showing residents their Navy."

Some of the Navy groups visiting during the week include Navy divers from Little Creek, Virginia and Sailors from the USS Constitution homeported in Boston, who will be dressed in historic 1813 uniforms. There will also be representatives from the Naval History and Heritage Command, located at the historic Washington Navy Yard. These groups will be available at Discovery World Science and Technology Center and the Brewer's and Padres game at Miller field August 9.

Additionally, Sailors from USS Milwaukee and the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Milwaukee will participate in several community outreach events.

Minnesota native, Rear Adm. Donald D. Gabrielson, commander, Strike Group 11, will be meeting with the Navy League, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, and several other executive leaders throughout the week.

"It is an exciting honor returning to Wisconsin for Navy Week," said Gabrielson. "The support my family, Navy team, and I received during our time in Wisconsin was beyond fantastic, and we will never forget those ties. I look forward to reuniting with the great organizations and people of Milwaukee, reflecting on our Navy's proud heritage and vision for the future. Above all, thank you to everyone supporting our Navy, our Sailors and their families."

Navy Band Great Lakes will also be providing several performances across the city with events to include marching in the state fair parades.

Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's signature outreach effort into areas of the country that do not have a significant Navy presence, with 210 Navy Weeks held in 74 different U.S. markets.

Milwaukee Navy Week is the ninth of 14 Navy weeks in 2018 that focus a variety of assets, equipment and personnel on a single city for a week-long series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit http://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Milwaukee.

Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/navyoutreach and www.twitter.com/navyoutreach.

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