Alabama's "Magic City" is scheduled to host members of the U.S. Navy during Birmingham Navy Week, Apr. 9-15, a week-long series of community outreach events.

Birmingham Navy Week is the third of only 14 Navy Weeks throughout the United States in 2018, a program that focuses 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.

"Our Sailors are extremely excited to visit Birmingham and showcase just a small portion of our Navy's capabilities to the American public," said Lt. David Carter, lead planner for the Navy Week. "The pride and professionalism they'll display is just a snapshot of the larger U.S. Navy force that stands ready daily to carry out our nation's work across the globe."

Rear Adm. Mark J. Fung, Deputy Chief of Civil Engineers, and Deputy Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, will be the senior Navy representative presiding over the Navy Week.

"I am excited to share the Navy's story with Birmingham," said Fung. "I look forward to discussing the reshaping of the Navy into 'the Navy the nation needs' and how it is relevant to the people of Alabama."

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

Sailors from USS Constitution, USS Alabama, Navy Band Southeast, Navy Operational Support Center Bessemer, United States Naval Academy, Navy Recruiting District Atlanta, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams, Navy Oceanography and Meteorology Command, Navy's Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, and hometown sailors will all participate in dozens of outreach events leading up to the Tuscaloosa Regional Air Show, featuring the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels.

Some of the weeks' highlights include Navy Night at Region's Field during the Birmingham Baron's home opener Wednesday night and Navy Day at the McWane Science Center all day Thursday.

Local native, Command Master Chief Keith Wilkerson Jr., the senior enlisted Sailor for Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Island Knights (HSC-25) in Guam, will also be in attendance throughout the week.

"Being born in Birmingham and spending my childhood running through the woods of Bessemer, I like to think of this place as being where the seed was planted for my service," said Wilkerson. "I grew up around a lot of stories about the Navy and military and now after 19 years of service, I have one of my own to share. I've had the privilege to serve around the world, and currently in Guam, I get to see first-hand how America's sons and daughters from places like Birmingham impact the world in a positive way and protect our way of life as Americans. Best of all, every day I have the awesome responsibility of putting on my Navy uniform and representing the great State of Alabama."

For a complete schedule of public events and more information about Birmingham Navy Week, visit www.outreach.navy.mil.

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