More than 1,300 U.S. Navy Sailors and Marines are will participate in Veterans Week NYC 2016, Nov. 10-14, to honor the service and sacrifice of all American veterans.

Sailors and Marines from local commands in Manhattan, the Bronx, Long Island, and New Jersey will be joined by Rear Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), who recently returned from conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Haiti following Hurricane Matthew.

The principal mission of LHD-class ships such as Iwo Jima is to transport troops by sea and air to a land battle, and to serve as the command ship in an expeditionary strike group. The ships have capabilities to launch amphibious vehicles, aircraft, and landing craft while remaining a safe distance from the shore, and can carry an assortment of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft such as CH-53E Super Stallion and MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters and V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

Additionally, the ship has modern medical and dental facilities second only to the Navy's hospital ships, and is capable of providing intensive medical assistance to 600 patients.

Veterans Week NYC 2016 and America's Parade are presented by the United War Veterans Council to honor the sacrifices and service of all veterans. America's Parade is the largest Veterans Day event in New York City, and has been held annually since 1919.

"It is important for us to remember the service and sacrifices of our veterans," said Kitchener. "Sailors and Marines have defended America's interests around the world for more than 240 years, and the men and women of today's Navy and Marine Corps team continue to carry on the legacy forged by the sacrifices of past and present veterans who have stood the watch since our country's founding."

Sailors and Marines will take part in activities throughout the city including city tours, Veterans Week remembrances, and marching in America's Parade.

"For the Sailors and Marines to have the opportunity to visit one of the largest and most diverse cities in the world, especially during Veteran's Day, is something that they will never forget," said Capt. James Midkiff, Iwo Jima commanding officer. "I am so proud for us to represent the Navy during this week, and I look forward to seeing our team participate in all the events during our visit and honor those who served before them in the process."

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

For more news from Navy Office of Information, East, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/navinfoeast/.

For more news from USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), visit http://www.navy.mil/.