More than 2,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, crewing six vessels will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the 26th annual Fleet Week Port Everglades, May 2-9.

USS Bataan (LHD 5), an amphibious assault ship, along with guided-missile destroyers USS Cole (DDG 67) and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), and Virginia-class submarine USS California (SSN-781) will represent the Navy at the event.

Navy ships will be joined by U.S. Coast Guard cutters USCGC Robert Yered (WPC-1104) and USCGC Dependable (WMEC-626).

Fleet Week will showcase sea service personnel, technologies and capabilities. Commanding Officer of Bataan, Capt. John Carter, said it is a great opportunity for service members to show off their pride in a community with enduring ties with the military.

"We are excited to show our appreciation to the community," said Carter, "as well as show off Bataan."

Throughout the week, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will give special tours to social and civic organizations, school groups and veterans. This gives the public the chance to interact with the crews to learn more about the Navy as well as fill veterans in on what's been going on in the fleet.

The South Florida community will welcome the Sailors with an all-hands-on-deck party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

During the time in port, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will participate in community-relations projects and make trips to local schools and hospitals.

Kizzy Dunbar, civilian afloat recreation specialist aboard Bataan said, "I am excited about Fleet Week and to see how the city responds to us and how we interact with everyone. Not only do these Sailors protect the country they also volunteer to help others in need, somehow, some way, which I think is very important."

Dunbar said she thought it was amazing how Sailors and Marines work so hard and how wonderful it is that they are giving their free time to engage the community, and hopefully along the way inspire young people to want to join the military to do the same.

Fleet Week provides Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen the opportunity to share their stories and give back to the communities that support their military service members.

For more information on Fleet Week Port Everglades visit http://www.browardnavydaysinc.org/press

For more news from USS Bataan (LHD 5), visit http://www.navy.mil'http://www.navy.mil/local/lhd5/'>.