The Sooner State will host the world's largest Navy during Oklahoma City Navy Week, Sept. 21-27 for a week-long series of community and outreach events.

Navy Weeks focus a variety of assets, equipment and personnel in a single city for a week-long series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects.

The events and special programs to take place throughout Oklahoma City are the culmination of planning and preparation over many months by the Navy Office of Community Outreach, multiple Navy assets and Oklahoma City community leaders.

"As with all Navy weeks, we hope to offer the Oklahoma City community an opportunity to see their Navy and continue the great relationship shared between the community and the Navy," said Lt. Cmdr. Tim Page, lead planner of Oklahoma City Navy Week. "Although the Navy does have a sizeable presence at Tinker Air Force Base, we look forward to bringing other Sailors in for the week with a diverse background and experiences that will give the community as many opportunities to interact with Sailors as possible."

Rear Adm. Peg Klein, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense for Military Professionalism, will host a joint wreath laying ceremony with the Oklahoma City Navy League at the 1995 Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum on the morning of Sept. 21 to kick off the week.

"The Oklahoma community has always been highly supportive of our Sailors. Long before 9/11, Oklahoma loved her Sailors," said Rear Adm. Klein. "Whether it was volunteering at homeless shelters or the community recognizing our 'Sailors of the Quarter,' we always have felt a bond with our community here in Oklahoma."

Rear Adm. Klein moved to Norman, Oklahoma in 1992 as part of the Navy squadron homeport change from Barbers Point, Hawaii to Tinker Air Force Base. Her family has lived in Oklahoma on three different occasions and her son works for Oklahoma University and lives in Norman while her daughter considers Oklahoma home.

"A visit to Oklahoma is always like coming home. That is because of the wonderful people who live there," said Klein.

"It's great to have the U.S. Navy come to Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma State Fair," said Scott Muntz, vice-president of public relations and marketing for Oklahoma City. "The people of Oklahoma are very supportive of the military community here both active and retired."

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

"We hope the Navy will be pleased they chose Oklahoma City and more specifically the Oklahoma State Fair, as a stop on the tour to showcase their outreach program," said Muntz. "Our goal is to provide the Navy with an opportunity to reach a large number of people, in a relatively confined space over a concentrated period of time."

Throughout the week community members will have the opportunity to see Sailors from the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and Navy Band Southwest performances at the state fair and Oklahoma City Jazz Festival.

"Navy Band Southwest's goal for the week is to provide the highest caliber musical performance possible," said Musician Petty Officer 2nd Class, Benjamin Fodor of Navy Band Southwest. "These concerts also offer the opportunity for Sailors and communities to come together and honor our veterans."

Attendees will also see the Navy's Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) interactive displays, Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 (MDSU-1) in the dive tank and Bureau of Medicine and Surgery medical ambassadors at the state fair and local schools.

"We hope to expose Navy Diving to Oklahoma City and open people's eyes to a totally different career choice," said Navy Diver Chief Petty Officer, Donald Acker of MDSU-1. "Our goal is to represent the Navy and Navy Deep Sea Diving in the most positive and patriotic way possible and to help educate people on what the Navy is all about."

Additionally, the U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, will perform aerial demonstrations in local areas which will include a parachute team jump at Saint Mary's High School Football Homecoming game Sept. 25, Bishop McGuinness High School Sept. 26 and at the Oklahoma State Fair Sept. 26 and 27.

Oklahoma City Navy Week is the eleventh of 12 Navy weeks in 2015.

To ensure the Navy remains ready to defend America at all times, it is investing in cutting edge innovations in weapons systems, multi-mission ships and submarines, and next generation of strike, patrol and electronic warfare aircraft. This is because the Navy is there where it matters, when it matters, and with the right tools to get the job done.