Fleet
Week Canceled
SAN
FRANCISCO (September 18, 2001) –
Organizers of
San Francisco Fleet Week today cancelled this year’s
event due to concerns about public safety following the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Fleet Week 2001 was scheduled
for October 5-7.
“We regret deeply canceling this year’s Fleet
Week,” said Edward M. Leonard, Chairman of the Fleet
Week committee. “It would have been particularly
appropriate to honor our military personnel this year, as
they are now being called upon to help with rescue
efforts and will be called upon to defend our country and
its citizens against further terrorist attacks.”
The Fleet Week Committee – a nonprofit group of
civilians who organize the annual event – made the
decision to cancel the event after consultation with the
San Francisco Police Department, Mayor Willie L. Brown
Jr., and other Fleet Week participants. While there have
been no threats made to Fleet Week activities, based on
its discussions with participating agencies and
organizations, the Committee felt it could not provide an
adequate level of security for the hundreds of thousands
of people expected to attend this year’s event.
“Public safety is our overriding concern and I fully
support the decision of the Fleet Week Committee to
cancel this year’s Fleet Week,” said Mayor
Willie L. Brown, Jr. “On behalf of the people of San
Francisco, I want to express our support for the Navy and
Marine Corps in their ongoing efforts to defend our
country. We will miss them this year, but we know they
have a job to do.”
Rear Admiral William Marshall, Commander of Amphibious
Group Three, who was in charge of the Navy ship
participation for Fleet Week, said “Fleet Week has
long been a favorite event of the Navy, Marine Corps and
Coast Guard team. We truly appreciate all the effort by
the great many citizens of the Bay Area in planning this
year’s event; we salute you and look forward to a
great event and more favorable circumstances in
2002.”
San Francisco’s Fleet Week has been one of the Bay
Area’s most popular family events since it was
inaugurated by then Mayor Dianne Feinstein in 1981. Each
year over the Columbus Day weekend, 5,000-10,000 US Navy
Sailors and Marines have visited San Francisco, Oakland
and Alameda, bringing with them an array of ships. Fleet
Week also features a military and civilian air show,
highlighted by the Navy’s Blue Angels precision
flight demonstration team.
Fleet Week 2002 has been tentatively scheduled for
October 12 and 13.
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