All aboard: Fleet Week returns to Los Angeles

Carolyn Cole
·2 min read
San Pedro, California-May 26, 2022-On board the USS Essex, U.S. Navy Operational Specialist Petty Officer 2nd class La'Tansia Smith, holds a pennant flag before morning colors on May 26, 2022. Smith, age 30, has three children and is based in San Diego, California. LA Fleet Week has returned to San Pedro, California at the Port of Los Angeles after a two-year absence due to the pandemic. Active-duty sailors and Marines are in town for community events. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The Port of Los Angeles Waterfront will be celebrating Memorial Day by hosting Fleet Week.

The free celebration will last all weekend with live entertainment, aircraft flyovers, and tours of active duty ships.

The celebration was moved from Labor Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend last year to line up with New York's Fleet Week.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Gibson aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex
Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Gibson of Lynwood, an air traffic controller on the USS Essex, stands at attention during morning formation Thursday. Gibson has been in the Navy for three years. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Takelia Latore of Bridgeport, Conn., at the helm of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex
Petty Officer 3rd Class Takelia Latore of Bridgeport, Conn., at the helm of the USS Essex. Latore has been in the Navy for two years. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Sailors salute the colors
Petty Officer 2nd Class Gustavo Gonzalez of Chicago and Petty Officer 3rd Class Taylor Godsill of Sacramento salute the colors aboard the USS Essex on Thursday. The flag was at half-staff in honor of those killed in the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Lt. Cmdr. Caroline Stanton takes over command on the Essex.
Lt. Cmdr. Caroline Stanton of Dowagiac, Mich., right, standing on deck with other officers and crew, takes over command of the USS Essex on Thursday. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Petty Officer 2nd Class Adrien Michaud, center, salutes as other sailors leave the USS Essex for Fleet Week
Petty Officer 2nd Class Adrien Michaud, center, salutes as other sailors leave the USS Essex for Los Angeles Fleet Week. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles Fleet Week celebrations return to the Port of Los Angeles through Memorial Day Weekend.
After missing the previous two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles Fleet Week celebrations return to the Port of Los Angeles through Memorial Day weekend. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Members of the 1st Marine Division Band will be performing around Los Angeles this weekend
Members of the 1st Marine Division Band will perform around Los Angeles this weekend as part of Fleet Week. Sgt. Christian Rosario, center, has served in the Marines for six years. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
On board the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, Petty Officer 3rd class Isaac Schweitzer shines the ship's bell
On board the USS Essex, Petty Officer 3rd Class Isaac Schweitzer shines the ship's bell, as part of preparation for visitors. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.