PHILADELPHIA —  The U.S. Navy today announced it is bringing Navy Week to Philadelphia, PA, featuring 75 visiting sailors from across the nation, to volunteer throughout the community and discuss why the Navy matters to Philadelphia, from Monday, October 9 through Sunday, October 15, 2023. This marks the first time Philadelphia has hosted Navy Week since 2011.

Navy Week is the service’s signature outreach program, designed to allow the citizens of Philadelphia to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. The Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) coordinates Navy Weeks across the U.S. each year.

“We are excited to bring the Navy Week program to Philadelphia,” said NAVCO’s director, Cmdr. Anthony Falvo. “Seapower and America’s Navy are more important now than ever before. The U.S. Navy remains our nation’s most powerful instrument of military influence and Navy Week allow us to showcase how the Navy serves America at sea, in the air, and ashore.”

“As the birthplace of the U.S. Navy, it is always our honor for Philadelphia to welcome back home the U.S. Navy and the members of the military family – past, present and future,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “We can never fully thank our service members for all that they have done and continue to do to protect us and our country, but we look forward to their visit as an opportunity to renew our commitment to supporting and honoring our veteran and active military personnel. We encourage residents across the region to welcome the Navy here to Philadelphia and hope everyone has the opportunity to attend at least one of these events to celebrate the great work of the U.S. Navy.”

“We coordinate about 75 outreach events during Navy Week through corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, and community service engagements,” said NAVCO Navy Week program manager Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Chambers. “We are looking forward to engaging with organizations, businesses, sports teams, universities, schools, and residents across the Greater Philadelphia Region as we attempt to bring the Navy to every corner of the United States.”

Philadelphia-Camden Navy-Marine Week will feature in-person demonstrations, performances, and engagements throughout the week that will include:

• Senior Navy Leaders – Flag officer and senior civilian Navy leaders with ties to Philadelphia and the surrounding area.
• Namesake Sailors – Sailors serving on the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756).
• U.S. Navy Band Northeast – Performances and masterclasses with Navy Musicians.
• Naval History and Heritage Command – Educational presentations and lesson plans about the deep ties between Philadelphia and the Navy.
• Navy Expeditionary Combat Command – Educational STEM presentations and fitness demonstrations by technicians, medics, and divers.
• U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command – Educational presentation on the importance of atmospheric and oceanographic science and the overall value of STEM education to the Navy.

Throughout Philadelphia-Camden Navy-Marine Week the sailors will also visit iconic locations across the Greater Philadelphia Region, including running the steps at the Art Museum on Monday, October 9 at 9 a.m.; the Navy Band Northeast’s Brass Quartet will perform “The Liberty March” at the Liberty Bell on Tuesday, October 10 at 8 a.m.; Sailors making cheesesteaks at Pat’s King of Steaks in South Philadelphia on Tuesday, October 10 at 12 p.m.; a flag raising at City Hall and a Navy birthday proclamation on Friday, October 13 at 10 a.m.

Sailors will be performing community service throughout the region, including Philabundance, the Cathedral Kitchen, Heroic Gardens, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Police Athletic League, Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education, and many others. A complete list of all appearances and community services is available online here.

The Navy Band Northeast will also make numerous appearances across the region, including:

• Monday, October 9 at 12 p.m. at the Betsy Ross House featuring the President’s Duo.
• Tuesday, October 10 at 10 a.m. at the US Mint featuring a Brass Quartet.
• Tuesday, October 10 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at Crescenz VA Medical Center featuring a Woodwind Quintet.
• Tuesday, October 10 at 5 p.m. at The Chapel of the Four Chaplains (Navy Yard) featuring Brass Quintet.
• Wednesday, October 11 at 6 p.m. at Independence Seaport Museum featuring a Pops Ensemble in a RARE joint performance with the Marine Division Band.
• Thursday, Oct. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Battleship New Jersey with the Ceremonial Band.
• Friday, October 13 at 10 a.m. at Philadelphia City Hall for a Ceremonial Flag Raising.
• Friday, October 13 at 5 p.m. at Subaru Park featuring Popular Music Group (rock music) prior to Army-Navy Soccer Match.
• Saturday, October 14 at 12 p.m. at Villanova Football Game featuring Popular Music Group (rock music).
• Sunday. October 15 at 12 p.m. at Museum of the American Revolution for Commodore Barry Sword Ceremony.

Philadelphia area businesses, organizations, community groups, schools, universities and sports teams that would like to participate in Philadelphia-Camden Navy-Marine Week should contact Lt. Omari Faulkner at (540) 326-1802 or Omari.J.Faulkner2.mil@us.navy.mil.

Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort to regions without a significant Navy presence, with over 250 Navy Weeks held in more than 80 different U.S. markets.