strations and equipment, live music and entertainment, and food. This year also honors the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Navy and Marines.

Activities and exhibits will highlight and celebrate the nation’s military services and the people who serve. Events will include military displays and equipment demonstrations; live entertainment; aircraft flyovers; the annual Galley Wars culinary cook-off competition between culinary specialists from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force and Army (at noon Saturday); and the dodgeball (10:30 a.m. Sunday) and Military Has Talent (finals at 10 a.m. Monday) competitions.

The Marine Corps Band opened the Wednesday news conference, which also featured remarks by Los Angeles Councilmember Tim McOsker, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brad Rosen, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka and U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Tobias Reid.

Fleet Week, Seroka said, is a chance to showcase the Port of L.A. and the “freedom of navigation. To the dockworkers and the truck drivers and the seafarers, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

If you see a service member, McOsker said, “buy them dinner.”

Information about the free event and how to access ship tours can be found at lafleetweek.com.