Events

USS America Sets Sail

Published

10 years ago

October 15, 2014

The Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship, USS America (LHA 6), departed San Francisco Oct. 14 following its commissioning and marking the official conclusion of San Francisco Fleet Week 2014.

USS America was commissioned on Pier 30/32 by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus during a ceremony held on Oct. 11.

During this ceremony, Captain Robert Hall, Jr., USN, Commanding Officer, USS America, saluted Fernandez (Frank) Ponds, RDML, USN, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three, and reported, “Sir, the ship is ready.”

During Fleet Week, the ship provided tours for more than 19,000 visitors. The ship’s sailors and marines also participated in several community outreach events at various local schools and at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Speaking to the USS America crew, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee said, “Thank you for your outstanding and dutiful service toward ensuring our country’s values of freedom and equality for all.”

The USS America, the fourth Navy ship bearing the name, is the first of a new class of amphibious assault ships. Her mission will be to embark, transport, control, insert, sustain and extract elements of a U.S. Marine Corps air-ground task force and support forces by the next generation of aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighters.

“How fitting to hold this momentous celebration in San Francisco, a city with such a rich maritime history and longstanding relationship with the Navy,” said Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman (D-12^th) in a letter to the ship’s company.

With the order, “Man our ship and bring her to life,” issued Commanding Officer Robert A, Hall, Jr., Captain, the ship came alive to pursue her future heritage on the sea.

The ship is designed to carry 3,000 sailors and marines and to operate the latest in Marine aviation, the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.

Lynne Pace, Sponsor, USS America, said, “The heart of this ship is found in the sailors and marines who man her rails, and in the families who stand beside you.”

For more information on USS America, go to www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lha6/Pages/default.aspx

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Arts and Culture

Richmond Preps for Full Weekend of Cinco de Mayo Festivities

Cinco de Mayo festivities in Richmond and San Pablo are some of the bests in Bay, and organizers say that tradition will be alive and well at this weekend’s annual parade and festival. The action kicks off Saturday, May 4, with the 16th Annual Cinco de Mayo Richmond/San Pablo Peace & Unity Parade. The parade of floats, performances, and community organizations starts at 10 a.m. at 24th Street and Barrett Avenue and Richmond and ends at 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 1845 Church Lane in San Pablo.

Published

11 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Scene from the 2023 Cinco de Mayo parade from Richmond to San Pablo. Photo courtesy The Richmond Standard.

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

Cinco de Mayo festivities in Richmond and San Pablo are some of the bests in Bay, and organizers say that tradition will be alive and well at this weekend’s annual parade and festival.

The action kicks off Saturday, May 4, with the 16th Annual Cinco de Mayo Richmond/San Pablo Peace & Unity Parade. The parade of floats, performances, and community organizations starts at 10 a.m. at 24th Street and Barrett Avenue and Richmond and ends at 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 1845 Church Lane in San Pablo.

The parade’s Grand Marshall this year will be community organizer Diego Garcia, owner of Leftside Printing.

The festivities continue Sunday with the Cinco de Mayo Festival along 23rd Street, which last year drew over 100,000 people, according to the 23rd Street Merchants Association. This year’s festival will again run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between the intersections of Rheem Avenue and Clinton Avenue. It will feature two entertainment stages, one sponsored by La Raza 93.3 FM at 23rd and Rheem, and another sponsored by Radio Lazer FM at 23rd and Clinton.

Both events are important for the city and the region’s Latino community.

San Pablo Mayor Genoveva Calloway, who co-chairs the parade alongside John Marquez, president of the Contra Costa Community College District Board of Trustees, says Saturday’s festivities are about bringing the Richmond and San Pablo communities together in unity.

“This truly connects the spectators and people in the parade as one,” Calloway said. “The parade showcases the real communities of Richmond and San Pablo – our nonprofits, schools, horse riders, classic cars and trucks, our local businesses. All of these people represent the heartbeat of our community.”

Rigo Mendoza, vice president of the 23rd Street Merchants Association, said that at its heart, Richmond’s Cinco de Mayo Festival celebrates the date the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

But John Marquez started up the popular festival to bring the community together and also to exhibit the community’s businesses and culture to visitors, Mendoza said. The gathering was also a way to promote peace in the community.