How landlocked Utahns can participate in Salt Lake Navy Week

SALT LAKE CITY — If everything you know about the U.S. Navy comes from watching "Top Gun," it might be time to change that.

Utahns will get that chance during Salt Lake Navy Week on Sept. 11-17 as more than 50 Navy admirals, captains, commanders and sailors will participate in community outreach events throughout Salt Lake City.

"People in Utah don't really get an opportunity to interact with a ton of sailors, unlike the coasts," Navy Lt. Kyle Hanton said. "We want Utahns to be able to meet sailors, shake our hands and ask us questions about what we do and what the Navy is all about."

The Navy has hosted Navy Week in up to 15 cities each year since 2005. This will be the Navy's third time in Salt Lake City, after visiting the city in 2014 and 2017. This year's Salt Lake Navy Week will overlap with the Utah State Fair on Sept. 7-17.

"The United States Navy plays a pivotal role in protecting and defending our nation," Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement to KSL. "During Salt Lake City Navy Week, I hope Utahns will participate in the special events and programs as we express our gratitude for the dedication, sacrifice and exemplary service of the men and women of the Navy."

Hanton emphasized that Navy Week is not about recruitment, but about letting taxpayers and communities interact with their servicemen and understand the work they do. Events will range from meeting with Utah government officials and leaders, to having the Navy band perform at the Utah State Fair, to visiting local schools.

"The biggest thing we want Utahns to take away from Navy Week is to learn something about the Navy that they didn't know before," Hanton said. He said surveys conducted by the Navy over more than 20 years show that a large percentage of Americans don't know what the Navy actually does.

"There's a whole lot of reasons that the Navy is very important to all Americans and to even landlocked states," he added. "We're out there protecting Americans' way of life."

Where to find sailors during Salt Lake Navy Week:

Monday, Sept: 11:

• 6-9 a.m. — 9/11 memorial run at the Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. — Building with Habitat for Humanity in Kearns
• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Utah State Fair, Salt Lake City
• 3-4 p.m. — Visiting Big Brothers Big Sisters at McPolin Elementary, Park City
• 6-7 p.m. — Woodwind Quartet performance at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Draper

Tuesday, Sept. 12:

• 8-11 a.m. — Visiting veterans at George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City
• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity, Salt Lake City
• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Utah State Fair, Salt Lake City
• 2-3 p.m. — Woodwind Quartet performance at the Salt Lake City Public Library

Wednesday, Sept. 13:

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. — Building with Habitat for Humanity in Kearns
• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Utah State Fair, Salt Lake City
• 2-3 p.m. — Navy Band Northwest performance at Salt Lake City Public Library
• 5-6 p.m. — Visiting Big Brothers Big Sisters at Kearns High School, Kearns
• 6-7 p.m. — Woodwind Quartet performance at William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veterans Home

Thursday, Sept. 14:

• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Utah State Fair, Salt Lake City
• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity, Salt Lake City

Friday, Sept 15:

• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Utah State Fair, Salt Lake Cit
• 1 p.m. — Woodwind Quartet performance at Discovery Gateway Children's Museum, Salt Lake City
• 6 p.m. — Band performance at Utah State Fair's main stage, Salt Lake City

Saturday, Sept. 16:

• 9:30 a.m. — Navy Band Cruisers concert at Utes Football tailgate at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City
• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Utah State Fair, Salt Lake City
• 1 p.m. — Woodwind Quartet performance at Anderson-Foothill Public Library, Salt Lake City

Sunday, Sept. 17:

• 1 p.m. — Navy Band Cruisers concert at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Draper

For more information, visit the Navy website.

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