United State Marine Corps is coming back to The Valley of the Sun to showcase their equipment, give residents opportunities to participate in training and activities, honor fallen soldiers and bring the community together for their sixth annual Marine Week.
"Marine Week will bring the Corps' latest technology, state-of-the-art equipment, rich history and hundreds of Marines to Phoenix," said Lt. Gen. David Berger, commanding general of First Marine Expeditionary Force.
More than 750 marines will be in the valley with events in Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Mesa and Scottsdale Sept. 10-13. Attendees will be able to explore Marine aircrafts, learn about marine infantry, watch Marine Corps martial arts and military dog demonstrations, meet Navajo Code Talkers, honor fallen Marines and watch the Silent Drill Platoon and Marine Corps Band.
Phoenix events include:
Demonstrations in Civic Space Park where participants can put their physical abilities to the test with realistic Marine physical training sessions, and watch up-close demonstrations of Marine infantry weapons, robotics, explosive disposal, military working dogs and martial arts.
Hours are:
Sept. 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sept. 10, 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
USMC will also showcase their tanks, assault vehicles and helicopters in Phoenix at the 1st St. and Jefferson.
Hours are:
Sept. 10 through 12 from noon to 10 p.m.
Sept. 13. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
ASU students will be given personal USMC demonstrations and displays at the Sun Devil Fitness Center, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and even watch the Marine Corp soccer team play against the ASU soccer club at the Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
Hours and events are:
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Military Working Dogs and Martial Arts demonstrations, vehicle displays at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex in Tempe
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Marine Corps Leadership Panel: A Female Perspective at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix.
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. all-Marine Soccer Team vs. ASU soccer club at the Sun Devil soccer stadium in Tempe.
On the anniversary of 9/11, USMC will hold a ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery at 8 a.m. The Marine Band San Diego and Color Guard will perform and ASU President Michael Crow will speak.
Additionally, USMC will create a mural throughout the week at the Scottsdale Civic Center Public Library incorporating Arizona imagery and Marine Week themes of "Community, Country, Corps." Marine artists will create this mural all week and unveil the completed piece on Sept. 12.
Other Marine Week demonstrations and activities will be held at the Riverview Park in Mesa on Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Marine Week is our opportunity to connect with Arizonans, and all patriots, thank them for their support and demonstrate why the Marine Corps is America’s Expeditionary Force in Readiness,” said Lt. Gen. Berger.
All events are free and USMC encourages all valley residents to come out and participate.
For more information Marine Week 2015 schedule and events visit www.Marines.mil/MarineWeek.
