TEXAS — Several ships and more than 1,000 service members have arrived at the Port of Houston for the inaugural Fleet Week Houston, which runs from April 15-22. This is the first time a Texas city is hosting the event, and this year, it’s part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.

Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen were welcomed by cheering Houston team mascots as they exited the U.S.S. Kearsarge, one of several ships arriving for the week-long event that will be open for public tours.

U.S. Navy Engineman Third Class Marian Garcia, who grew up near Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, was traveling aboard the vessel for training.

“I love coming back home. It’s been some time,” Garcia said.

Quartermaster First Class Payton Sanchez, who was also aboard, is from Sugar Land.

“Getting that nice, Texas air when I’ve been away from Texas a good amount of years. I was stationed in Japan at first, now being back, I missed it. I got goose bumps just coming back, raising up that flag. It was amazing,” Sanchez said.

The service members attended an opening ceremony outside Houston City Hall late Wednesday afternoon.

“The partnership between Houston and our Armed Forces has never been stronger,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire, also highlighting Houston’s partnership with the Navy through the port, refineries and NASA. “We want to expose the Sailors and Marines to our diverse communities, and we’re going to push them out of the comfort zone of downtown.”

Crews will travel around the city, greet the public and attend several events, ceremonies, exhibitions and concerts, all while catching up with family members who traveled from near and far to see them. The connections holds special meaning for Houston neighbors who came out on opening day to support servicemembers.

“I’ve got uncles who were in World War II, some were POWs, cousins in the Navy,” said Cynthia Ashburn, a Houston resident.

Diksha Krishna, another Houstonian, reflected on the military members who are serving during the turmoil in the Middle East.

“In a time with so much uncertainty, it’s a great opportunity to show them that they’re loved back at home,” Krishna said.

Those who serve are welcoming the love with open arms.

“It’s been great, the warm welcome we’ve had from the city so far, and I personally just love Houston,” said U.S. Navy 1st Lt. Brian Karg. “We’re looking forward to a great time this week.”