American Idol

Navy personnel from the U.S.S. Boxer will be greeted by a friendly face when they return to their North Island Navy Base in San Diego on June 15: that of Elliott Yamin.

The American Idol finalist is scheduled to greet and lunch with the troops, who served a double-extended deployment in Iraq.

"Visiting the North Island Naval base will be a unique and wonderful opportunity," Yamin said in a statement released on Wednesday. "I have so much admiration for men and women that service this country and the courage and strength that they possess. I look forward to being able to spend some time with them all and hear some of their stories while I visit the base."