Navy Drops Anchor in the Natural State To Celebrate Little Rock Navy Week

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Steve Johnson, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (NNS) -- Mayors from two central Arkansas cities welcomed the U.S. Navy to town by officially declaring May 24 through May 30 'Navy Week.'

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola read a proclamation on behalf of Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, declaring the week 'Arkansas Navy Week' at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum in North Little Rock. North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays also read proclamations from both his city and neighboring Little Rock, with the historic USS Razorback (SS 394) submarine in the background.

The museum, which opened its doors on May 15 2005, centers around the Razorback, in service from World War II through the Vietnam War and most of the Cold War.

May 24 kicked off a weeklong series of events designed to highlight and showcase the U.S. Navy in a city far removed from the oceans that the Navy protects.

"We are excited to be in Little Rock and truly appreciate the local citizens' support of the U.S. military," said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Weyenberg, commanding officer, Navy Operational Support Center, Little Rock. "Your Sailors are proud to serve their country and are true professionals. We are very proud of them."

The 2010 Little Rock Navy Week,in conjunction with Riverfest, is packed with events demonstrating the mission of the U.S. Navy and its proud heritage. The goal of this program is to give the public an up-close look at the men and women of the U.S. Navy serving throughout the world and the jobs they do.

Rear Adm. Raymond P. English, director, Joint Reserve Forces, J-9, DLA, and Rear Adm. Wendi B. Carpenter, commander, Navy Warfare Development Command, Norfolk, shared guest Navy Week VIP duties for Little Rock Navy Week.

"Navy Weeks are the Navy's chance to share the story of the Navy and its Sailors. We are excited to be in Little Rock this week and we want to thank Little Rock for their outstanding military support,"said Cmdr. Michael Neuser, commanding officer, Navy Recruiting District (NRD), Nashville.

Neuser and Lt. Cmdr. Michael J. Weyenberg, commanding officer of Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC), Little Rock also participated in kickoff events with English.

"It's great to showcase what our active and reserve Sailors do here in Arkansas for the people who live and work in our community," said Weyenberg, a native of Bryant, Ark.

Over the lunch hour, English spoke to members of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, while Neuser gave a video presentation on the nation's Maritime Strategy to the North Little Rock Riverside Rotary Club.

Sailors and officers from NRD, NOSC and the Navy Office of Community Outreach visited veterans recuperating at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock.

Other events planned for Little Rock Navy Week include meetings with civic and corporate organizations throughout the Little Rock area, Navy Night with the Arkansas Traveler baseball team, visits by Sailors to area hospitals and youth centers, a home renovation project in conjunction with Habitat For Humanity, a renovation project with the Watershed Human and Community Development Agency by Navy Recruiting District, Nashville, Navy Band Mid-South from Millington, Tenn, free public concerts at the Little Rock Zoo and at Riverfest and Interactive Navy Tour and Navy Simulator.

For more information about Little Rock Navy Week 2010 or other Navy Week events through the remainder of 2010, visit www.NavyWeek.org.