CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to USS Constitution kicked off their participation in Boston Navy Week June 30-July 5.
Sailors will participate in community relations projects and other public activities and events that highlight "Old Ironsides'" history and mission today.
Additionally, Sailors will be performing boarding pike and gun drills pier-side to the ship throughout Navy Week. The drills will simulate to visitors how Sailors prepared and fought in battle at sea during the age of sail.
"Constitution allows our visitors to explore the beginnings of our Navy as well as interact with modern Sailors," said Cmdr. Timothy M. Cooper, 71st in command of Constitution. "This unique blend of past and present cannot be found anywhere else in our service."
Boston Navy Week is also being held in conjunction with Boston Harborfest. Harborfest is a six-day Fourth of July festival that showcases the colonial and maritime heritage of Boston.
Constitution's color guard performed at the opening ceremony of Harborfest at Faneuil Hall Marketplace with Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead in attendance.
"We look forward to being a part of this week," said Roughead. "I think it will be a great opportunity for the citizens of Boston to meet our Sailors."
After the opening ceremony, Constitution Sailors also participated in a Caps for Kids visit at Boston Medical Center. They offered words of encouragement and 18 caps to children dealing with long-term or lifelong health issues.
Additionally, Constitution will host the annual Sunset Parade, July 2. The parade celebrates the connection between Constitution's representation of naval heritage and New England's patriotic heritage.
"It's going to be a busy week for us of course, but when you do events like Caps for Kids, you understand why this week is so important," said Fireman Esteban Quintero of Constitution. "We're not only educating people about our ship, which we do every day, but we're letting them know we're also about helping people."
Finally, Constitution will wrap up Boston Navy Week by getting underway the morning of Independence Day. During the underway, Sailors will exchange a 21-gun salute with Fort Independence on Castle Island. Fort Independence is a state park that served as a defense post for Boston Harbor at one time.
"I may be biased, but I can't think of a finer way to conclude Boston Navy Week," said Cooper. "Constitution's long and distinguished service in defense of our nation is exemplified by everything that the Fourth of July represents."
Later that evening, Constitution's color guard will also perform in the Boston Pops July 4th concert.
This is the third Navy Week Constitution will participate in this year. They performed similar activities during Des Moines Navy Week, April 19-24 and Spokane Navy Week, May 10-15.
USS Hawes (FFG 53) and USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) are also participating in Boston Navy Week. Boston Navy Week is one of 20 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2010. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy, and to increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.
Constitution is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. She is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors a year.
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