USS Constitution Participates in Austin Navy Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathryn E. Macdonald, USS Constitution Public Affairs

CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to USS Constitution will participate in Austin Navy Week in Austin, Texas, March 19-26.

Sailors will first perform a color guard ceremony at Rodeo Austin and at the Texas Stars hockey game.

They will provide naval history lessons at area middle schools and interact with children through community service projects with the Boys and Girls Club.

"Sending our Sailors to meet children in a variety of venues, such as schools or Boys and Girls Clubs, is one of the most important things we do," said Cmdr. Timothy Cooper, Constitution's 71st commanding officer. "Bringing Constitution's history to them is a very fulfilling experience for our Sailors."

They are also scheduled to give Navy ball caps to children at Dell Children's Medical Center and exchange culinary skills between Le Cordon Bleu Austin and Navy culinary specialists. Lastly, Sailors will cook and serve food to those in need at Caritas of Austin Soup Kitchen.

This is the second Navy Week event Constitution Sailors have participated in this year. They performed similar activities during Tampa Bay Navy Week, Jan. 22-29.

"Participating in Austin Navy Week will give the area's residents an opportunity to meet some of Constitution's Sailors," said Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW) Anthony Costa, who will lead Constitution's team of Sailors to Austin Navy Week. "This will allow them to learn the critical mission and broad-ranging capabilities of today's Navy and the history of Constitution and what life was like back during the age of sail."

The primary purpose of Navy Week is to increase Navy awareness by presenting the Navy to Americans who live in cities that normally do not have a significant naval presence. Austin Navy Week will showcase the mission, capabilities and achievements of the U.S. Navy and provide residents the opportunity to meet Sailors face to face.

Constitution is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston and is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat. The ship welcomes more than 500,000 visitors a year.