USS Constitution Marches in Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade

By Seaman Michael Achterling, USS Constitution Public Affairs

BOSTON (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Constitution marched in the 111th annual St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston March 18.

"It's a great opportunity for us to interact with the city that we call our home," said Cmdr. Matthew Bonner, Constitution's 72nd commanding officer. "The War of 1812 isn't understood by a lot of people, and Boston, having one of the only living artifacts from that war, serves as a great reminder of why we had a Navy back then and why we need one today."

The parade, which commemorated the tradition of Boston's first Irish celebration in 1737, began at 1 p.m., ending at approximately 4 p.m. Tens of thousands of spectators attended the three-mile route, and more than 50 marching bands and floats participated.

The crew from Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) also marched in the parade as part of their port visit to Boston.

"I'm proud to be part of this joyful environment, and being out with all my shipmates," said Seaman Esmeralda Ortega, Constitution. "This was my first parade with the command, and it was just overwhelming; so many people showing their support for us. Boston really loves the USS Constitution."

Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year. She defended the sea lanes against threat from 1797 to 1855, much like the mission of today's Navy.

Constitution's mission today is to offer community outreach and education about the ship's history. Currently, her crew is planning to commemorate bicentennial of the War of 1812 through public demonstrations and educational activities at seven Navy Weeks across the U.S. in 2012. America's Navy: Keeping the sea free for more than 200 years.

For more information about Constitution, visit www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution or www.facebook.com/ussconstitutionofficial.

COMSUBPAC St. Patrick's Day Fun Run

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge, COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

Pearl Harbor (NNS) -- Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet(COMSUBPAC) promoted the Navy's culture of fitness by hosting the 4th annual five kilometer St. Patrick's Day Fun Run on Ford Island, March 16.

Yeoman 1st Class Joshua Golden, COMSUBPAC assistant command fitness leader, was enthusiastic about the run.

"This is a great opportunity to break away from a normal exercise routine and get out and have some fun while enhancing physical fitness," said Golden. "This is also a great way to prepare Navy service members for the upcoming Physical Readiness Test."

More than 200 service members, DOD civilians, family and friends stationed on or around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam participated in the run which actually measured in at 5.47 kilometers. Cmdr. Patrick Clark, a member of the COMSUBPAC Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team, placed first overall with a time of 18:04 and Elizabeth Campbell, Team USS Hawaii, placed first for the female category with a time of 21:08.

"This is my 3rd time running the St. Patrick's Day Fun Run and definitely the most challenging," said Clark. "The amount of participants here today and their motivation shows the growing interest of leading a healthy lifestyle."

No matter what their time was, all registered participants were winners, receiving a commemorative "St. Patrick's Day Fun Run" T-shirt.

Physical readiness is one component of the Navy's 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative. The 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Department of the Navy.