CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (NNS) - Sailors assigned to USS Constitution will participate in New Orleans Navy Week, April 16-22.
New Orleans will serve as the inaugural city in a three-year national celebration commemorating the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner. The 2012 celebration will take place April 17 - 23, 2012, featuring a colorful spectacle of ships spreading on the East Bank of the Mississippi River from Erato Street to Upper Poland Avenue. Additionally, the Navy's famed Blue Angels will perform a memorable air show as part of the week's festivities.
CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (April 5, 2012) USS Constitution is moored to her pier at night in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year. (U.S. Navy photo by Sonar Technician (Submarine) 2nd Class Thomas Rooney/Released)
Sailors will kick off their participation with an interactive historical presentation at Bienville High School in Bienville, La. They will also share their experiences while serving aboard Constitution with Navy Week spectators during events at Gettysburg Pier and at an air show at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.
"Being able to tell the tale of how our Navy began, along with our own ship's history is such an honor," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Conrad Hunt, Constitution's Navy Week leading petty officer. "Especially since New Orleans Navy Week is the official kick-off of the War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration, a war in which Constitution performed victoriously."
NOLA Navy Week image
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. New Orleans Navy Week will showcase the mission, capabilities and achievements of the U.S. Navy and provide residents the opportunity to meet Sailors firsthand.
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. America's Navy: Keeping the sea free for more than 200 years.
Constitution's mission today is to offer community outreach and education about the ship's history. - USS Constitution Public Affairs, FMI: NOLA Navy Week