USS Constitution Sailors Participate in Houston Navy Week

CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to USS Constitution kicked off their participation in Houston Navy Week, Oct. 22-29.

Constitution Sailors are scheduled to help at the Houston Food Bank and Ronald McDonald House and give U.S. Navy history presentations at Lanier Middle School, Spring High School and Kingwood High School.

"We are excited to be able to visit Houston as part of Navy Week," said Cmdr. Matthew Bonner, Constitution's 72nd commanding officer. "We are able to share the ship's rich history with another part of the country as well as explain what the Navy does today. Navy Weeks also provide our Sailors a chance to give back to the community through various support projects and education outreach."

Houston Navy Week will be held in conjunction with the Blue Angels Airshow, Oct. 27. Constitution Sailors will meet and greet spectators at the airshow. They'll also greet spectators at a Rice University football game on the same day.

"It's exciting to take the history of Constitution and our Navy to students who might not have the opportunity to ever see our ship or a Sailor," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Christopher Haws. "The positive message that Navy Weeks provide is a valuable part of promoting who we are as Sailors."

Houston Navy Week will include performances by the "Leap Frogs," The Navy Parachute Team and Navy Band.

"I'm excited to get to work and be part of this inspiring week in Houston," said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Keith Murray. "Volunteering at the food bank and Ronald McDonald House are two of the things I'm looking forward to most."

This is the last of eight Navy Weeks Constitution Sailors are scheduled to participate in 2012. 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. Houston 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.

For more news from USS Constitution, visit www.navy.mil/local/constitution/.