The guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) weighed anchor Aug. 5, from Rockland Harbor following a five-day visit to Rockland, Maine and its 71st annual Maine Lobster Festival.

Each year, Rockland hosts the festival celebrating the important cultural and economic impact that lobster has had on the state and the entire region.

While there, the crew of roughly 300 Sailors enjoyed all the lobster they could eat and participated in the festival’s many activities, including the Maine Sea Goddess coronation and parade.

“It was a pleasure to visit Rockland and to represent the Navy at this year’s Lobster Festival,” said Capt. Jake Douglas, Hue City commanding officer. “The citizens of Rockland welcomed us into their community and were gracious hosts for the week.”

In addition to participating in the festival, Hue City Sailors enjoyed giving back through community relations projects. At the festival, nearly 50 Sailors totaled more than 200 volunteered hours helping to cook, clean, and serve lobster to the thousands of guests each day, while off the festival ground, Sailors visited the Knox Center, a long term care facility for veterans.

“Sailors giving back to the communities they visit is what makes these port visits special,” added Douglas. “It’s a small way to say thank you to our hosts and it’s great to see Sailors not only enjoying the festival, but helping make it happen.”

Additionally, the Hue City crew also hosted more than 600 visitors each day for public tours of their ship, offering the unique chance to see what life aboard a Naval warship is all about.

Commissioned Sept. 14, 1991, USS Hue City is homeported in Mayport, Fla. The cruiser is named after the Battle of Hué fought during the Tet Offensive of 1968 by the 1st and 5th Marine Regiments.

Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.