Navy Week Austin came to a close this weekend as visiting U.S. Navy Sailors headed back to their commands after spending the week interacting with the people, local businesses and leaders of the city at numerous events and availabilities.

"I think it went phenomenally," said Cmdr. Raul Rios, commanding officer of Navy Operational Support Center Austin. "We were all able to participate with the community and show the people of Central Texas what the Navy has to offer since Texas, in general, provides a huge amount of Sailors."

The week began at the Thinkery, an evolution of the Children's Museum, on Saturday where Sailors assigned to the USS Constitution interacted with children of all ages, while Navy Band Southwest performed for visitors.

Vice Adm. Raquel C. Bono, Director, Defense Health Agency Medical Corps and the host flag officer for Austin Navy Week, threw out the first pitch at the University of Texas Longhorn's baseball game on Sunday.

Throughout the week, Bono met with corporate, civic, education and government leaders throughout the week in order to increase awareness of the Navy, its mission, and the importance of the Navy to the people of Austin.

"Austin is a center for technological entrepreneurship, and they're very big in the health and medical field," said Bono. "A lot of the work and research that's being done in the area in the different business sectors have a direct impact with where the Navy is trying to go."

Historically, Navy Week events draw thousands of attendees to participate and create a dialogue between Sailors and local residents. The events are designed to raise awareness about the Navy in areas that do not have a large naval presence.

Navy Weeks provide the unique opportunity to bring hometown Sailors back to the cities where they grew up, further strengthening the connection between the Navy and the Navy Week city.

"All of the community relations events that we participated in were definitely a highlight for us," said Rios. "Things like feeding the homeless, building gardens for the homeless, reading to children at libraries, wreath laying ceremonies and participating at the rodeo were all great ways in which the people of Austin could embrace Sailors in uniform."

Capt. Cassidy C. Norman, executive officer of aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Austin native, Lake Travis High School and University of Texas graduate, returned to his hometown to participate in several Navy Week events including high school visits, speaking with the Rotary of South Austin, swearing in future Sailors at Rodeo Austin and more.

"Austin is a very patriotic city," said Rios. "They supported us with open arms, which was great for our 250 local reservists."

Additionally, Sailors from fast-attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) and Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Austin were engaged with the community during the week. The Sailors volunteered with Caritas of Austin, Community First! Village, Central Texas Food Bank, local libraries, and several Boys and Girls Clubs.

Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians and divers from EOD Group 1 provided engaging, dynamic, hands-on displays.

Having formally ended on March 24, Navy Week Austin was the 2nd of 15 Navy Weeks scheduled in 2017 which focus a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel on a single city for a week-long series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.