The Florida Aquarium held a Navy Day for visitors to learn first-hand about their Navy May 8th during Tampa Bay Navy Week.

At the event, Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2, Navy Band Southeast, guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72), "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, the Naval Oceanographic Office and others were able to interact with visitors of all ages.

"I feel like this experience offers me and my family a good chance to bond together," said Camillo Juncal, a Tampa native. "I think it's really awesome, entertaining and interesting that they're in there diving with the sharks. I personally wouldn't do it but I know the kids love it."

Navy Week kicked off on May 7th with a ceremony aboard the S.S. American Victory. Sailors from all over the country came out in support of the event.

"We're excited to be down here engaging with the local community," said Cmdr. Jason Wilson, commanding officer of Mahan. "This is a great opportunity for my Sailors to show the good people of Tampa that we're the Navy the nation needs."

Navy Day at the aquarium is one of many events that have happened in the first two days of the Tampa Bay Navy Week. Sailors have had many opportunities thus far to interact with the local community and teach them about the Navy as well as work on projects that give back to the community and even serve other Sailors.

"Packing care packages for Molly's Adopt a Sailor has probably been my favorite part so far," said Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) Fireman Ciara Neikens, from St. Petersburg, Florida, assigned to Mahan. "It was exciting to do because I knew someone was going to get that and it will really help them out on deployment. I like talking with the kids and interacting with them a lot too because it makes you forget about all of the things that become mundane."

Molly's Adopt a Sailor is a program that supports deployed Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and Airmen by the way of cards, letters and care packages filled with necessities. The organization began in 2008 and has grown to include hundreds of supporters since.

Over 125 events will take place during from May 7th-13th all across the Tampa Bay area, to include the Blue Angels and the Leap Frogs parachute team during the MacDill Airfest May 12th and 13th.

For more information on Tampa Bay Navy Week, please visit http://www.outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Tampa/.

For more information on Molly's Adopt a Sailor program, please visit http://mollysadoptasailor.com.

To view photographs from the week's events, please visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/navyoutreach/?
.