Fort Worth Navy Week 2017 officially kicked off, Oct. 23, with a mayoral proclamation at Fort Worth's city hall.

Navy Week runs through Oct. 29, and is packed with events to give area residents an opportunity to meet Sailors and learn about the Navy's capabilities.

Navy Medicine and Education Training Command Commanding Officer Rear Adm. Rebecca J. McCormick-Boyle and Sailors from the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) were on hand at city hall to promote the event.

"We are very delighted to be here," said McCormick-Boyle. "There [are] a lot of members here and a lot of members that are closely affiliated with Texas... and so we are going to fan out throughout the city to say thank you for their warm welcome."

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price extended her warm welcome for the city of Fort Worth during the proclamation.

"It is very exciting to have you here to celebrate Navy Week because we truly value our partnership with our naval air station and certainly with our USS Forth Worth, and we're delighted you can be here with us," said Price.

Fort Worth is one of 15 Navy Weeks scheduled nationwide in 2017 and is designed to raise awareness about the Navy in areas that traditionally do not have a naval presence.

"The City of Fort Worth is grateful for the service of our troops and their dedication to protect America's freedom and liberty," said Price. "Therefore, the city of Fort Worth declares Oct. 23-29, 2017 as Navy Week in the city of Fort Worth."

Forth Worth Navy Week kicked off with a musical performance from Navy Band Southwest ceremony at the opening of the ArtsGoggle Music Festival, Oct. 21.

Throughout the week, Fort Worth locals will be able to meet with Sailors from USS Fort Worth, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 1, Navy flight demonstration squadron "The Blue Angels," U.S. Navy Parachute Team "The Leap Frogs," and Navy Band Southwest.

Navy Week programs serve as the principal outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, helping Americans understand that their Navy is deployed around the world, around the clock, and ready to defend America at all times

For more news from Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO), visit http://www.navy.mil and http://www.navy.mil/local/navco/.

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