Pennsylvania's "Steel City" is scheduled to host members of the U.S. Navy during Pittsburgh Navy Week, Jun. 19-25, a week-long series of community outreach events.

During Pittsburgh Navy Week, Vice Adm. Forrest Faison, Surgeon General, and Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, along with Rear Adm. Jeffrey Hughes, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, will receive proclamations from Pittsburgh's Mayor and city council. They will also meet with corporate, civic, education and government leaders throughout the week in an effort to increase awareness of the Navy, its mission and the importance of the Navy to the people of Pittsburgh.

"It is an honor to present a Proclamation from Pittsburgh City Council declaring June 19-25 "Navy Week" in the City of Pittsburgh," said City Councilman Corey O'Connor. "Pittsburgh's young residents can reap so many benefits from this great opportunity to interact with Navy personnel at the eight Boys and Girls Clubs in Western PA and at the Carnegie Science Center's Navy Stem Days."

The events and special programs that will take place throughout Pittsburgh are the culmination of planning and preparation over many months by the Navy Office of Community Outreach and Pittsburgh community leaders.

"As with all Navy weeks, we hope to offer the Pittsburgh community an opportunity to see their Navy and foster the relationship between the community and the Navy," said Gary Ross, lead planner of Pittsburgh Navy Week. "Our ability to come to Pittsburgh with a wide variety of Sailors from different career backgrounds allows us to really educate the people of Pittsburgh on what their Navy does on a daily basis."

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.

One major highlight event during Pittsburgh Navy Week is when Rear Adm. Jeffrey Hughes and sailors from USS Pittsburgh, HM-15, and Explosive Ordnance and Disposal Group 2 (EODGRU 2) visit the Carnegie Science Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Navy Day.

Additionally, sailors will visit 8 different Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the week in the Pittsburgh area.

Citizens of Pittsburgh will have several opportunities to interact with sailors during the week including live band performances at the Steel Plaza, the Market Square, and the Point State Park.

"We always enjoy going out and representing our sailors in the Navy," said Musician 2nd Class Leeland Rothrock. "We really find it rewarding to put smiles on people's faces, knowing that sometimes we are the first sailors people meet, and that we are providing a positive impression on them in regards to what our shipmates do for their country."

Pittsburgh Navy Week is the 6th of 15 Navy Weeks in 2017 that 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 and a full schedule of events, visit www.outreach.navy.mil.

For more news, visit
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For more news from Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO), visit www.navy.mil/.