Fifteen crew members from the future USS Little Rock (LCS 9), visited their namesake Arkansas city in mid-June to participate in Flag Day events and get to know the area and its citizens.

The visit marked the first time many of the Freedom-class littoral combat ship's (LCS) crew visited the city of Little Rock. Led by the commanding officer of LCS Crew 109, Cmdr. Todd Peters, and Command Master Chief Joseph Reynolds, the group included four officers and 11 enlisted who got to experience and appreciate the city their ship will soon represent.

"This trip was so special because we were able to bring so many members of the crew to the ship's namesake city for the first time," said Peters. "It provided the opportunity for our Sailors to enhance our relationship with the city of Little Rock."

The team began their trip by climbing a local mountain to view the Arkansas countryside and nearby rivers from 1000 feet. During their five-day visit, the crew toured a couple local museums including the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, birthplace of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and Little Rock Central High School, famous as a political pillar for the integration of public high schools following the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling.

At the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, the Sailors were proud to learn about the city's significant Naval history. The USS Razorback (SSN 394) and the USS Hoga (YT 146) both sit in the Arkansas River, in the heart of downtown Little Rock.

"Nowhere else in America can you stand in one place and see the bookends of World War II afloat," revealed commissioning committee member and Little Rock local, John Gill. He explained that the Hoga was present in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked and the USS Razorback was moored in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese officially surrendered.

While at the Maritime Museum, engineering department members of the visiting crew joined retired submariners to fire off the engines of the World War II submarine.

"Getting to see the retired submarine come back to life was the highlight of the trip," said Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Burch, a gas turbine systems technician. "The next engine I'll be working on will be onboard the USS Little Rock as we take her out to sea for the first time."

Led by Boatswain's Mate Chief Eon Hyles, they also helped with a community service project in repainting the Hoga's deck.

The crew took some time for physical fitness when they visited a few local summer camps for middle and elementary school students. There, the Sailors played basketball and ran relay races with the kids and answered questions the students had about the Navy and the future USS Little Rock.

At a quieter event, the Sailors toured the impressive facilities at Arkansas State Veterans Home in North Little Rock and visited with many retired military members. They met more local families during the city's annual Flag Day celebration.

"The people of the city showed us incredible hospitality as they welcomed us into the city and our Sailors are prouder than ever to be a part of Little Rock," concluded Peters.

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