The Blue Star Mothers of America's Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico, Chapter Two welcomed senior Navy Week Albuquerque official Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer to their Troop Care Center, Sept. 14.

Sawyer, who currently serves as the deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, spent time with each chapter member learning more about their loved ones in the military.

"We are honored to have the admiral here," said Chapter Vice President Hiltrud Ridenour, who is also a Gold Star Mother. "It is a privilege that he took the time to visit and learn more about our organization and us."

Originally formed in 1942, Blue Star Mothers of America was founded as part of a national movement to provide care packages to military members serving overseas, and to assist families that encountered hardship as a result of their sons or husbands serving during times of war. Today, the Rio Grande Valley Chapter, which was chartered in 2004, welcomes mothers whose children serve in the military in any capacity, whether deployed or not, as well as fathers and other family members.

"We cannot do enough to honor our nation's military families," Sawyer said. "Your military, including your Navy, is out there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We take very seriously our charge to take care of your loved ones while they are in our care, and we greatly appreciate your sacrifice. Behind each of our Sailors is a family and a community."

The Rio Grande Valley Chapter stays busy throughout the year mailing active-duty military snack and toiletry boxes several times a year, welcomes home service members at the airport who are returning from deployment, donates to New Mexico veteran organizations, supports each other as Blue Star Mothers, supports Gold Star Mothers and supports VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) patients with visits and donations.

Navy Weeks provide area residents an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Events involve corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service, and diversity organizations throughout the city.

Albuquerque is one of 15 cities selected to host a Navy Week in 2016. Since 2005, Navy Weeks have served as the Navy's signature outreach effort into areas of the country without a robust naval presence, and has held more than 180 Navy Weeks in 68 different U.S. cities.

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

For more information about Navy Weeks, visit http://www.outreach.navy.mil.

For more information about the Blue Star Mothers of America, visit http://www.bluestarmothers.org.