New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu officially welcomed leaders, commanders, and commanding officers from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, the French navy, and the Canadian navy during a welcoming ceremony to Navy Week New Orleans at the Port of New Orleans, April 20.

The event officially kicked off Navy Week New Orleans and highlighted the "Big Easy's" tricentennial celebration. Landrieu and Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, commander, Navy Region Southeast, provided short remarks during the welcoming ceremony.

"On behalf of all the service men and women here for Navy Week New Orleans, I would like to express how excited and honored we are to be in the Crescent City today - and for the next week - to help you highlight New Orleans' tercentennial," Bolivar said.

Navy Week New Orleans welcomed armed forces spanning the globe to help ring in the city's tricentennial celebration.

"We want to thank your commitment to the United States of America and your commitment to the City of New Orleans as an international city," said Landrieu. "God bless you all and we want to thank you for helping us celebrate our birthday."

The weeklong celebration offers an opportunity for local residents and visitors to the area of New Orleans to interact with Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen during a week-long series of community outreach events.

"We in uniform are looking forward to providing the citizens of this historic city, some insight into what their armed forces are all about," Bolivar said. "The public will get a firsthand look, up close, at the outstanding young men and women of the military and see just what these great Americans do to defend our country."

New Orleans Navy Week features the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), from Norfolk; the HMCS Charlottetown (FF339) from Hailfax, Nova Scotia; French ship La Resolue from Degrad Des-Cannes, French Guiana; as well as two US Coast Guard Ships, the USCGC Cypress (WLB 10) from Pensacola, Fla. and the USCG Benjamin Dailey (WPC 1123) from Pascagoula, Mississippi. Participating ships will also offer tours to the public throughout the week.



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

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Southeast, visit www.navy.mil/.