Texas' Cowtown will host sailors from USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), USS Constitution, Navy Band Southwest and the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team to celebrate Fort Worth Navy Week, Oct. 23-29.

The Navy Week, which features approximately 70 outreach events with the community, is scheduled to culminate with the Bell Helicopter Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Oct. 28 and 29, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

In addition, Rear Adm. Rebecca McCormick-Boyle, a 36-year veteran serving as Commander, Navy Medicine Education and Training Command in San Antonio, will act as the Navy Week's flag host and accept a Navy Week proclamation from Fort Worth's mayor, Betsy Price.

Throughout the week, McCormick-Boyle will meet with corporate, civic, education and government leaders in order to increase Navy awareness, its mission and the importance of the Navy. Capt. Jonathan R. Townsend, commanding officer, Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Joint Reserve Base will also engage with the community as part of this outreach effort.

Navy representatives plan to spend the week interacting with school children, local businesses, business leaders and the community at several events and performances throughout the city. The Navy Week program is designed to raise awareness about the Navy in areas that traditionally do not have a naval presence.

"Because the Navy is concentrated primarily on both coasts, we're challenged to communicate our mission away from fleet concentration areas," said John Wallach, Deputy Director, Navy Office of Community Outreach. "That's where the Navy Week program comes in."

Lt. j.g. Davis Anderson, lead planner for Fort Worth Navy Week, agreed, adding that "the central part of the country doesn't have regular access to the Navy. This Navy Week will allow us to canvas the city and help people understand their Navy's mission and capabilities."

The Leap Frogs will kick the outreach effort off Saturday, Oct. 21, with a jump at the Texas Christian University game against University of Kansas Jayhawks, and Sunday at the FC Dallas Soccer game at Toyota Stadium. The Leap Frogs will continue their week with four additional jumps at local schools, parks and Boys & Girls clubs.

Navy Band Southwest will play free performances across the city, at schools, city libraries and community events, including performances Oct. 21, at the ArtsGoggle Music Festival at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Sailors dressed in uniforms from 1812, assigned to USS Constitution, otherwise known as "Old Ironsides," and Sailors from USS Fort Worth will entertain and inform students and answer questions about life aboard both ships.

Additionally, Sailors from Navy Recruiting District Dallas, the Ceremonial Guard Drill Team, the Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) technicians and divers, and DoD civilians from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory will also participate in the week-long celebration with visits to schools and Boys & Girls Clubs. They will also contribute to a Habitat for Humanity project and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) displays.

Fort Worth Navy Week is one of only 15 Navy Weeks in 2017 which focus a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel on a single city for a weeklong 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

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