The First Lady of New York City Mrs. Chirlane McCray met with flag officers and officer spouses for a round table discussion in the flag mess aboard the Wasp-class multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), as part of Fleet Week New York (FWNY), May 26.

Commissioner Loree Sutton of the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs, a former brigadier general in the United States Army, also took part in the open discussion.

McCray was given a tour by Bataan Commanding Officer Capt. John "J.C." Carter before the discussion began. The topic of the day was "Thrive NYC," a plan of action to guide the city toward a more effective and holistic system that outlines 54 initiatives to support the mental well-being of New Yorkers, with specific programs that will benefit veterans.

"I want to talk a little bit about the programs that we are directing specifically for veterans," said McCray. "We are creating supportive housing for homeless veterans because it is not acceptable that anyone that has served our country should be without housing."

She went on to outline details of two other programs that will assist veterans in the acquisition of services that they may need, as it pertains to mental and physical health issues that include holistic treatments. These programs will bring services to where veterans live and work, making it much easier to get the care they need, as well as guidance in navigating paperwork and requests for services.

Sutton praised the crew of Bataan for being gracious hosts, as well as the first lady of NYC and the Mayor of NYC Bill de Blasio, for the work that they are doing for veterans. As a 30-year veteran of the Army, the work the mayor does for the Office of Veterans Affairs means a lot to Sutton.

"It is such a privilege to serve on this team and in this city," Sutton explained. "We are excited being here and you having us on your ship and sharing your stories with us."

FWNY, now in its 28th year, is the city's time-honored celebration of the sea services. It is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. The week-long celebration has been held nearly every year since 1984.

For up-to-date information on all FWNY events, visit the official FWNY website at www.fleetweeknewyork.com, "Like" FleetWeekNewYork on Facebook, or "Follow" @FleetWeekNYC on Twitter.

FWNY photos can be viewed on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/fwnypao and Instagram at www.instagram.com/fleetweeknyc. Join the conversation on social media by using #FleetWeekNYC.

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

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