Navy Week Sets Sail for the Heartland: Kansas City Edition

Kansas City is set to host Navy Week, a significant event highlighting the integral role of the Navy in Missouri, Kansas, and nationwide. More than 50 sailors will engage in various educational and community activities across the city, emphasizing the Navy’s importance to the region.

Several key Navy organizations will participate in this event, including the Navy Band Great Lakes, USS Constitution, and the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. Additional groups such as the Navy Talent Acquisition Group Mid-America and the Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Two are also involved, offering insights into their diverse operations.

Rear Admiral Larry Watkins, a seasoned naval officer with a background in economics and a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, leads the efforts. Throughout the week, Rear Adm. Watkins will engage with local educational, business, and civic leaders, fostering relationships and discussions on national security matters.

Navy Week initiatives, coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach, aim to connect Americans with the Navy’s mission and significance. Since its inception in 2005, the program has provided those in non-coastal areas, like Kansas City, with a tangible connection to naval endeavors.

Cmdr. Julie Holland of NAVCO expressed enthusiasm about the event, noting, “Sailors embody the strength and spirit of America’s Navy. Their presence in Kansas City will reinforce our legacy of excellence from the seas to cyberspace.”

The week features various activities, from ceremonial engagements at the Harry S. Truman Museum to volunteer efforts with Habitat for Humanity. The public can also enjoy performances by the Navy Band Great Lakes at multiple locations, offering a unique cultural experience.

Concluding the series of 15 Navy Weeks for the year, Kansas City Navy Week wraps up the Navy’s engagement calendar, reaching millions of Americans annually through outreach and community involvement.

Media representatives are encouraged to contact Ensign Lamar Badger for coverage opportunities of the week’s events.