Sailors Assigned to USS Constitution Kick Off Participation in Buffalo Navy Week

Sailors assigned to USS Constitution kicked off their participation in Buffalo Navy Week as part of the bicentennial of the War of 1812 commemoration taking place in Buffalo, N.Y., Sept. 10-17.

Constitution Sailors are scheduled to participate in community service projects, perform War of 1812-era gun drills and 17th century boarding pike drills daily at Central Wharf, and will serve as color guard details at five events, including a Buffalo Bills football game.

“We are excited to be able to commemorate the War of 1812 as part of Buffalo Navy Week,” said Cmdr. Matthew Bonner, Constitution’s 72nd commanding officer. “We are able to talk about the role Constitution played not only in its battles at sea, but also about its Sailors who travelled overland from Boston with cannons to support Commodore Perry during the battles on Lake Erie.”

Sailors are also scheduled to help with multiple Habitat for Humanity builds, and sort food at Food Bank of WNY. Additionally, Sailors will teach early U.S. Navy history at West Elementary School to more than 100 students.

“I hope that while in Buffalo we can make an impact on the people we encounter,” said Personnel Specialist 1st Class (AW) James Choyce. “We hope to instill a sense of pride in their Navy, and we hope they can walk away with an increased knowledge of not only what their Navy is doing today, but what their Navy has been doing for over 200 years.”

This is the seventh of eight Navy Weeks Constitution Sailors are scheduled to participate in throughout 2012. Buffalo Navy Week will commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and The Star Spangled Banner with U.S. Navy ship visits, and special events recognizing America’s Navy for keeping the sea free for more than 200 years.

The primary purpose of Navy Week is to increase Navy awareness by presenting the Navy to Americans who live in cities that normally do not have a significant naval presence. Buffalo Navy Week will showcase the mission, capabilities and achievements of the U.S. Navy and provide residents the opportunity to meet Sailors firsthand.

Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year. She defended the sea lanes against threat from 1797 to 1855, much like the mission of today’s Navy.

Constitution’s mission today is to offer community outreach and education about the ship’s history.

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Naval Today Staff, September 11, 2012; Image: US Navy