A C-2A Greyhound, attached to the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 approaches to land on USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck Jan. 29, 2021. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jackson Adkins)
To help Americans stay connected to their Navy while staying safe at home, the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) will bring a virtual Navy Week to Orlando, Florida, Apr. 12-18.
Held in lieu of an in-person event, the virtual Navy Week will mark the first time since 2009 that a Navy Week has been held in Orlando.
A member of the United States Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, exits the aircraft to conduct a demonstration jump on the 4th of July. The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations around the nation in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting. (U.S. Navy photo by James Woods)
The Navy will provide content to the local communities of Orlando looking for fun and engaging content to include band performances, Navy history reviews relevant to Central Florida and STEM subjects, which are a part of Navy operations. Engagements will include live events on social media, demonstrations, interviews, and local media coverage of:
Senior Navy Leadership – Rear Adm. Robert Gaucher, director, Maritime Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Fleet, will receive proclamations from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Mayor of Orlando Buddy Dyer, as well as enlist several future Sailors from the community into the Navy- Local Sailors – Videos and events with Sailors from the Orlando area, including Naval Support Activity Orlando and Naval Operational Support Center Orlando
- Hometown Heroes – Videos featuring Orlando and Florida natives serving in the Navy around the world
- Navy Band Southeast – Virtual performances, Sailor spotlights, and masterclasses with Navy
Musicians - Naval History and Heritage Command –Educational explorations of Orlando’s Navy history with the
Naval Aviation Museum, Florida’s artifacts with underwater archaeologists, and interviews with
historians - USS Constitution – Live, virtual tours aboard the oldest commissioned ship in the world
- Navy Parachute Demonstration Team – Conversations and skydiving events with the Leap Frogs
- Many other fun and educational groups and events!
Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about their Navy, its people and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at the Navy the nation needs.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the “Flying Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, launches from USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck March 9, 2021. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Melvin)
Orlando is the first Navy Week in 2021. By going virtual, the Navy is able to work with its great network of Navy partners to provide opportunities to interact with the Navy in live-streamed events, interviews and videos.
The full schedule of events will be available on https://outreach.navy.mil/Virtual-Outreach/ and https://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks-2021/Orlando/, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NavyOutreach.
Here’s what you can expect at the Orlando virtual Navy Week:
+ Watch video messages from Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer today at noon (April 12) officially kicking off #NavyWeek.
+ Lake Eola Fountain will be lit BLUE in honor of Navy Week this evening (April 12).
+ Take a tour of the USS Constitution today at 1:00 p.m. (April 12) and go behind-the-scenes during the Evening Colors for Orlando presentation tomorrow at 7:22 p.m. (April 13)
+ Join a conversation featuring top Women in Navy Tech for a panel discussion on achieving success in the male-dominated tech industry and STEM fields on April 14 at 10 a.m.
+ Enjoy Navy Band Southeast’s performance of the “Mr. Rogers Medley” by the late Fred Rogers on April 14 at 12:45 p.m.
+ Where are they now? Tune in to learn more about Navy Sailors from Orlando throughout the week and hear how they’re using their talents as a member of the U.S. Navy.
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
