By Lt. Javan Rasnake

Director, Knoxville Navy Week

 

After seven years, Knoxville will again host a Navy Week celebration from April 11-17th. Navy Week recognizes the sailors who serve our country and the communities that support them. Through a series of events including a Navy Week proclamation from Mayor Rogero on Market Square, a Navy Night with the Tennessee Smokies and Tennessee Vols baseball, Navy Band musical performances, and other fun events, area residents will have the opportunity to meet and interact with Navy sailors, learn about the Navy’s broad-ranging capabilities and its critical 21st century mission of protecting and defending the American homeland with state-of-the-art ships, submarines, and aircraft.

 

Rear Admiral Terry Moulton, the Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy, Tennessean, and the host of Knoxville Navy Week, will participate in various ceremonies and meetings throughout the week.

 

On Monday, April 11th at noon, in a public event at Market Square in Knoxville, the Mayor will proclaim April 11-17 as Navy Week in Knoxville. The U.S. Navy Band will provide patriotic music for the event and Lt. Cmdr. Jeremy Farmer, the Commander of the Knoxville Navy Reserve Center, will accept the proclamation on behalf of the Navy.

 

On the evening of April 12th, the U.S. Navy will join Tennessee Vols baseball to celebrate a Navy Night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Rear Admiral Moulton will throw out the first pitch, a Navy Color Guard will provide the colors, and the Navy Band will be present to provide musical accompaniment.

 

The Blue Angels and the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team will be performing at the airshow on Saturday and Sunday April 15th and 16th. The Leap Frogs will be parachuting in to Neyland Stadium to kick off the annual Orange vs. White Vols football spring scrimmage game at 2 PM on Saturday April 15th.

 

Crewmembers from the USS Tennessee will participate in community service projects around the city, including working on a Habitat for Humanity house and reading to preschoolers.

 

The full schedule of events for all 2016 Navy Weeks is listed on the Navy Outreach website. For more information on Knoxville navy Week go to http://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Knoxville , or tweet @NavyOutreach.