This would be the first Navy Week in Kansas City since 2015. The Navy Office of Community Outreach is working closely with community partners in Kansas City and is carefully monitoring guidance from public health officials to determine what events may be held in-person. Navy Weeks have been conducted virtually since the on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
If health conditions permit and in-person events can be accomplished safely, Kansas City Navy Week will feature live demonstrations, performances, and engagements throughout the week that may include:
- Senior Navy Leaders – Flag officer and senior civilian Navy leaders with ties to Kansas City and surrounding area
- Namesake Sailors – Sailors serving on USS Kansas City (LCS 22), an Independence-class littoral combat ship
- Hometown Heroes – In-person and virtual events featuring Kansas City natives serving in the Navy
- Navy Band Great Lakes - Virtual performances and masterclasses with Navy Musicians
- Blue Angels – Premiere Naval aviators in an airshow for Kansas City
- Navy Parachute Demonstration Team – Conversations and skydiving events with the Leap Frogs
- Naval History and Heritage Command – Educational presentations and lesson plans about the deep ties between Kansas City and the Navy
- USS Constitution – In-person Sailor demonstrations and live, virtual tours aboard the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Educational STEM presentations by technicians, medics, and divers
- Many other education-focused groups and events
Navy Weeks are the service’s signature outreach program, designed to give the citizens of Kansas City the opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people and its importance to national security and prosperity. Navy Weeks are coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO).
“The Navy is excited to reconnect with the people of Kansas City, and we are committed to doing so safely and responsibly,” said NAVCO’s director, Cmdr. John Fage. “Our Navy Week in Kansas City will allow us to show everyone what their Navy does for them and why having a strong Navy is critical to the American way of life. We are excited to continue connecting with the communities we belong to and serve and are looking forward to a great Navy Week.”
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, with over 250 Navy Weeks held in more than 80 different U.S. markets.
“During a Navy Week, we coordinate about 75 outreach events with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service and diversity organizations in the city,” said NAVCO Navy Week program manager Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Anderson. “The 2021 schedule is exciting for us. We’ll be in several brand-new markets, as well as returning to communities like Kansas City.”
For more information on 2021 Navy Weeks, visit http://outreach.navy.mil. For more information on Kansas City Navy Week, visit https://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks-2021/KansasCity/ or contact Mr. Isaiah Sellers at (901) 229-5631 or Isaiah.sellers1@navy.mil.