Crewmembers of the USS Little Rock will visit the ship's namesake city beginning today.
The Freedom-class littoral combat ship's commanding officer, Cmdr. Todd Peters, and his crew will participate in community service projects, tour museums, visit the state Capitol and meet various dignitaries, including the governor and civic and business leaders, during a four-day visit. One of the crewmen of the USS Little Rock is Lt. j.g. Robert Dyer, a native of Mountainburg in Northwest Arkansas.
On Sunday, the crew will participate in Flag Day ceremonies at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., in MacArthur Park, Little Rock, greeting arrivals beginning at 5:30 p.m. and attending the 7 p.m. Stars and Stripes Celebration for Flag Day event on the museum's back lawn.
The crew will participate in a community service project at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum in North Little Rock with the USS Razorback at 1 p.m. Monday. There, sailors will assist in firing up the engines of the still-functioning World War II submarine.
The USS Little Rock's home port will be in Mayport, Fla., was christened on July 18, 2015, by ship sponsor Janee Bonner in Marionette, Wis., according to the U.S. Navy. It is scheduled to be commissioned in September.
The Navy's littoral-class warships are designed to operate close to shore.
Metro on 06/10/2017