The U.S. Navy will drop anchor in the Connecticut River Valley this fall, launching the Hartford-Springfield region’s first-ever Navy Week from September 22–28.
Navy Weeks are community events, with 50 to 60 active-duty sailors from across the country engaging in outreach.
Connecticut River Valley Navy Week will take place during The Big E — New England’s multi-state fair — offering the Navy an opportunity to engage with thousands of visitors across the six-state region.
“The Connecticut River Valley has played a significant role in shaping our naval heritage — from shipbuilding along the Connecticut shoreline to the naval installations that have called New England home for generations,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, director of the Navy Office of Community Outreach. “Hosting Navy Week here during our yearlong 250th birthday festivities offers a meaningful opportunity to honor that legacy, strengthen our ties with the region, and engage with the vibrant communities throughout the Knowledge Corridor who continue to support and inspire our sailors today.”
Since its inception in 2005, the Navy Week program has visited more than 95 markets across the United States. The Hartford-Springfield area is expected to feature:
- Rear Adm. John Menoni, senior executive for Connecticut River Valley Navy Week;
- interactions with sailors serving aboard the USS Hartford (SSN-768), USS Connecticut (SSN 22) or the USS Springfield (SSN 761);
- live musical performances and masterclasses led by Navy musicians;
- interactive presentations and educational programs;
- demonstrations featuring the U.S.S. Constitution, the Navy’s oldest commissioned ship;
- community projects, displays, and career discussions;
- sailors representing a wide range of naval STEM capabilities, including hometown sailors.
For more details on Connecticut River Valley Navy Week, visit
https://outreach.navy.mil/navy-weeks/
