BUFFALO – Weighing in at over 3,400 tons, and measuring 389 feet long, 57.5 feet wide, the USS Little Rock LCS 9, one of the newest US Navy ships, will make her way to Canalside for
an official commissioning ceremony in spring of 2017.
The ceremony marks the time when a new ship officially enters the US Navy fleet. LCS 9 and her crew are expected to be in Buffalo for a week-long celebration culminating with the official commissioning ceremony and gala.
A local Commissioning Committee, led by Maurice L. Naylon III, was established in November 2015 as a special committee under the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation, Inc. – a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The USS Little Rock LCS 9 Commissioning Committee is a non-federal entity and not part of the Department of Defense or Department of the Navy.
The Committee is an all-volunteer effort responsible for the oversight and organization of activities in support of the Commissioning Ceremony. In addition to organizing, managing, funding and producing the activities and events for the Commissioning week, the Committee is charged with raising money to fund a number of scholarships and initiatives. Net proceeds will benefit scholarships for students in our community as well as provide financial support for the decommissioned USS Little Rock on permanent display at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park at Canalside.
“The mission of our committee is to pull-together a first class event – something fitting of the historical significance of this commissioning.” commented Naylon. “We also have the responsibility of raising money to fund initiatives that will honor and preserve the legacy of both ships that carry the name USS Little Rock.”
“While Buffalo has the privilege of hosting this great ship, her crew and her officers, we tip our hat to the great people of Little Rock Arkansas who are supporting this event and will share in the pride we feel in the commissioning of the new USS Little Rock LCS 9.
The event is historic for LCS 9, her crew, the Navy and all of Buffalo and Western New York as this will be the first time in the 240-year US Navy history, that a new ship is commissioned alongside her namesake.
The original USS Little Rock, was in service from August 27, 1944 until her decommissioning in November 1976. It is the only remaining Cleveland class ships and is now on permanent display at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park at Canalside.
Buffalo was selected as the host city for the Commissioning of the new USS Little Rock (LCS 9) in August. The new USS Little Rock (LCS 9) is a littoral combat ship. The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program is a bold departure from traditional Navy shipbuilding programs based on its use of innovative acquisition, construction, manning, training and operational concepts. These lighter, faster and technologically advanced warships are designed to operate in close to shore environments.
More information the USS Little Rock LCS 9 Commissioning Committee can be found at
www.usslittlerocklcs9.org. More information on the US Navy LCS ships can be found at
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1650&ct=4.
