The Hostess City is ready to roll out the red carpet for its first-ever Navy Week March 14-20, in conjunction with the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Festival.

Savannah Navy Week brings sailors from across the U.S. Navy fleet to the area to emphasize the importance of this branch of the military to Savannah, the state of Georgia, and the entire nation.

Participating Navy organizations include Navy Band Southeast, Underwater Construction Team 1, USS Constitution, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (METOC), United States Ceremonial Guard, Navy Operational Support Command (NOSC) Augusta, Naval Information Operations Command (NIOC) Georgia, Navy Recruiting Command, Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Jacksonville, Navy History and Heritage Command, the nuclear-power Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729), and the recently commissioned Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Savannah (LCS 28).

More than 75 Sailors will participate in education and community outreach events throughout the city, including the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 

All participating commands will follow DOD, CDC, state, and local guidelines for safety during the current pandemic.

However, the most exciting news for the city is the Navy’s senior executive host is Rear Admiral Susan BryerJoyner, Navy Enterprise Networks and Cybersecurity Division Director. 

Rear Adm. BryerJoyner is a native of Savannah and a graduate of Hershel V. Jenkins High School. 

While in town for Savannah Navy Week, the Rear Adm. will participate in community engagements, meeting with students, and speaking with local businesses, civic, education, and government leaders.

“I am excited to represent the United States Navy while engaging with the city of Savannah,” said BryerJoyner. 

In fact, BryerJoyner will ride as an honored guest in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, preceded by an escort from the Jenkins High School band.

“My experience growing up in Savannah instilled a sense of responsibility, confidence, and deep appreciation for the strength of diversity that has fueled my service to the Nation. I am honored to come home and talk about how the Navy shares the values I learned growing up and the drive to serve and succeed, which I learned as a student at Hershel V. Jenkins.”

Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its personnel, and its importance to national security and prosperity. 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, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Savannah.

“We are excited to bring Navy Week to Savannah,” said NAVCO’s director, Cmdr. John Fage. “Navy Weeks gives us the opportunity to help connect Americans to their Navy. We are looking forward to safely and responsibly building those connections in the Savannah area and showing everyone why their Navy is so important.”

Throughout the week, sailors will participate in various community events across the area, including engaging with students across multiple high schools and volunteering for the city of Savannah, the Salvation Army, Frank Cullen Boys and Girls Club, America’s Second Harvest, and Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity.

Residents will also enjoy free live music by Navy Band Southeast at venues throughout the week, as well as seeing them march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

This article appears in Mar 16-22, 2022.