Buffalo... a Winning City!
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for allowing us to use their Canalside venue for the Upon reflection, my only regret was that given time Commissioning. Special thanks to Jon Dandes and constraints, we were not able to accommodate all of the BUFFALO... his great team at Be Our Guest, Ltd. They had only veterans and their families who had requested a tour of 60 days to prepare for the Commissioning and had the ship; the crew simply did not have the capability to A WINNING CITY! to be sensitive to all of the Navy’s security needs. honor every request and for that I am sorry. Adding to Be Our Guest’s challenges was the Let me close by saying that the Commissioning of the need to complete the site work for the USS Little Rock (LCS 9) was a grand event that was World Junior Hockey Tournament My understanding is that, in 2017, the only embraced by all Buffalonians. It truly was a wonderful which commenced a short two Buffalo has just Commissioning with attendance exceeding “feel good” moment for the entire community. In a days after the USS Little Rock ours was for the aircraft carrier USS word, “Buffalo was talkin’ proud!” completed the hosting (LCS 9) departed. Be Our Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), an event that So, thank you Buffalo, for a job well done! We made of a unique and Guest handled all of took place in Norfolk, Virginia and many friends throughout the proceedings and now the details with historic event. was attended by the President of the even more folks understand that unique “thing” that calm and cool On 16 December 2017, the USS Little Rock (LCS 9) United States. makes Buffalo such a wonderful place to live, work and professionalism; was commissioned at Canalside. This marked the raise families. Buffalo’s corporate community, that first time in the Navy’s 242-year history that a ship was Happy New Year to all! including companies like Try- professionalism commissioned beside her namesake ship. It Distributing, American made our job much The 17 days that surrounded the event all worked to Demolition and Nuclear easier than it would have define Buffalo as a warm, gracious and welcoming Decommissioning, Delaware North otherwise been. port. It also helped to define Buffalo as a city that and Moog, among many others, The Erie County Sheriff’s games, Buffalo’s news media did a fabulous job of telling Maurice L. Naylon III can stand tall while operating on a national stage. I were generous in their support and gracious with their Office, led by Sheriff Tim Howard, provided, among the Pegula organization the story before, during and after the 17-day event. would like to thank Mayor Byron W. Brown for his hospitality. Individual patrons were very generous in other things, an escort for the Sailors as they made Chairman, USS Little Rock (LCS 9) graciously allowed us to stage our post- Collectively, the media communicated to the public steady and unwavering support from the earliest support of the Commissioning as well, and, in true their way to New Era Field. Commissioning Committee Commissioning Reception in the hospitality building what a truly remarkable event took place in our days of planning through the days leading up to and Buffalo fashion, chose anonymity over recognition. that was being constructed for the World Junior I would be remiss if I did not mention Thomas Dee hometown. including the Commissioning. In addition, The Buffalo Colvin Cleaners provided dry cleaning services for the Hockey Tournament. This saved the Navy a good deal and the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Renaissance Foundation, Inc. provided the committee’s Sailors and David Beaton’s Tim Hortons operations of money and provided a better enclosure than would initial funding, once Buffalo had been chosen as kept the Sailors well provisioned with coffee and have otherwise been constructed. the commissioning site. BRF’s generous financial donuts. CORPORATE & COMMUNITY PARTNERS Another highlight included a Gold Star Mothers’ and administrative support set the stage for a most Abbey Mecca & Company Buffalo’s Best Flowers Gibbs & Cox, Inc. National Society Daughters of the Resetarits Construction Corp. The Sailors of the Blue and Gold crews enjoyed many Luncheon, hosted by the Katharine Pratt Horton American Revolution successful event. Abino Mills Buffalo Seminary Georgetown Square Wine & Liquor Rolls Royce events during their time in Buffalo. The festivities Naval Operations Support Center Buffalo Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Ace Flag Company Business First of Buffalo Hale Expo Services Buffalo Heidi Anne Raphael Our Committee also benefited from the support of commenced with a viewing of the Army - Navy Game at Acquest Development, LLC Buxton Machine and Tool Hodgson Russ, LLP Navy League of the United States, Mr. Arthur A. Russ, Jr. (DAR). The National Society DAR also hosted the Company, Inc. American Demolition and Nuclear Hunt Charitable Foundation Niagara Frontier Council Savarino Companies many federal, state and local elected officials including Buffalo RiverWorks. Despite the final score, the Sailors Decommissioning, Inc. Calspan Corporation Sponsor’s Luncheon which was held aboard the USS Hyde Family Foundation CAPT Maurice L. Naylon IV, USMC Schneider Architectural Services Amigone Funeral Home Cellino & Barnes Lt. Governor Hochul. Congressmen Higgins and had a wonderful time. Little Rock (LCS 9); their generosity and enthusiastic CAPT Louis W. Irmisch, MC, USN New Era Cap Seed Super Store Anderson’s Frozen Custard Chef’s Restaurant (Ret.) New York State Organization, Collins, New York State Senators Gallivan, Jacobs and Steel Crazy Iron Art Other events included the Officer’s Welcome at the support were greatly appreciated! ASRC Federal Mission Solutions City of Little Rock Commissioning Keller Technology Corporation Daughters of the American Committee Revolution (NYSDAR) Gerald Sufrin, MD Kennedy and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. Association of the United States KeyBank Buffalo Harbor Museum; the Crew Reception at Pearl Commander Todd D. Peters, Commanding Officer, Navy, Western New York Chapter Colby Development, LLC Niagara Frontier Transportation Mary L. Turkiewicz, M.D. Kenneth L. and Katherine G. Authority (NFTA) BAE Systems Colvin Cleaners, Inc. Koessler Family Foundation, Inc. The Financial Architects, LLC As the Chairman for the commissioning event, I Street Grill and Brewery; the Commanding Officer’s made it clear that he wanted all of the Sailors to be out Niagara Lubricant Company, Inc. Barrantys LLC CTBK - Chiampou Travis Besaw & Mr. and Mrs. Mark B. Kostrzewski Tim Hortons (Kelton Enterprises, have received many accolades and much praise for Reception at the Marquis de Lafayette Ballroom, Kershner LLP Nickel City Tours, LLC. LLC) in the community during their time in Buffalo. Trips Basil Family Dealerships Krepe Kraft LT Howard D. Curlett III, USNR North American Breweries/Labatt Troopster Military Care Packages which I am most appreciative. The accolades and catered by the incomparable Molly Koessler; and the to the Food Bank of Western New York and work with Be Our Guest, Ltd. CAPT Charles F. Kreiner, Jr., USN USA Dave Smith Ford (Ret.) Try-It Distributing Company, Inc. Big Ditch Brewing Company William E. Nowakowski, Esq. praise are more aptly directed to my extraordinary Chairman’s Reception held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Habitat for Humanity helped to accomplish that goal. D & F Travel, Inc. La Nova Pizzeria U & S Services Brody & Korman, PLLC NTC Marketing, Inc. John W. Danforth Company Lawley Insurance Uniland Development Company Commissioning Committee, the USS Little Rock All of the venues were spectacular! Sailors also paid visits to the new Oishei Children’s Buffalo Business First SKC John P. Nusbaum, USN (Ret.) Delaware North Lockheed Martin Mission Systems USS Little Rock Association (LCS 9)’s Blue and Gold crews and my wonderful fellow Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Training Osteria 166 The Sailors also had the opportunity to be a part of Hospital and to both the Batavia and Buffalo Veterans’ & Military Park Demakos Foundation Van Taylor Production Carl J. Paladino Thomas A. Lombardo, Jr., M.D. Visit Buffalo Niagara Buffalonians who so enthusiastically embraced the Hospitals. Buffalo Fire Department Dennis J. Bischof, LLC history by attending the Bills / Colts “Snow Bowl”. In Lothrop Associates LLP Architects Mr. David B. Pfaff Buffalo Harbor Museum Dough Bois Pizzeria Wanakah Country Club Commissioning. In addition to making all the Sailors Made in America Store Pearl Street Grill & Brewery addition, many of the Sailors attended a Sabres game As with every other detail, our local law enforcement Buffalo News Dunn Tire, LLC West Herr Automotive Group Pegula Sports and Entertainment feel so welcome during their time in Buffalo, over Maid of the Mist Corporation We Care Transportation during their stay. Kim and Terry Pegula and the team Buffalo Police Department Entercom (Buffalo Bills & Buffalo Sabres) agencies did a wonderful job throughout the event. Peter S. Marlette, Esq. 9,000 hardy Buffalonians braved the cold and snow to Buffalo Renaissance Foundation, Erie County Sheriff Department Pointman William K’s at Pegula Sports and Entertainment were remarkable Inc. CAPT Wayne W. Mertz, USN (Ret.) The Buffalo Police were on hand, braving the elements Fincantieri Marinette Marine Raytheon Integrated Defense Xylem, Inc. actually attend the Commissioning. The rule of thumb Buffalo RiverWorks Moog, Inc. Systems in their support of our Sailors and are to be warmly and spearheading security throughout the ship’s time Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 23 is that two-thirds of ticketholders normally attend. Not commended. In addition to the Bills and Sabres in port. so with Buffalonians! We had a virtual 100% turnout! .