It looks like Buffalo and Canalside will be the center of attention locally, nationally and internationally this December.

-Local Commissioning Committee Received Official Notice -  The Future USS Little Rock LCS 9 Will be Commissioning in Buffalo at Canalside on Saturday, December 16, 2017

The future USS Little Rock LCS 9, one of the newest US Navy littoral combat  ships (LCS), will make her way to Buffalo for an official Commissioning Ceremony on Saturday, December 16, 2017.  A ship commissioning is an event that marks the time when a new ship officially enters the US Navy fleet. LCS 9 and her crew are expected to arrive in Buffalo on Friday, December 8, 2017 for a week-long commissioning celebration. A schedule of events for Commissioning Week (December 8 - December 17) is being finalized and will be released next week.

Maurice L. Naylon III, chairman of the Commissioning Committee stated:

.I was delighted to receive word this afternoon from Commander Todd Peters, Commander of the future USS Little Rock LCS 9, that the ship's commissioning will officially take place on 16 December 2017 at Canalside in Buffalo.

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 242-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.

See what these combat ships can do in the big blue:

More information the USS Little Rock LCS 9 Commissioning Committee can be found at www.usslittlerocklcs9.org. USS Little Rock LCS 9 Commissioning Committee social media accounts include: Facebook: USS Little Rock – LCS 9, on Twitter: @usslittlerock9, and on Instagram: usslittlerocklcs9.

More information on the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation can be found at www.buffalorenaissance.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

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