May 16, 2008
USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the Unites States Seventh Fleet, will visit Manila on May 22-25 for a routine port call. This goodwill visit continues the longstanding military, historical and personal ties between our two countries as well as our continued commitment to work together to assist people in need of humanitarian outreach.
During the visit, the Blue Ridge (LCC 19) will deliver donated goods such as clothes, toys, food and medical supplies to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for distribution to communities that need the supplies, donated by the American people. In addition, its crew will help construct homes for local citizens at Gawad Kalinga sites in Metro Manila.
In observance of the U.S. Memorial Day, the ship’s officers and crew will also visit the American Battle Monument and Cemetery in Taguig, East of Manila, to pay homage to American and Philippine military personnel who died in service fighting for the freedom of our peoples.
The U.S. Seventh Fleet Band, embarked on the Blue Ridge, will hold two free public concerts at Robinson’s Midtown Mall in Ermita on May 23 at 6 p.m., and at the Mall of Asia on Macapagal Avenue on May 24 at 6 p.m. The free concerts are open to the public. Composed of 21 talented U.S. Navy musicians, the band will play a diverse range of American music from pop to rhythm & blues, and from country to rock-and-roll.
"We welcome the visit from the USS Blue Ridge! It is a great opportunity to further development our partnership with our friends and colleagues in the Philippines,” says Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney. “I’m proud of our dedicated men and women on board who are excited to visit this beautiful country.”
USS Blue Ridge ship is commanded by Captain David A. Lausman. Since October 1979, the USS Blue Ridge has been forward deployed from Yokosuka, Japan as the flagship of Commander Seventh Fleet. Well suited to support a fleet commander, USS Blue Ridge conducts many community service projects throughout the region on a regular basis as a show of goodwill and partnership from the U.S. Navy. It also participates routinely in U.S. and allied training exercise each year with countries throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
