Here's something pretty interesting - did you know that the USS Little Rock Guided Missile Light Cruiser has an average of 250 people stay on it each weekend? That's right, whether it's ROTC, Army cadets, or American and Canadian Boy and Girl Scouts boarding the Little Rock for the night, these groups arrive to navigate the cruiser and learn about the water (and man's place on it). Just ask AMCS John Branning, USN (Ret) Chief Engineer about the weekend occurrence. He waits for each and every group to board before organizing the evening, the night and the following morning for events, discussions, programs, etc., including dinners and breakfasts.
As I spoke to John I inquired about what groups were already on board and what groups he was still expecting. He told me that he was still expecting the 33rd Scout from Saint Catherines, (Ontario). It was not long after that when I spotted the troop coming down the walkway marching towards the ship. They all had their night bags and all of the equipment needed to make it through a two-day stay on the Little Rock.
It's not often that I look out at these ships and think about them one way or another. That is until now. I guess I never knew how important these ships are to the younger kids and the older ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corp) groups. If the Little Rock welcomes on average 250 guests to our waterfront every weekend, then that's pretty neat. It's another thing to think about when walking by any of these ships. To learn more about the overnight programs, please visit The Buffalo Naval Park online.