 I am Rear Admiral Robin Graff here in Buffalo to help kick off the Buffalo Navy Week celebration. Navy Weeks are a lot of fun because they give us the opportunity to reach out to communities across the country and tell the Navy story, who we are, what we do, and why the Navy is important to America. Throughout this week you'll see many of our sailors around town sharing their Navy stories with the residents of Buffalo. Think of the Navy as America's away team, operating forward, on, above, and below the sea. And when you think of its significance, and the world in which we live, 70 percent of the world's surface is covered by water, 80 percent of the world's population lives near water, and 90 percent of the world's commerce travels by water. In other words, what happens at sea matters. It matters for the economy, and it matters for national security. This is the first time since 1999 that the U.S. Navy ships are visiting ports in the Great Lakes area, bringing the Navy to residents of Buffalo, and also commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812. It was during this war that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem that later became the lyrics for the Star Spangled Banner, and also proved that the Navy was essential to our nation's defense and prosperity by protecting the free flow of goods and ensuring the freedom of the seas. I encourage you to come out, visit our ships, and talk with our sailors, and learn more about our Navy. For more information about the activities during Buffalo Navy Week, please visit navyweek.org and learn more about America's Navy, a global force for good.