By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – U.S. Navy sailors from across the fleet are headed to California for Sacramento Navy Week, March 17 to 23, to volunteer in the community and discuss why the Navy matters to the City of Trees. |
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mason Montgomery, right, receives a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal from Cmdr. Timothy C. Yuhas, commanding officer of USS Ramage. |
While many of the sailors are from all over the country, this Navy Week will carry special meaning for visiting sailors from the area, including Petty Officer 2nd Class Mason Montgomery, a native of Elk Grove, California.
Montgomery graduated from Franklin High School in 2019. Upon joining the Navy, Montgomery quickly found that many of the skills and values forged in Elk Grove were the same as those needed to succeed in the Navy.
Montgomery, who joined the Navy four years ago, is assigned to USS Ramage, a U.S. Navy warship, operating out of Mayport, Florida.
"My father and uncle both served in the armed forces," Montgomery said. "When I was younger, I had no interest in joining. After high school and some college, I sat down and realized that joining would make the most sense for my path to success. I followed in my father's footsteps and joined the Navy, and have enjoyed every moment of it."
Montgomery is part of the fifth Navy Week to be hosted by Sacramento, with the last visit in 2018. Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity.
"I've never been in a Navy Week, so being able to be a part of one in my hometown is truly special," Montgomery said. "Being able to give back to the community and the youth is very important to me, and to do it in Elk Grove just makes my journey come full circle."
Today, Montgomery serves as a hull maintenance technician.
"With my ship currently being in a dry dock period, I do corrective maintenance to repair the ship to prepare for future deployments," Montgomery said.
Montgomery has had many opportunities to excel in the Navy and recently advanced to a higher pay grade.
"I am most proud of being promoted to petty officer second class," Montgomery said.
Montgomery is grateful for the Elk Grove community and for those who helped make a Navy career possible.
"I want to send the biggest thanks to my mom, dad and brother for their huge amount of love and support throughout my journey," Montgomery added. "Also, to the rest of my support system, grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunties and friends. Without you all, I would be nothing, so thank you."
Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Sacramento.
“As we celebrate 250 years of naval tradition and excellence as a maritime nation, we recognize it’s the combination of the world’s most sophisticated weapons systems, and more importantly our highly skilled people – at sea and ashore – who provide an unmatched advantage in promoting prosperity and security, deterring aggression and protecting the American way of life,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, Navy Office of Community Outreach director. “Your sailors continue a tradition of decisive power from seabed to space, and we’re thrilled to bring them to Sacramento so you can witness their tremendous character, competence and dedication firsthand.”
Sacramento Navy Week events include a Navy Week proclamation and recognition ceremony at the West Sacramento City Hall; Navy 250th birthday and Navy Week activations at Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Republic FC games; Navy exhibits at the California Railroad Museum, Midtown Farmers Market, Westlake Foodtruck Mania, Sacramento Children’s Museum, and SMUD Museum; and free live music at venues throughout the city performed by Navy Band Southwest. Sailors will also volunteer with organizations such YMCA, River City Water Alliance, Improve Your Tomorrow, YOLO and River City Food Banks, Sacramento Zoo, ReBuilding Sacramento, and Loaves and Fishes, among others.
For a list of public events, visit https://www.outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Sacramento-2025/