Texas Border Business
By Lt. Winslow Blow, U.S. Navy Navy Office of Community Outreach
From the Texas Citrus Fiesta to Boca Chica Beach, the Navy will bring over 70 Sailors for the inaugural Rio Grande Valley Navy Week from Jan. 24-31. The Navy is partnering with the cities of Mission, McAllen, Edinburg and Brownsville to engage with Texas communities through a week-long series of performances, educational events andservice projects.
Sailors from USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), the namesake ship of Medal of Honor recipient and Edinburg native Sgt. Alfredo Gonzalez, will honor the memories of “Freddie” and his beloved mother Dolia throughout the Navy Week. There will also be public performances by the Deck Plate Brass Band, the Navy’s New Orleans style music group from Jacksonville, Fla. and the Navy Ceremonial Guard bayonet drill team from Washington, D.C.
“We’re excited to bring Navy Week to the Rio Grande Valley for the very first time, and to kick-off the 2026 Navy Week schedule in the Lone Star State,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, Navy Office of Community Outreach director. “As the Nation celebrates Freedom 250 throughout 2026, this year our Navy Week outreach program will embark on a celebratory “Road Trip to 250.” Navy Weeks will serve as symbolic link to communities across America to their Navy,highlighting the shared history and the enduring commitment to defending freedom and supporting our nation’s independence.”
The Navy will bring two senior executives to the Rio Grande Valley area. Austin, Texas native Rear Admiral David Faehnle, Commandant, Naval District Washington, is a career Naval Aviator who has flown 35 combat missions in the F-14 Tomcat and has previously served as the Training Air Wing Four Reserve Commander at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
Retired Navy Capt. Mery-Angela Katson, Director of Training and Education Requirements, Chief of Naval Personnel, rose the enlisted ranks and commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer. She redesignated as a Human Resources Officer and later served as the commanding officer of Navy Recruiting District San Antonio. As a Navy Executive Service civilian, she has managed a $23 billion annual budget supporting over 340,000 officers and sailors.
Navy Weeks bring the Navy to regions without a major naval presence, fostering connections and showcasing how the Navy’s mission ensures the security, prosperity and freedom of our nation. The Navy Week program has visited over 100U.S. markets since the program’s inception in 2005.
| Navy Week public events include: |
| Navy Band Concert Schedule (* Indicates Band + Ceremonial Guard Performance) |
| Jan. 24 – Rio Grande Valley Vipers Game (Concourse Activation) @ 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 25 – Museum of South Texas History @ 2 p.m. |
| Jan. 26* – Edinburg ACE Center (Navy Week Proclamation & Bienvenida) @ 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 27* – Edinburg Municipal Auditorium @ 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 28* – Oval Park (McAllen) @ 6 p.m. /*Veteran’s War Memorial of TX @ 5:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 29 – Texas Citrus Fiesta Royal Coronation (Mission Events Center) @ 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 30* – Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair (Bentson Palm Community Park) @ 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 31* – Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges (Mission) @ 12 p.m. |
| Jan. 31* – Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair (Bentson Palm Community Park) @ 7 p.m. |
| Jan. 24-31 – Daily Static Display at the Museum of South Texas History |
| Jan. 25 – U.S. Naval Academy Admissions Forum at McAllen Public Library @ 2 p.m. |
| Jan. 26 |
| Freddie Gonzalez Navy Week Dedication at Hillcrest Memorial Park @ 9:30 a.m. |
| Wreath Laying at Petty Officer Jose Saenz Memorial Light Post (Edinburg) @ 1 p.m. |
| Navy Week Proclamation & Ceremonial Guard at McAllen City Hall @ 5 p.m. |
| Navy Week Proclamation & Bienvenida at Edinburg ACE Center @ 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 27 – Boca Chica Beach Community Clean-up @ 12 p.m. |
| Jan. 28 – Naval Aviation Flyover at Veterans War Memorial of Texas @ 5:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 29 |
| Ceremonial Guard Performance at UTRGV Women’s Basketball Game @ 6 p.m. |
| STEM Activities and Book Reading at Edinburg Library @ 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 30 |
| Car Fest Static Display & Navy Esports at McAllen Convention Center |
| Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair “Strike Group” VR Trailer & Static Display @ 5 p.m. |
| Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair Navy Week Proclamation & Mass Oath of Enlistment & Naval Aviation Flyover @ 5:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 31 |
| Car Fest Static Display & Navy Esports at McAllen Convention Center |
| Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges & Naval Aviation Flyover @ 12 p.m. |
| Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair “Strike Group” VR Trailer & Static Display @ 2 p.m. |
For more details on Rio Grande Valley Navy Week, visit https://outreach.navy.mil/navy-weeks/ or contact Lt. Winslow Blow at winslow.m.blow.mil@us.navy.mil. Follow Navy Outreach on social media @NavyOutreach on Facebook,Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn and connect using #NavyWeek.
