Theater hosts party for ship ceremony

There will be a live-stream watch party Saturday at the Ron Robinson Theater to view the commissioning of the USS Little Rock Littoral Combat Ship in Buffalo, N.Y.

The viewing starts at 10 a.m. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Seating is limited to the first 300 attendees. Refreshments will be served.

Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and other state and local officials are expected to attend. Mayor Mark Stodola and North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith will be two of about 30 Arkansans attending the event live in New York. Ticketing is closed for the live event after more than the anticipated 5,000 registrations were met.

Members of the U.S. Navy and the USS Little Rock Namesake Committee will attend the watch party.

Special commemorative mementos will be available to attendees.

This will be the first time in the 242-year history of the Navy that a ship is commissioned alongside the vessel for which it is named.

The original USS Little Rock was in service from August 1944 until being decommissioned in November 1976. It is on display at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park at Canalside.