BUFFALO, N.Y. — It was 1946 when Richard Ganci started serving on the original USS Little Rock, now docked at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. Since the war was over, his ship was on a goodwill mission.

"We left from here to England to Scotland to Denmark to Sweden to Gibraltar to Algeria, Malta, Greece, Puerto Rico and upwards of the arctic circle," said Ganci, a West Seneca resident and Navy veteran who served on the original USS Little Rock.

Ganci was the cook onboard for the 1,100 men making the trip to three dozen ports.

"We cooked in huge steam kettles," said Ganci.

Memories flooded back as Ganci and thousands of others returned to the park for the commissioning of the new USS Little Rock LCS 9 Saturday. 

"It's just a marvelous thing to have happen. That they're going to commission a ship, a new ship, along the old ship, which is great. It just makes me feel wonderful," said Ganci.

Dr. John Long, a World War II Army veteran said, "This is the most historic thing to happen to this community since my entire life. I'll be 91 years old January 19. This is the heart and soul of all the veterans in Western New York."

"It's heartwarming, probably a little emotional because you think of the times you were back in the service. I think also excited. I think all of Western New York is excited," said Brian Roche, a retired Coast Guard captain, and the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park executive director.

The new ship arrived in Buffalo December 4, and when it leaves in a few days, it will take a piece of history with it.

"Many of the young sailors from the new warship slept on the old warship, slept on the old Little Rock because they wanted to say they've slept on both ships. I think that is tremendous. That is the most patriotic thing I could think of those young sailors doing," said Long.

Roche added, "We're going to transfer three place settings of silver that was used on the former Little Rock to the crew of the new Little Rock. So that will be the only piece of that ship that will be on the new ship. It's kind of a neat concept."

And it all has Ganci marveling at the new ship, its abilities, and the fact that it will be manned by just around 70 sailors.

"I just can't believe the stuff that this ship does. It's a jet boat! It just boggles my mind of how things have changed over the years," said Ganci.