PR: Adios Vieques! your loss, Florida's gain

The U.S. Naval Southern Command moved to north Florida on Friday, abandoning its former facility in Puerto Rico.

The new command will be responsible for 38.4 million square kilometers (15 million square miles) of waters in Central and South America, including most of the Caribbean. It will conduct anti-drug and anti-terrorism activities and respond to crisis areas such as Haiti.

At a ceremony known as "flag breaking," Rear Adm. Vinson E. Smith officially moved his command from Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to Mayport Naval Station, a sprawling base that is home to some of the ships that participate in missions under his command.

Army Gen. James T. Hill, the commander of U.S. military's Southern Command in Miami, said moving the unit to Mayport will increase command's efficiency.