Award certificate golf

U.S. Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young Saluted for Work With Appropriations Committee

The National Capital Council presented its first Congressional Sea Services Award to U.S. Rep C.W. "Bill" Young, R-Fla., in a ceremony on Capitol Hill Sept. 22.

The award, which will be given annually by the council, honors a U.S. representative or senator for outstanding contributions to the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. A senator will receive the award next year.

In remarks during the ceremony, Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England praised Young's service and dedication on behalf of the sea services as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Leaders from each of the sea services were on hand to salute Young, with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark; Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael W. Hagee; Vice Adm. Terry M. Cross, vice commandant of the Coast Guard; Robert B. Ostrom, chief counsel of the Maritime Administration, and retired Coast Guard Adm. James M. Loy, deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, all offering remarks.

National Capital Council President Mack C. Gaston and Navy League National President Sheila M. McNeill presented the award to Young. The award features a compass binnacle from the SS Sioux Falls Victory, a Victory ship that saw duty during World War II, Korea and the Vietnam War. Its crew earned a battle star for action during the assault on Okinawa in 1945. The binnacle is on loan from the Maritime Administration.

Young has represented Florida's 10th District, which includes St. Petersburg and Clearwater, for 34 years. During his tenure, Young has served on the House Armed Services Committee, chaired the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National security and served 14 years on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Clark was on hand two weeks earlier in Japan to present Frederick Harris, president of the Commodore Perry Council of Tokyo, with his Secretary of the Navy Superior Public Service Award. The Navy Public Service Awards were presented at the Navy League National Convention in June, which Harris was unable to attend.

Clark was in Japan for a four-day tour that took him to Naval Air Facility Misawa, Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Fleet Activities Yokosuka, and presented Harris with the award during the council's Navy League Luncheon Sept. 10.

Fleet Week, Coast Guard Mission Day Make for Busy Summer for Seattle Council

The Seattle Council ended the summer in a flurry of activity, hosting or participating in a series of events that included SeaFair 2004 Fleet Week festivities and Coast Guard Mission Day on Puget Sound.

On Aug. 5, Region President Ron Testa, Council President Thomas E. Jaffa, a national director, and several council business members and officers were among the guests that rode aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard from Everett into Elliott Bay with the parade of ships that kicked off Fleet Week in Seattle. Among the ships visiting for Fleet Week were the amphibious transport USS Duluth, the dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor, guidedmissile cruisers USS Princeton and USS Shiloh, and the Canadian Navy's coastal-defense vessel HMCS Nanaimo.

Following the Parade of Ships, the council hosted its annual Officers' Reception, with guests including Adm. William J. Fallon, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Rear Adm. Bob Passmore, deputy commander, Navy Region Northwest; Rear Adm. Len Hering, commander, Navy Region Northwest; Vice Adm. Michael J. McCabe; commander, Third Fleet; and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

McCabe was guest speaker the following morning for the annual Sea Services Breakfast that honored 14 "Sailors of the Year" and "Enlisted Persons of the Year" from visiting Navy and Coast Guard ships and local commands.

Aug. 11 saw a change of command aboard USCGC Polar Sea, one of the Seattle Council's adopted ships. Capt. Mark Miller was relieved by Capt. Bruce Toney at a ceremony featuring keynote speaker Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area & U.S. Maritime Defense Zone Pacific. A week later, Navy Leaguers from Seattle and around the region took part in the 2004 Coast Guard Mission Day where they were able to see 13th Coast Guard District ships, helicopters and equipment being put through their paces on Puget Sound.

On Sept. 1, Community Affiliate member Argosy Cruises hosted the third annual Royal Argosy Salute to the Navy League Dinner Cruise. Guests of honor at the event, which included a cruise around Elliot Bay, were Navy League National Directors Carol Ann and Cole Hackley. Capt. Rob Parker, the new chief of staff for the 13th Coast Guard District, was among the many sea services guests.

On Sept. 11, Jaffa, Tony Armstrong, council vice president of legislative and youth programs, and past council President Cec Allison attended the Blue Angel Sea Cadet Squadron drill activities at Coast Guard Integrated Systems Command, Seattle. The council members presented a check for $1,000 to unit commanding officer Lt. Donna Homan.

Central Coast Council, San Luis Obispo Rotary Host NORAD Commander

In an August joint meeting, 200 members of the Central Coast, Calif., Council, the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club and their guests hosted Air Force Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command.

The event was organized by Central Coast Council President Richard B. Hillery. Eberhart, who is based at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado, was guest speaker and discussed some of his major concerns regarding the safety of the American homeland, according to council member Don Morris.

Eberhart said that since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, fighter aircraft have been sent out 1,500 times to check out potential hijackers in the skies over the United States. "We want to be on the front end of the problem, we want to defend as far outward as possible. We have had a complete transformation of NORAD post-9/11," he said.

During a question-and-answer period following his remarks, Eberhart emphasized that despite all the activity, the Air Force remains vigilant, noting, "We have been wrong 1,500 times in launching fighters to check out air anomalies. I would rather be wrong 1,500 times than miss one real attack."

South Jersey Sea Cadets Get Airman Training At Willow Grove

A group of 23 U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps cadets from the southern New Jersey area got a taste of life in the Navy in August when they received instruction in the Basic Airman Training course at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Willow Grove, Pa.

Using the Navy's Education Training manual for the Nonresident Airman Training Course to guide their studies, the cadets were kept to a strict schedule to accomplish their training goal during the 11 -day session, according to Don Wiener, the Naval Sea Cadet regional director for southern New Jersey.

When the cadets weren't in the classroom getting instruction, participating in physical training, or preparing for a personal inspection, they were able to get a first-hand look at a variety of different aircraft and maintenance equipment on the base. While attending the training course, the cadets lived in the base's Bachelor Enlisted Quarters, ate their meals in the base galley and knew they were subject to Navy regulations.

"The cadets we have here for this training have already been through their two-week boot camp, so they're here for more advanced training," said Sea Cadet Lt. j.g. Katherine Gladfelter, operations officer for southern New Jersey and the executive officer for the recent training session. "They're here to live where sailors live, eat where sailors eat, learn about naval aviation and learn more about the Navy in general."

Baltimore Council Welcomes British Royal Navy Frigate

The board of directors of the Baltimore Council was on hand to greet the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Marlborough when it made a port call on the Charm City.

Board members were given a tour of the ship after it tied up at Fells Point Pier June 21 and dined with Cmdr. Ian Graham aboard ship in the wardroom mess, according to George Hahn, the council's vice president of public affairs.

The Baltimore Council reciprocated with President Joe Nattans, Vice President John Barnard and Chairman Alan Waiden presenting Graham with a Navy League welcoming certificate, a picture history of Maryland and a Maryland flag. The visit was part of the Marlborough's two-month deployment to the U.S. East Coast, which included a stop at Norfolk Naval Base, Va., where it was able to renew ties with its U.S. affiliate, the guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill.

Earlier in the summer, the Churchill also paid a visit to Baltimore and was welcomed by the council, which provided tickets to a Baltimore Orioles game for all 300-plus crew members. Churchill Commanding Officer Cmdr. Todd W. Leavitt threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.

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