Photo By Lt.j.g. Drew Verbis | Members of the military community and their guests gathered to celebrate the Navy’s...... read more read more
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Members of the military community and their guests gathered to celebrate the Navy’s 239th birthday at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Oct. 11. The gala was attended by nearly 300 guests representing all branches of the military including active duty and reserve Navy Sailors.
The Navy Ball is an annual event that celebrates the traditional heritage and history of the fleet and honors service members past, present and future. The Association of the United States Navy has been organizing the Navy Ball in the Phoenix area for six years.
Cleveland native, Electricians Mate 2nd Class Vasyl Bilokonsky said he’s not surprised that Phoenix has a strong Navy community despite it being in a desert nearly 500 miles from a major port.
“I think Phoenix, Arizona, represents something we often find in America,” said Bilokonsky. “It’s a starting point for a lot of military traditions and I think the community is eager to demonstrate this and support their local military heritage.”
The ballroom, decorated with great detail featuring Navy colors, captured the pomp and circumstance expected of a 239th birthday celebration.
The evening began with the arrival of the official party, who were given traditional Navy honors on the red carpet by side boys, ringing of the bell and boatswain’s pipe to signal the arrival of Rear Adm. James Symonds and Capt. Christopher Siegle.
Sea Cadets presented the colors, a heartfelt rendition of the national anthem was performed by Army Sgt. 1st Class Vern West, and the invocation was read by Cmdr. Stephen Beyer.
The Navy Ball featured keynote remarks from Siegle, commanding officer of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Joint Forces Maritime Component Planning Unit 502.
Rick Wilcoxson, whose son is serving with the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5, said he was surprised by the level of organization.
“There must have been a tremendous amount of work involved with this event,” said Wilcoxson. “There are no Navy bases around here so I wasn't sure what to expect but this has been an amazing experience that I can share with my son.”
The highlight of the evening included a longstanding naval tradition that requires the oldest and youngest Sailors in the ballroom to cut the ceremonial birthday cake with an officer’s cutlass. This year proved to be unique because there happened to be two 93-year-old WWII veterans in attendance. Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman John Culbert, one of the last surviving enlisted pilots and Aviation Machinistmate 1st Class Jack Holder, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway. Equipment Operator Senior Chief Joseph Zaleski, the master of ceremony, insisted they both participate in the ceremony to an overwhelming cheer of a delighted crowd. The youngest was 18-year-old Naval Cadet Daniel Holz.
“This was the fourth Navy Ball that I've attended,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Munjalu Wakhungu, a native of Kenya. “I enjoy witnessing the mixture of generations between young and old, especially during the cake cutting ceremony. That was special, that’s what this is all about. It makes me feel proud to be a part of this because I don’t think any other branch of service honors its traditions like the United States Navy.”
Learn more about Navy Public Affairs Support Element West at http://www.navy.mil/local/nrpacensd/ or visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy or www.twitter.com/usnavy.
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.13.2014 21:23 |
| Story ID: | 144977 |
| Location: | SCOTTSDALE, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 326 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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