Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | Ivan Garcia, 6, jumps in a bounce house at the Havelock National Night Out, Aug. 2....... read more read more
Subscribe
HAVELOCK, N.C. -- The combination of upbeat music, free food, volunteer services and games for children, attracted hundreds of local families to the Havelock National Night Out organized by the Havelock Police Department and Marines of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
The Havelock Police Department began holding national night outs in 1996 to help heighten awareness of crime in the local area, promote increased crime prevention, generate support for local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals.
The Marines of Cherry Point started participating in the Havelock National Night Out in 2007, when the then commanding officer of the air station, Col. Francis Bottorff, purposed to Havelock Police Department’s chief of police, Chief Wayne Cyrus, for the two to join forces. At the time Havelock and MCAS Cherry Point had separate events and it made sense to combine them.
“It’s not practical to separate the Marines and us, because we are all one community,” said Cyrus. “We work together in many ways and their contribution to crime prevention in this town makes Havelock a much safer place.”
Cyrus, as a young Marine, was stationed on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune back in the 1970’s. After one term of service he returned home to Virginia and served 30 years as a police officer and retired as a division captain. He then lived up to a promise he made to himself when he was a young Marine.
“I really enjoyed my time in this area as a Marine, so I promised myself that I would come back here someday, and after my time in Va., I applied for the job here as chief and the promise came true,” said Cyrus.
This year’s national night out marked the 29th year since the event started nationwide. The youth of Havelock and Cherry Point raced around the grass to see everything the night offered. There were bounce houses, a demonstration of military working dogs attacking ‘bad guys,’ food and music.
Waiting in line near the bounce houses, the kids anticipated the preparatory command. Once the Marine said, ‘Go!’ two kids jolted through the bouncy obstacle course while Marines encouraged them to move faster.
Pfc. Alex N. Sotelo, a field wireman with Marine Wing Communication Squadron 28 volunteered for the event and said, “I heard about this from a corporal in my shop and I decided to help. We’re here helping monitor events, ensuring the kids are safe, and all in all to have a good time with the people of Havelock.”
“We want to show that the ‘Corps is more family oriented than what people think,” Sotelo said.
Maj. Jason Vrable, a naval aviator with Marine Transport Squadron 1, along with a crew of Marines, mingled with the local community and walked visitors through a HH-46E, a search and rescue helicopter fondly known as “Pedro.”
“Everybody sees Pedro flying around the area, but tonight provides an opportunity for the people to actually see it up close and learn our mission,” said Vrable.
Marines with the air station provost marshals’ office provided a military working dog demonstration as well as a police car to allow kids to sit in the driver’s seat.
“It’s really nice to get out and socialize,” said Samantha Rose, a Marine spouse. “We look for places or events that are inexpensive, and this is just perfect.”
As the music came to a dull roar and the crowd slimmed in size, another successful national night out was in the books.
Each year the national night out campaign stretches across the whole continent, with last year’s involving citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from 9,850 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.
“The national night out shows our strength as a community,” Cyrus stated. “We know we will never defeat crime, but with events like this we hope to break the barrier of us versus them and build camaraderie.”
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2011 15:48 |
| Story ID: | 75564 |
| Location: | HAVELOCK, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Come together: Marines, police bring community closer, by Sgt Samuel A. Nasso, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT