Navy Day at the Washington State Capitol

OLYMPIA, WA, UNITED STATES

02.11.2015

Courtesy Story

Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Det. Northwest

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The state of Washington honored the U.S. Navy and its personnel in the Pacific Northwest Region at the capitol in Olympia as part of the Navy Appreciation Day, Feb. 11.

Government officials from both the Senate Chamber and the House of Representatives Chamber convened a special recognition proclamation recognizing the contributions of Navy personnel and their family members.

The event commenced with a vocal rendition of the national anthem by Musician 1st Class Andrew Williams from Navy Band Northwest, in addition to Naval Hospital Bremerton’s color guard team parading the colors to the House of Representatives’ Rostrum.

“Every time I see Navy men and women in uniform, I feel so close to them, because they have a great future in front of them,” said 23rd Legislative District Rep. Sherry Appleton. “They are not only about ships, and radars and computers they are also a great part of this community, because they contribute and give many of the things they learned while in the Navy back to this community to make it better for everyone, so I stand here today and salute these men and women for their service and I hope you all join me in saying thank you.”

Navy Region Northwest officials had an opportunity to tour the Legislative Building and visit the Senate Caucus, the House of Representatives Caucus and met with Washington state Speaker of the House Frank Chopp and Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee.

"The team gives more than just the job we do, we also volunteer for the community,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Wayne Papalski, from New York. “Being recognized in this fashion by the state of Washington feels incredibly good."

“The Navy builds leaders and brings them here to Washington state,” said 26th Legislative District Rep. Jesse Young. “I think it’s needed to recognize all the men and women that serve in this capacity because the Navy and its men and women are great contributors to this community and nation.”

Navy Band Northwest performed a concert in the capitol’s rotunda room, where spectators enjoyed live music and congratulated aircrew and first responding personnel for their rescue efforts during the Oso, Washington, mudslide.

Inslee was in attendance and presented three air crew members with United States Armed Forces Air Medals and the fourth member with a Navy/Marine Corps medal.

"It is a great honor for us to receive these awards especially by Washington State senators,” said Lt. Jared Wada, from Tacoma, Washington. “But I'm just one member of the Whidbey Island search and rescue team and we earned them together."

Naval Aircrewman (Helicopters) 2nd Class Cory Hedges, from Fruita, Colorado, noted that the aircrewmen were just doing their job.

“We were being human, the thing we are all the time. We didn't do it for recognition; we did it because it was the right thing to do.”

• Date Taken: 02.11.2015
• Date Posted: 02.12.2015 19:53
• Story ID: 154379
• Location: OLYMPIA, WA, US
• Hometown: FRUITA, CO, US
• Hometown: NEW YORK, NY, US
• Hometown: TACOMA, WA, US