Photo By Chief Petty Officer Jennifer Gold | KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Aug. 18, 2015) – Kansas City, Mo., mayor Sly James speaks during a...... read more read more
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Navy night celebration was held at the National WWI Memorial and Museum, Aug. 18, to honor veterans past and present as part of Kansas City Navy Week.
Vice Adm. William Hilarides, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, kicked off the evening by acknowledging the accomplishments and sacrifices of WWI veterans.
“I thought tonight went as well as it could possibly go,” said Hilarides. “The band was fantastic, we got to introduce all the groups that were here. It was a tremendous event.”
The night was the start of new Navy careers for 15 men and women participating in the local Navy Delayed Entry Program (DEP), who took the oath of enlistment in front of the audience.
“I felt honored,” said Dashay Reed, a DEP participant from Kansas City, Missouri, scheduled to leave for boot camp in January. “It made me even more anxious.”
Navy Band Southeast performed several songs, including the armed service song for each military branch. Musician 1st Class Tommy Horner even sang a rendition of “New York, New York” where he mentioned Kansas City in the lyrics.
After the band's performance, Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James acknowledged their talent. He also spoke warmly about his city and its citizens and highlighted some of the things that make Kansas City unique.
“It is true. That we do have the best barbecue in the world,” James said. “But, it is also true that we have great places like the WWI [Memorial and] Museum, the Kaufman Center for Performing Arts, the Plaza, the Nelson [Atkins Art Museum]. All sorts of things that you can do, see, experience, feel and taste and we are always happy and blessed to have people who are not from here come to our city.”
James officially welcomed the Navy to Kansas City by presenting Hilarides with a mayoral proclamation declaring Aug. 17-23, as Navy Week in Kansas City.
“Welcome to Kansas City, thank you very much for your service, all of you who are active service and for you recruits who are about to embark on an experience that will change your lives, look forward to it, cherish it, embrace it,” said James. “Because when you’re my age and standing in front of a crowd, you will be talking about how your experience in the service of this country influenced who you are today.”
Navy Weeks are designed to educate Americans on the importance of naval service and help them understand the investment they make in their Navy. They are held in cities that might not otherwise see Navy Sailors at work on a regular basis.
“It’s a connection with the American people,” said Hilarides. “The Navy is a capital intensive organization, it cost a lot to build ships and we rely on the American tax payers to understand what it’s for.”
Kansas City is one of 12 cities selected to host a 2015 Navy Week, which is coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO). NAVCO is a unit tasked with enhancing the Navy's brand image in areas with limited exposure to the Navy.
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.19.2015 17:29 |
| Story ID: | 173635 |
| Location: | KANSAS CITY, MO, US |
| Hometown: | KANSAS CITY, MO, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Navy Week celebration held at the National WWI Memorial and Museum in Kansas City, by CPO Jennifer Gold, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT