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Rose Festival Fleet Week is celebrated as a way for the city of Portland to thank active and reserve military personnel and veterans, and as a way for the Navy to reach out and meet a community that supports them, provide first-hand knowledge to the general public about the Navy and its capabilities and to become stewards through community relations events.
In a message to the city of Portland, Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richards, and his wife, Dana Richards said, “We could not be more happy than to be here in Portland for the 111th Rose Festival and Fleet Week. I know that our Sailors, and especially their families, are really enjoying the festivities here, so thank you, so much. Portland, this is a chance to get to meet your Navy. We are sworn to protect you and we’d also like to get to know you. For everybody in Portland, particularly Mayor Wheeler and everybody who worked so hard to put together this event, thank you so much.”
Rose Fest Fleet Week consisted of performances by Navy Band Northwest, ship tours, community relation events, a fair on the Portland waterfront, a Royal Rosarian knighting ceremony and much more.
In an interview with a local Portland news station, Musician 2nd Class Jason Andrews said, “[The people of Portland] have been great, incredibly receptive, and we are thankful to be here.”
One of the highpoints of the Rose Fest Fleet Week was the Mythical Realm of Rosaria Honorary Knighting Ceremony. The knighting ceremony dates back to 1912 and is an event in which dignitaries and persons of accomplishment from around the world are bestowed honorary knighthood as they kneel before the reigning Rose Festival Queen. This year Rear Adm. Blake Converse, commander Submarine Group Nine, Rear Adm. Darren Johnson, deputy commander U.S. 3rd Fleet, and Rear Adm. Gregory Harris, commander Carrier Strike Group 11, were bestowed with the honor of becoming knights in the Realm of Rosaria.
At a distinguished visitors welcoming dinner, Johnson, who was a speaker during the dinner, said that he was very excited about the knighting ceremony and could not wait to become a knight in the Realm of Rosaria.
Rose Fest Fleet Week wrapped up with the annual 4-mile long Grand Floral Parade, which featured 15 full-size all-floral floats, 12 all-floral mini-floats, 16 marching bands, the crews from all eight U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian ships and much more, on June 9 and all eight ships departing Portland for their homeports the morning of June 11.
For many Sailors this was a chance to explore a new city, have fun and create some new memories. And for many civilians it was an opportunity to thank some military members and learn some things about the Navy.
“It’s really fun [to see the Sailors around], and it’s nice to congratulate them and thank them for everything. We’re really glad that [the Navy] is fighting for us and we really appreciate them” said Jayson Fricke and his daughters, Myrna (aged 10) and Saoirse (aged 7) Shah-Fricke, who were visiting Portland from Baltimore.
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2018 14:39 |
| Story ID: | 281133 |
| Location: | PORTLAND, OR, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 111th Annual Portland Rose Festival Fleet Week Comes To An End, by PO2 Wyatt Anthony, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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