Chattanooga Navy Week Comes to a Conclusion

Photo By Vaughan Dill | 180614-N-SH284-2002 CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (June 14, 2018) Children interact with a remotely operated vehicle while Builder 2nd Class Amanda Jarboe, assigned to Expeditionary Support Unit TWO, and Woodridge, Ill., native demonstrates how to operate it at the Creative Discovery Museum during Chattanooga Navy Week. Every year, America's Navy comes home to approximately 15 cities across the country to show Americans why having a strong Navy is critical to the American way of life. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Vaughan Dill/Released)  

CHATTANOOGA, TN, UNITED STATES

06.16.2018

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Vaughan Dill 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Det. Northwest

CHATTANOOGA Tenn., – Many Sailors packed their bags and headed back to their duty stations as Chattanooga Navy Week, which ran June, 11-17, came to its conclusion Saturday evening, coinciding with the conclusion of the city’s Riverbend Festival.

Chattanooga Navy Week began with City Councilman Erskine Oglesby reading a proclamation declaring June, 11-17 Navy Week, signifying its official kick-off, the fifth of 14 Navy Week’s scheduled this year.

“On behalf of all the Sailors that are out and about in Chattanooga, on behalf of my own command and on behalf of the Chief of Naval Operations,” said Rear Adm. Paul Pearigen, commander, Navy Medicine West, and chief of the Navy Medical Corps and Memphis, Tenn., native, at the proclamation. “This is a great opportunity for us to come here and thank you for your support. Your nations Navy is here to serve you, we’re here to serve our nation’s interest, and we’re here to protect all of us and our prosperity and way of life.”

Chattanooga Navy Week ran coincident with the city’s Riverbend Festival, bringing a variety of events, equipment and personnel to a single city for a series of engagements with the public and organizations, representing all sectors of the community to raise awareness of the Navy and its mission.

“Tennessee is the Volunteer state and Chattanooga is probably one of the most volunteering cities in the state,” said Chattanooga resident Wes Robertson. “We are very proud of our military folks and we have a large number of people who have volunteered to serve in the military.“

Several native Sailors from in and around Chattanooga volunteered to come home in support of Chattanooga Navy Week. One homegrown Chattanooga Sailor here to support Navy Week was Senior Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician Brian Cummings, assigned to EOD Mobile Unit TWELVE.

“It means a lot to come back and see how Chattanooga has grown and get to mingle with the people here and let the public see what the Navy does, It’s important, when I saw Chattanooga come up on the list I immediately volunteered,” Cummings remarked. “It was a great opportunity to volunteer and come and show my friends and my local community members what the Navy does.”

The Riverbend Festival hosted a Military Appreciation Night June 13, welcoming military members on the Coke main stage at Ross’s Landing, and featured the United States Fleet Forces ceremonial band playing patriotic music. Retired Navy Captain Mickey McCamish served as an event organizer and keynote speaker.

“Riverbend is Chattanooga’s number one event as voted on by the people, so therefore Chattanooga is such a patriotic town,” said McCamish. “It really only makes sense to do it [Military Appreciation Night] from the platform that the people chose as the number one event.”

During the Military Appreciation Night, an enlistment took place in which more than 20 future Sailors and 15 future Soldiers were given the Oath of Enlistment by Rear Adm. Pearigen, members of the USS Constitution ceremoniously paraded the colors on stage and six Chattanooga native Sailors were recognized on stage for participating in Navy Week.

“It was a really cool opportunity to come to Chattanooga, it meant a lot to me because I’m on familiar ground here. I grew up in this area and there is not a lot of military exposure in this area. I see it in the community here, a lot of people aren’t familiar with who we are and what we do,” said Chief Aerographer’s Mate Justen Knaebel from Crossville Tenn., assigned to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. “We get so used to living in Navy towns where the Navy is just part of everyday life, so to come someplace like here where people aren’t used to interacting with military member so it’s cool to see their patriotism, their reactions and how much people here appreciate us.”

Throughout the week, the United States Fleet Forces ceremonial band played at numerous venues throughout the city and was prominently featured at the Riverbend Festival with several performances on the festival’s many stages.

“I thought the band was awesome, because their performance gives the general public a chance to see our military forces in a different way,” said Lenora Johnston, a festival attendee. “We get to see our military enjoying themselves, using their gifts and doing things that the general public can relate to, such as music. Many of the songs they play are familiar, and I thought that was great. This was really fun and they were really engaging.”

During this Navy Week, approximately 100 outreach events were coordinated with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, and community service and diversity organizations in the city. One such event had Sailors volunteering to help fix up a Habitat for Humanity property.

“My mom was the first family to receive a house from Habitat for Humanity, she was able to buy a home thanks to their assistance,” said Rex Boblett, a volunteer at the property, assigned to the USS Constitution. “I’m glad to be able to give back to them for what they have given us, and to pay it forward, it’s a positive thing.”

Sailors interacted with children at local Boys and Girls clubs, put on interactive displays at Werner Park, volunteered at local food banks, participated in a service project at the Ronald McDonald House, helped paint units at the Chattanooga Housing Authority, took part in the Creative Discovery Museum free family night, held displays at the Carver kids camp and interacted with the crowd at the Riverbend Festival throughout the week.

“We volunteered at the Food Bank for several hours earlier this week and bagged 300 bags of sweet potato’s, approximately 1,500 pounds. For every one-hour I worked there, they are able to feed 92 people so that was very rewarding,” said Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class Justin Heinrich, assigned to Fleet Weather Center Norfolk and grew up in Chattanooga. “My favorite experience has been interacting with the kids, telling them about the Navy, and knowing I may have had an impact on them and their future, that was my favorite experience.”

Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's principal outreach effort in the areas of the country without a significant naval presence. More than 212 Navy Weeks have been held in 76 different U.S. cities.

For more information about Navy Week, visit http://www.outreach.navy.mil/, or follow the hashtag #NavyWeek.

• Date Taken: 06.16.2018
• Date Posted: 06.18.2018 13:24
• Story ID: 281266
• Location: CHATTANOOGA, TN, US