Military Appreciation Day Event at Children's Museum

Photo By Max Lonzanida | The U.S Fleet Forces Brass Band performed for an excited audience, which included the young and young at heart during the Military Appreciation Event held on the U.S Navy’s 243rd Birthday at the Children’s Museum of Virginia. The event was coordinated by Public Affairs Specialists David Todd and Cathryn Lindsay, with the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. Exhibitors included Naval Information Forces, Naval Medical Center-Portsmouth, Navy Underwater Construction Team 1 and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit, U.S Army Transportation Museum, the U.S Coast Guard, U.S Navy Stewards of the Sea, and Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services. (US Navy Photo by Max Lonzanida/Released)  

PORTSMOUTH, VA, UNITED STATES

10.15.2018

Story by Max Lonzanida  

Naval History and Heritage Command

In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized official recognition of 13 October as the birthday of the U.S. Navy. Since then, each Chief of Naval Operations has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion “to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.” Commands throughout the Hampton Roads region commemorated the day with historical presentations regarding the Navy’s rich history and heritage, speeches, and of course cake. But why settle for the above, when you can showcase how the service was Forged by the Sea by converging on a museum.

This was the case this past weekend at the Children’s Museum of Virginia, in Portsmouth, Virginia; during the annual Military Appreciation Day event. It just so happens that the event occurred on the U.S Navy’s 243rd Birthday. The event involved static displays on both floor of the museum, a host of children’s activities, live entertainment compliments of the US Fleet Forces Brass Band, and a plethora of smiling faces and laughter throughout the day. The event was coordinated by Public Affairs Specialists David Todd and Cathryn Lindsay with Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, and proved to be an event for the record books as hundreds of service members and their families descended on the museum for a day of fun filled activities.

Outside the museum, a bright red fire truck and ambulance from the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic’s Fire and Emergency Services delighted excited children; who were able to climb in the cab and try on the gear and turn on the lights and sirens. In the square just in-front of the museum was the Navy’s Underwater Construction Team One and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit, along with the US Coast Guard and one of their rescue boats for hands on displays which attracted crowds throughout the day. The US Marine Corps was on-hand with two of their up-armored HUMVEEs, and many visitors had the opportunity to climb in the turrets and knock on the armored panels. Also outside were members of the US Fleet Forces Brass Band, who thrilled the young and young at-heart with a medley of live music which transformed the concrete square into an ad-hoc dance floor; and that was just the displays outside.

Indoors, visitors had the opportunity to partake in hands on STEM activities with the Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine’s Unit Two, learn about the hazards of illicit substances from at the Drug Education for Youth booth, and get fingerprinted with the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office’s Ident-A-Print program. Upstairs, past the popular bubble display and train exhibits, were live demonstrations from Naval Station Norfolk’s Military Working Dogs, where visitors had the opportunity to pet the MWD Buck and MWD Lion after watching thrilling demonstrations. The Fleet and Family Support Center was on-hand with live puppet shows and a plethora of helpful services to service members. Walking around on both floors was Stewie, the mascot from the US Navy's Stewards of the Sea exhibit and Andalo, the mascot from the Children's Museum of Virginia; both delighted visitors who eagerly shook their hands or gave them hugs. Visitors also had the opportunity to check out the US Navy’s Stewards of the Sea exhibit, and pick up some sweet treats from the Naval Information Warfare booth. Rounding out the historical displays were exhibitors from the Portsmouth Lightship Museum, the US Army’s Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum; where visitors had the opportunity to see, from a historical perspective, how the US Navy was Forged by the Sea.

About the Hampton Roads Naval Museum:

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is one of ten Navy museums that are operated by the Naval History & Heritage Command. It celebrates the long history of the U.S. Navy in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is co-located with Nauticus in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Admission to the museum is free, simply by-pass the ticket line and take the stairs or elevator to the museum on the second deck. The museum hosts a robust educational program for area schools and commands, with free educational programs to area schools aligned with state curriculum standards, a travelling sea chest program, a premier Lego outreach program, and historical presentations for area commands. To inquire, contact their Educational Director, Laura Orr at [e-mail] or at [phone]. The museum is also host to a robust volunteer corps, who serve as docents, support special events, and assist in museum archives. To inquire, contact their Volunteer Coordinator, Darcy Sink at [e-mail] or at [phone]. Lastly the museum proudly hosts military ceremonies, such as re-enlistments, retirements, and promotions for area commands aboard the U.S.S Wisconsin and in the museum’s gallery. To inquire, contact their special events coordinator, Tom Dandes at [e-mail] or call [phone].

• Date Taken: 10.15.2018
• Date Posted: 10.15.2018 15:38
• Story ID: 296503
• Location: PORTSMOUTH, VA, US