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ALEXANDRIA, Egypt – Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Great White Fleet while in port Alexandria, Egypt, Feb. 23-24.
In order to commemorate the event, San Antonio's Sailors and Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, held a reception about the ship for Egyptian dignitaries and participated in an officer exchange with Egyptian naval officers.
"As we remember our past, we look to the future," said Rear Adm. Scott Sanders, vice commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). "We look forward to working with Egypt as friends and allies while preserving regional security for years to come."
Dec. 16, 1907, the vast majority of the U.S. Navy's Atlantic fleet set sail from Norfolk, Va., for a historic U.S. goodwill voyage, arriving in Egypt Jan. 3, 1909 for a port call. San Antonio's port call to Alexandria 100 years later celebrates The Great White Fleet and their deployment around the world.
The Great White Fleet celebration began with a reception aboard San Antonio Feb. 23, where U.S. and Egyptian distinguished visitors joined together to remember the historic 1909 port call.
Safaa Kamel, vice governor of Alexandria, attended the reception and said he was excited about San Antonio's visit.
"I am happy to welcome these Sailors and Marines to our country," he said. "The city of Alexandria wants to make a good impression so that the men and women aboard this ship will not forget the great time that they will have."
During the reception, Sanders and Kamel participated together in a cake-cutting ceremony, and San Antonio Sailors provided ship tours for the Egyptian guests.
The anniversary celebration continued Feb. 24 when Navy and Marine Corps officers from San Antonio and the 26 MEU participated in a foreign officer exchange partnership with Egyptian naval officers. The Egyptians visited San Antonio, and San Antonio Sailors and Marines visited two Egyptian navy ships: ENS Dumay and ENY Mahroussa, the world's oldest yacht.
That same day, a team of San Antonio Sailors and 26 MEU Marines competed in a soccer match against the Egyptian naval officers at Alexandria Naval Base.
"We had a great time with the Egyptian officers," said Ensign Rebekah Niesborella. "Conducting these events epitomizes our great rapport with Egypt's navy."
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Great White Fleet deployment highlights the Navy's commitment to global cooperation, strengthening partnership and bringing security and stability to the region.
San Antonio is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group supporting Maritime Security Operations in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of operations. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2009 05:52 |
| Story ID: | 30771 |
| Location: | ALEXANDRIA, EG |
| Web Views: | 485 |
| Downloads: | 451 |
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