Navy League welcomes sailors, newest destroyer

By ERIC LINDBERG — April 14, 2009

After being invited last year to adopt the newest destroyer in the U.S. Navy, the USS Stockdale, the Santa Barbara Council of the Navy League will help commission the vessel during a formal ceremony this weekend.

The Arleigh Burke class destroyer is arriving at Port Hueneme today and crewmembers will be involved in a series of community events prior to the commissioning ceremony on Saturday.

Organizers with the Navy League said the visit is an opportunity to thank both the sailors who are currently serving on the destroyer as well as veterans and former prisoners of war.

“Our real goal here is to get the word out that we’re honoring our Vietnam War veterans,” said Doug Crawford, a public affairs officer with the Navy League. “This is an opportunity to honor them and say thank you, so we’re holding a POW reception that’s taking place after the commissioning.”

A group of approximately 100 veterans and prisoners of war who served during the Vietnam War, along with Medal of Honor recipients and family members, are expected to attend the ceremony and accompanying activities.

The destroyer itself is named after one of the most highly decorated officers in the history of the U.S. Navy, Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale, who was also the highest-ranking official held as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict.

As far as the Navy League’s role in the future of the destroyer, Crawford said the organization will be responsible for hosting the vessel when it comes to town and providing creature comforts for crewmembers while they are at sea.

“We’re kind of their make-a-wish foundation,” he said. “It’s typically to provide the financial support they need to give awards for sailors or soldiers, we provide funds for their libraries and computers and things that they need to communicate with their families while at sea.”

The destroyer has a crew of more than 250 men and women, many of which will be performing community service this week in the Ventura area, including helping with the construction of a house for a veteran through Habitat for Humanity.

Approximately 100 soldiers will visit Santa Barbara this week for a night on the town, and organizers urged local residents to get out and offer appreciation to the men and women who are serving their nation.

On Thursday and Friday, a handful of sailors will join Santa Barbara city firefighters for ride-alongs, a barbecue and a friendly softball game.

“They’ll spend the day with us and see what we do,” Battalion Chief Pat McElroy said. “We’ll cook dinner for them and just hang out and get to know them.”

On Friday afternoon, beginning at 5 p.m., local firefighters will square off against a team of crewmembers from the destroyer at Pershing Park. The public is welcome and encouraged to bring a picnic dinner.

“These guys are away from their families and they’re serving our country, and we just like to make them feel that there are people here who feel gratitude and want to welcome them to town,” McElroy said.

Following the community events, the commissioning ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Admiral Timothy J. Keating will serve as the keynote speaker during the commissioning, while former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot is serving as the honorary chair of the event.

Crawford said the destroyer should be making a visit to Santa Barbara Harbor in the near future as well, although Navy officials are still in the planning phase. He said donations are being accepted to support events being held during the current visit and future visits.

Comment on this article

Subject:

Body:

Poster:

Enter text seen above: