by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Over the years, Jacksonville has developed a reputation for being one of the most “Navy friendly” cities in America.
This week, Downtown has the opportunity to reinforce that reputation as the site of this year’s Navy League of the United States 108th National Convention and this weekend’s “Salute to the Sea Services.”
Founded in 1902, the Navy League is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to support personnel and families of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine, said National President Daniel Branch.
The nonprofit organization’s 50,000 member volunteers are civilians and retired service veterans who want to maintain contact with their former shipmates and continue to contribute to the services’ missions.
“To be a world power, you have to have a great Navy,” he said.
“The Navy protects the sea lanes, the Coast Guard protects the coast and the Marines are there to take care of the bad guys,” said Branch’s wife, Kathleen, who is a life member of the Navy League.
The convention has brought more than 300 Navy League members to the Hyatt Downtown, where they will participate in meetings, awards ceremonies, panel discussions and galas hosted by many sea service flag officers, including Adm. Gary Roughhead, Chief of Naval Operations.
One of the Navy League’s most important functions is to lobby members of Congress to make sure lawmakers understand and appreciate the importance of sea power.
“The best part about being nonpartisan is that when we talk to Congress, we’re not there to help the Navy League. We’re there to help national security and local economies,” said Branch.
He said another mission is to support Sea Cadets, a program for youth ages 11-17, and Junior ROTC programs nationwide. The Navy League provides more than $1 million each year in scholarships for the Sea Cadets and junior reserve curriculums. Many other students take a more traditional educational track toward a career at sea.
“Fourteen percent of the appointees to the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Coast Guard Academy are former Sea Cadets,” said Branch.
The Navy League delegates started checking in Monday and to cap off the week, the local Navy League chapters have organized a celebration, “Jacksonville Salutes the Sea Services.”
Friday, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, a Navy fleet tugboat and a deep-water rescue and salvage ship are scheduled to dock along the Northbank Riverwalk for public tours.
This weekend, the Marine Corps will display mechanized units and weapons systems in the Duval County Courthouse parking lot, highlighted by demonstrations by the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team will also showcase naval aviation this weekend at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
“We formed committees and started meeting two years ago. It’s going to be quite a Navy week,” said Diane Wright, chair of the 2010 convention and member of the Mayport Navy League since 1997. “At first our plan was to bring one ship Downtown and it evolved from there.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Mayport Navy League council, the 35th anniversary of the St. Augustine council and the 30th year for the Kings Bay, Ga., council, she said.
Branch said the organization has held its annual convention in many destinations from San Diego and Palm Springs in California to Boston, Seattle and Hawaii.
“We select places we think would be appealing, where there’s a hotel large enough with enough meeting space and in an area where there are plenty of amenities. This is a beautiful setting and it’s the first time our national convention has coincided with so many events,” said Branch.
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