Phoenix Navy League Council
The Phoenix Council Newsletter
February 2015
In this issue:
Mark Your Calendar...
Sea Cadet News - Honoring Our Own
Quick Links...

Thanks for your support of the Navy League and the men and women of the sea services!

 
William S. "Bill" Stevenson, III, President
Phoenix Council
Navy League of the United States
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Mark Your Calendar ...
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February 27-28, 2015 - US Navy Blue Angels - El Centro, California - All members and their guests are invited to attend the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron, which will take place in El Centro, CA. This event is a fundraiser for the Imperial Valley Council of the Navy League. For details, you can visit ivnavyleague.org or you may call Wendy Munn to explore availability and feasibility.

March 18, 2015 - Naval War College Dinner - Once again the Phoenix council will be hosting the Senior Foreign Officers from the Command College of the Naval War College on March 18th. This year the gathering will be held at the Carefree Resort on Wednesday evening. This will involve a cocktail reception and dinner for all attendees.

June 16-17, 2015 - Naval War College Current Strategy Forum - Newport, Rhode Island - The dates for the Current Strategy Forum will 16-17 June 2015 in Newport, Rhode Island, at the Naval War College. If ou are interested in attending this two day forum, please contact Bob Turpin at (602) 510-7511, and he will make arrangements for you to receive an invitation to attend. The theme each year changes, but it is a very stimulating environment with senior students, experts from around the country, and interesting discussions with a broad group of individuals.

Summer 2015 - USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) Day Cruise - San Diego, California - We are hoping to arrange a day at sea on board the USS Lake Champlain (CG-57), our adopted ship, that is home ported out of San Diego. We will notify you via email when the opportunity becomes available.

October 10, 2015 - Navy Birthday Ball - Celebrating 240 years of exceptional history and pride, all member are very welcome to attend this festive event and evening. More information will be provided in future newsletters as the information becomes available.
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Sea Cadet News ~ Honoring Our Own
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Honoring Our Own

By Petty Officer Jarrod Ogden, Veteran's Pride Battalion

December 7, 1941 became �A day which will live in infamy.� These words, which were said over 70 years ago by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, rang in the back of my mind. On December 7, 2014, my unit, Veteran�s Pride Battalion of Glendale, Arizona, took part in the ceremony at our state capitol, commemorating the tragedy.

Later that day, we were informed that one of our unit�s dearest associates, Radar Technician�s Mate 2nd Class Perry Sartain, had passed away unexpectedly. Along with his wife, former Region 15-2 Commander LTCDMR Wanda Sartain, he owned and operated the 30� replica USS Arizona battleship that has been a mainstay in events like that day�s, parades, and car shows for years. It was ironic that he was a crewmember of the replica and died on the 73rd anniversary of the sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor.

LCDR (Ret) Wanda Sartain asked Veteran�s Pride and our neighboring units, Mykel F. Miller Battalion and Phoenix Division, to conduct military honors for his funeral. This was a first for Region 15-2. Over the next few days, our Honor Guard prepared, determined to honor our own. Our team consisted of a bugler who played Taps, a seven man rifle squad, which fired the 21 gun salute, and the six man flag detail, which folded and presented the National Ensign to his widow. I had the enormous honor of presenting the National Ensign personally to LCDR Sartain. As the rifles sounded their sharp reports, I gave the flag to her and repeated my lines. Lines that had minutes ago been just words took on a new profound meaning as I experienced such raw emotion that handing over our flag to RD2 Sartain�s widow.

We did well. There were a few minor hiccups, but we finished the rendering of the honors with excellent military bearing. This will always be one of the most memorable things that I will ever do in the Sea Cadets. This event, unlike parades where we are out in the public eye, was never about us. It was purely about giving the utmost respect and reverence to a family that has served our nation and the units in Arizona. We honor our own.

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