Willamette Valley Navy Week brings Sailors from throughout the fleet to the realm to emphasise the significance of the Navy to the Willamette Valley, the state of Oregon, and the nation. Greater than 60 Sailors will take part in instructional and group outreach occasions all through town, together with the Oregon Worldwide Air Present.
Taking part Navy organizations embrace Navy Band Northwest, USS Structure, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group ONE, United States Navy Ceremonial Guard, Navy Recruiting Command, Navy Expertise Acquisition Group Portland, Navy Historical past and Heritage Command, the amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD 27), the Expeditionary Sea Base USNS John L. Canley (ESB 6), Navy Esports, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Coaching Air Wing Six, Division of the Navy Workplace of Small Enterprise Packages, U.S. Navy Parachute Workforce – The Leap Frogs, and the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron – the Blue Angels.
The Navy’s senior govt host is Rear Admiral Charles “Mike” Brown, reserve deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Data Warfare. Throughout Willamette Valley Navy Week, he’ll take part in group engagements, meet with college students, and converse with native companies, civic, schooling, and authorities leaders.
“I’m honored to symbolize the USA Navy on the first-ever Willamette Valley Navy Week,” stated Brown. “Oregon has a wealthy naval heritage, and my time in Salem and the encircling communities will spotlight our ties and produce our Navy nearer to the residents of the Willamette Valley.”
Navy Weeks are a collection of outreach occasions coordinated by the Navy Workplace of Group Outreach designed to provide People a chance to be taught in regards to the Navy, its folks, and its significance to nationwide safety and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served because the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the nation with out a important Navy presence, offering the general public a firsthand take a look at why the Navy issues to communities all through the Willamette Valley.
All through the week, Sailors will take part in varied group occasions throughout the realm, together with partaking with college students throughout a number of faculties and volunteering for town of Salem, Boys and Ladies Golf equipment of Salem, Marion and Polk counties, Marion Polk Meals Share, and Mid-Willamette Valley Empire Habitat for Humanity.
On Sept. 23, these attending the College of Oregon soccer sport versus the Colorado Buffalos might be handled to a number of performances by the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard within the Fan Zone, and a joint halftime efficiency with the College of Oregon’s marching band. The sport may even characteristic an on-field Hometown Hero recognition for Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Chambers, an Oregon native and a 2003 College of Oregon graduate.
“It is a very particular Navy Week for me, and I’m honored to be the lead planner for the first-ever Navy Week in Oregon,” stated Chambers. “Oregonians have at all times had plenty of delight and respect for the army, and I can’t consider a greater strategy to end my 20-year profession than again residence with the individuals who have supported me all through this journey.”
The Salvation Army Kroc Heart will host a gaggle of Sailors on Sept. 25 from 5-8 p.m. for “Navy Day on the Kroc.” These in attendance will have the ability to watch robotic and dive gear demonstrations, attempt on a bomb swimsuit, play video video games with the Navy Esports workforce, watch a efficiency by the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, and play sports activities and video games with Sailors. A river cleanup undertaking, in partnership with Willamette Riverkeeper, will happen on Sept. 27 and all residents are inspired to volunteer.
Residents may even get pleasure from free reside music by Navy Band Northwest at venues all through the week, together with: Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. at Salem Metropolis Corridor workplace; Sept. 27 at 8 a.m. at Keizer Metropolis Corridor and at 6 p.m. at Volcano Stadium in Keizer; Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. on the Willamette Heritage Heart; and on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. on the Salem Amphitheater.
Willamette Valley Navy Week is one in all 13 Navy Weeks in 2023, which brings a wide range of property, tools, and personnel to a single metropolis for a weeklong collection of engagements designed to carry America’s Navy nearer to the folks it protects. Annually, this system reaches greater than 140 million folks — about half the U.S. inhabitants.
Media organizations wishing to cowl Willamette Valley Navy Week occasions ought to contact Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Chambers at (901) 874-7048 or kevin.l.chambers4.mil@us.navy.mil.
