Broward Navy Days

Birthday Fund Raiser for Fleet Week 2011

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:51:00 GMT

Click on the image to view full-size.

Birthday Celebration in Honor of
Joe Millsaps
to benefit Fleet Week 2011

Friday, October 1st, 2010
630pm - 10pm
Hugh's Culinary, 4351 NE 12th Terrace
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Guest Speaker:
USMC Major Trent. A. Gibson
CO of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Jason Dunham

$60 per person - Space is Limited

Mary Anne Gray Returns as Chairman

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:50:00 GMT

Mary Anne Gray was elected as Chairman of Broward Navy Days on June 6th, 2010.

Mary Anne is no stranger to the organization. She has been on the board since 1992, and previously served as Chairman for three years during 1992-1995.

Mary Anne has been in the maritime industry for over 20 years. She is a former Port Everglades Commissioner and was the last chairman of the Port Authority before Broward County took over the operations. During her tenure there, she was the point of contact for the Navy, Coast Guard and foreign ships.

She sat on the USCG Harbor Safety Committee for 6 years, was chairman for
3 years, and held a USCG National Harbor Safety Committed Conference in 2004 at
Port Everglades.

She was President of the Manatee Survival Foundation for 15 years, President of the Propeller Club for 2 years, and President of the Florida Alliance for 7 years. She sat on the Seafarers House Board, New World Aquarium Board, Board of National Week of the Ocean, Governmental affairs committee for both the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and Broward Alliance, Florida Boating Advisory Board and Commission for the Status of Women.

Presently, she is a mentor for the Women of Tomorrow program, sits on
the commissioning committee for the USS Jason Dunham, is on the Banner Center
Advisory Board, Broward College, Advisory Board of IGFA and sits on the Broward
County Marine Advisory Committee. She is also currently in charge of Business
Development for LaMar Excursions.

"There is no way I can fill the shoes of our former Chairman, Joe Millsaps, but
I will make sure BND continues its mission with the seagoing services, interacts
with the Port users, and remains active in our community.

"Fleet Week is a challenge but members of our organization, along with many of our volunteers and friends in the community and our Fleet Week sponsors, have stepped up to the plate and pledged their support.

"Broward Navy Days is a wonderful organization and it is an honor to be Chairman."

US Second Fleet Change of Command

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:45:00 GMT

Mary Anne Gray, Chairman, and Garry Murphy, Navy Liaison, traveled to Norfolk, Virginia to attend the Change of Command ceremony for the U.S. Second Fleet.

Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams, Jr., who was here during Fleet Week this year, was relieved by Vice Admiral Danial P. Holloway.

Vice Admiral Holloway is already a friend of Broward Navy Days. He was here two
years ago for Fleet Week when he was the Commander of Carrier Strike Group
12/Enterprise Strike Group. The Commander of the U.S. Second Fleet is
responsible for sending ships down to Fleet Week.

This also proved a great opportunity to meet with the Navy, reinforcing BND's
commitment to conduct business as usual, and continue our strong
partnerships.

Chairman Gray reported that everyone they spoke with had many nice things to say about Joe Millsaps, and how all were sorry for our loss.

Coast Guard Foundation Tribute

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:57:00 GMT

The Coast Guard Foundation Tribute will honor the United States Coast Guard Seventh District on on November 1, 2010 at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida. Individual tickets are $350.00.

If you are interested in attending, please contact BND for more information.

The Coast Guard Foundation is privileged to support the men and women of the US Coast Guard and its Academy with programs and projects that enhance the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families.

Through donations from individuals and corporations, and through grants and special fundraising events, the Coast Guard Foundation supports academic, athletic, and leadership excellence for cadets at the Academy; offers financial relief to Coast Guard families who lose their possessions in natural disasters, and assistance to those who lose a Coast Guard family member in the line of duty; provides college scholarships to dependents of enlisted personnel; funds recreation and family-oriented facilities; and supports educational and moral programs on cutters and at bases around the nation, in addition to hundreds of smaller projects.

Upcoming Commissioning of the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109)

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:47:00 GMT

Commissioning of the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) will take place on November 13th, 2010 at Pier 29 at Port Everglades, Florida. Visit the Commissioning website here.

This event is by invitation only.

All current members of Broward Navy Days, along with Fleet Week sponsors, will receive invitations.

We are honored to have such a historic occasion to be held here in our local community. This event will draw thousands to the port, following a week of events and activities for the crew and their families. It is anticipated this commissioning will draw 5,000 patriotic Americans when they learn the story behind the ship's name.

The warship is named after heroic US Marine Corporal Jason Dunham who scarified his life by using his helmet to cover a hand grenade dropped by an insurgent. His spontaneous action saved the lives of two fellow Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom in April 2004. Jason sustained serious injuries from the blast and died eight days later. He was 22. President George W. Bush honored Jason for his actions with the issue of the Medal of Honor Citation posthumously on January 11, 2007. He is the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Maine to receive the medal since the Vietnam War.

The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is awarded to members of the armed forces who distinguish themselves at the risk of their life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy.

Corporal Jason L. Dunham was born on November 10, 1981 in Scio, New York. The date is significant in that the United States Marine Corps celebrates this day each year as their official birthday.

If you would like to contribute to the commissioning, please make checks payable to:
NLUS Fort Lauderdale Council, USS Jason Dunham Commissioning
% Mack E. Madzinski, Treasurer, USS Jason Dunham Commissioning
7820 Peters Road E 104
Plantation, Florida 33324

L to R: USS Jason Dunham Commissioning
Chairman Joe Black, Broward Navy Days Chairman
Mary Anne Gray, Major Trent Gibson and Debbie Postma

Seafarers House South Florida Business Leaders' Luncheon

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:03:00 GMT

Seafarers House is holding their South Florida Business Leaders' Luncheon on November 12, 2010 from 11:00 A.M to 2:00 P.M. aboard the ms Statendam at Port Everglades, Florida. The luncheon is being hosted by Holland America Line.

If you are interested in attending, please contact BND for more information.

This is a great opportunity to support Seafarers House, which continues daily to serve those who serve at sea. Their doors are open to everyone, providing spiritual guidance, communications services, shopping, entertainment, and a friendly smile. Their shoe box Christmas project is a special way of showing those away from home during holidays that the community does care!

Medal of Honor Recipient Mike Monsoor

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:50:00 GMT

Navy Petty Officer, PO2 (Petty Officer, Second Class) EOD2 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Second Class)
MIKE MONSOOR

April 5th, 1981 ~ September 29th, 2009

The Navy Seals' Trident Pin

After one completes the basic Navy Seals program, which lasts for three weeks, it is followed by Seal Qualification Training, which is 15 more weeks of training (necessary to continue imporving basic skills and to learn new tactics and techniques) - required for an assignment to a Navy Seal Platoon. After successful completion, trainees are given their Navel Enlisted Code and are awarded the Navy Seal Trident Pin, marking their official status as a Navy Seal.

These markings on Mike Monsoor's casket are those of Trident pins from Navy Seals that placed them there during his funeral.

View video footage of his memorial/tribute/funeral here.

Fleet Week Videos by Lynn University Students

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:19:00 GMT

Click HERE to view video profiles produced aboard the USS Iwo Jima during Fleet Week 2010 by Lynn University students.

Plaque from Second Fleet Commander

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Sat, 22 May 2010 02:24:00 GMT

Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams, Jr., USN, Commander SECOND Fleet, presented plaques to Garry Murphy, Naval Liaison for BND, and to myself during his remarks to the Downtown Fort Lauderdale ROTARY Club.

The Admiral appeared before the Club as a function of Fleet Week 2010 Port Everglades.

Click on the image to view full size.

BRAVO ZULU

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Sat, 22 May 2010 02:10:00 GMT

WELL DONE TO THE SAILORS, MARINES AND COAST GUARDSMEN WHO SUPPORTED FLEET WEEK PORT EVERGLADES 2010.

WHILE IN PORT EVERGLADES YOU PERFORMED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL,
SHOWCASING THE NAVAL SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND HARD WORK LED TO THE SUCCESSFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT OF MORE THAN 10,000 SHIP TOURS, 28 COMMUNITY RELATIONS EVENTS, 30 SEPARATE MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS, 12 DV VISITS AND THE EXECUTION OF A ROBUST LIBERTY CAMPAIGN THAT INCLUDED MORE THAN 1,100 MEMBERS ON LIBERTY EACH DAY WITHOUT INCIDENT.

I EXPRESS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR A JOB WELL DONE, BRAVO ZULU.

BEST WISHES,
RDML MICHELLE J. HOWARD

Donate $5 to Operation Homefront - Florida

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:19:00 GMT

This month Operation Homefront has started a texting campaign to raise money for our military families. This texting campaign is asking you to text the word HONOR to 90999 and donate $5 to Operation Homefront-Florida.

This donation will be added to your cell phone bill and it is tax deductible.

Top Ten Low Fly By's

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:53:00 GMT

Thank You Letter from USMC

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:00:00 GMT

Here is a Letter of Appreciation I received this week from a Marine Corps Captain serving in Afghanistan.

Click on the image to see the letter full-size.

The letter speaks for itself, but the real thank you should go to Alan and Shelley Stein of the Broward County Council-NLUS for putting this project together. They did the work, all we did was pay for some of the postage.

BRAVO ZULU, Al & Shelley!

Norway

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:50:00 GMT

USCG Holiday Party Photos

maryanne@browardnavydaysinc.org — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:14:00 GMT

CLICK THESE PHOTOS TO SEE THE 1ST SET (LEFT) AND 2ND SET (RIGHT) OF PHOTOS

CLICK THESE PHOTOS TO SEE THE 2ND SET (LEFT) AND 1ST SET (RIGHT) OF PHOTOS

Hello, Everyone,

The following message is from Peter Caspari, Official Photographer for Broward Navy Days, Inc.

Enjoy,
Joe

Above are the links to the photos (click on the images for the 1st and 2nd set of photos) from this past Saturday's US Coast Guard Holiday Party at the Briny Pub. The photos will be up on line for the next 30 days. If anyone is interested in obtaining a hi-res image of any of the photos please contact me via e-mail (my email address can be found on my website) and I will be happy to forward the image(s) at no cost with my compliments.

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Peter Caspari
Photographer
iReachAmerica
"We serve those who serve."
TEL: 1-800-705-2454