NORFOLK NAVY YARD

Facebook - NNSY "History Matters"

By Marcus Robbins

INDEX
Blog #1, January 31, 2011, to Blog #12, July 20, 2011
Blog #13, August 15, 2011, to Blog #21, November 1, 2012.
BATTLE OF IRONCLADS, by Marcus W. Robbins, NNSY Service to the Fleet, March 2012, pp 8, 9 & 13 (extract)

 

Blog #23. June 18, 2012.

NNSY & Portsmouth Virginia Historical Traditions - Memorial Day & Flag Day

Norfolk Naval Shipyard and its host city, Portsmouth Virginia are tied together by a vast number of noteworthy long standing historic and patriotic traditions. In these last few days I had the privilege to participate in a small way behind the scenes, coordinating support of NNSY's contribution for two deeply meaningful observances that are central to our core as a free American people.

On May 28, 2012 we celebrated Memorial Day.

This year marked the 128th anniversary of Portsmouth's Memorial Day Parade, the oldest continuous parade in the nation. This year Vice Admiral Robert C. Parker, Commander U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, served as Grand Marshal. In addition to many other city and state elected officials on hand was our NNSY Shipyard Commander, Captain Mark Bridenstine.

This grand celebration event is hosted each year by the Portsmouth Mayor's Military Affairs Committee and the City of Portsmouth. The parade route began at I. C. Norcom High School then traveled along High Street to Crawford Street, and ended at Crawford and Columbia Streets. The reviewing stand was located at the corner of High and Court Streets.

NNSY's Parade Float, USS ALABAMA

Again this year NNSY proudly displayed the USS ALAMBMA parade float, a scaled 45' long replica made of fiberglass and wood. This artifact was constructed in the early 1980's as an outreach tool to focus attention upon the skill of the craftsmen at NNSY that constructed the ship between 1940 and 1942. The final line repeated at the reviewing stand this year as the float passed went like this: "Norfolk Naval Shipyard continues its great history of turning out the highest quality products and ship maintenance in support of the U.S. Navy".

NNSY Color Guard on Memorial Day 2012	NNSY Color Guard Leading USS ALABAMA Float 2012

As an added bonus, our NNSY Color Guard preceded the float down High Street. Always a crowd favorite, the NNSY Color Guard portrays honor to the flag of the United States and the service of its many men and women in the United States Navy. Members marching (left to right in pictures) were as follows: DC1 James Shaw, EN2 Eddie Smith, EN2 Randolph Goodchild, EM2 Sharlonda Robinson, DCFN Elizabeth Cox and EN2 Jawan McKenzie.

NNSY Color Guard Marching East on High Street 2012	Portsmouth's 128th Memorial Day Parade, May 28, 2012

With near perfect weather the crowd size again this year was estimated upwards of 8,000. If you have never witnessed this parade it is well worth the effort. Rain or shine we will be there again next year.

On June 14, 2012, we celebrated Flag Day.

Sponsored by the Portsmouth History Commission and a host of other city and local groups, this is truly a hometown team effort full of pride put forth, if for nothing else, a formal observance to honor our nation's flag. Celebrations such as this should give us pause for the great sacrifices that so many have given before, so that the flag may continue waving for us today. We truly live in a free land and this fact should never be taken for granted or overlooked in this sometimes impersonal and busy electronic age. On Friday last, people actually talked and were gathered supporting a common theme.

Flag Day 2012, Celebration at Portsmouth Waterfront

This year under the tent along the Portsmouth waterfront were three guest speakers from the local high schools and each shared topics recognizing the 150th anniversary of Portsmouth's role with the Civil War. Jerome Newsome of I. C. Norcom spoke on native son John L. Porter, ship constructor, who was instrumental in the conversion of the CSS VIRGINIA. Ashley Armstrong spoke about E. A. Jack, Steam Engineer, of the CSS VIRGINIA, and finally Gary Allison of Churchland spoke on the Battle of Hampton Roads. All three participants did an outstanding job. It is so wonderful our local history is still taught and honored in the classroom.

Another fact in regard to the speakers was that concerning their three topics, each of these people or events were tied somehow to the Elizabeth River which formed the background a short distance away. Portsmouth, the Navy and even the men and women that took arms against each other 150 years ago all drew upon this river as a common connection. Today, I challenge you to look upon our river and look for the American flags; they are there upon ships, big and small and even upon the tops of high industrial cranes. You really can show pride in the flag in the most interesting places everyday; the river still keeps us all connected.

NNSY Color Guard at Portsmouth's Flag Day 2012	NNSY Color Guard, Flag Day on June 14, 2012

Our NNSY Color Guard again participated in the Portsmouth Flag Day celebration last week. It was very windy along the waterfront and while that might have been looked on as not such a good thing, in a way it was a very good thing as the flags were able to fly open and in full display. Members participating (forward to rear in pictures) were as follows: MM1 Curtiss Mays, EN2 Jonah Adams, EM1 Brandon Coleman, and IC2 Justin Awtry.

At the Norfolk Naval Shipyard today we believe in not only honoring our rich historical naval past but also providing present day public outreach for educational and employment opportunities along with active participation supporting our local Portsmouth, Virginia, community, because - "history matters".