Navy Seabees celebrate 77th birthday at 4th Annual Ball

Navy Seabee Veterans of America (NSVA) Island X-3 CDR EA1 (SCW) Blairsville gathered to celebrate the 77^th birthday of Navy Seabees at North Georgia Technical College’s Ballroom in Blairsville. Tickets for the March 1^st ballroom event were sold out, according to Ed Crenshaw, Event Co-ordinator.

The Seabee Ball began the evening ceremonies at 1815 by Island X-3 CDR EA1 Keith Hunter, USN-Ret. This was followed by an invocation from Chaplain CE1 (SCW) Richard Hoibraten, USN-Ret.

Posting of the Colors was provided by Mountain Area Christian Academy (MACA) JRROTC Cadets. The equivalent of a public high school ROTC program. MACA’s Elizabeth Lee, Danielle Mannellino, Tara Carroll, Mattie Coffey, Destiny Carroll, Danny Gonsalus, and Elijah Carroll participated.

Highlights of the ball consisted of:

• Meaning of the Missing Man chair and table: Chaplain Richard Hoibraten, USN-Ret.

• “Amazing Grace”: Chief Warrant Officer Jerry Cannon on bagpipes.

  CWO and Mrs Jerry Cannon

• Introduction of Special Guests: Clarance “Bud” Johnson and Tom Pike.

• History of Seabees: CMDCM (SCW) Neal Beard, USN-Ret.

Johnson was a witness to the flag raising in Iwo Jima. He will celebrate his 97^th birthday this week. Another WWII veteran, Jack Poke, was also in the audience enjoying the evening.

A silent auction, door prizes, military trivia, great food and appetizers were followed by DJ, Bill Grove.

Grove kept the attendees on the dance floor for the last two hours of the Ball with many of their favorite tunes ranging from the 1940’s to current hits.

It was a wonderful time of laughter and camaraderie by all who attended.

NSVA Island X-3 CDR EA1 (SCW) Blairsville is seeking new members. More information can be obtained by contacting Ed Crenshaw cecbret@winstream.net or Keith Hunter WKHunter@yahoo.com.

(Please follow FetchYourNews on Facebook where you can view more pictures of the year’s event.)

FetchYourNews.com attracts more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month for ad server. FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 to 60,000 per week Facebook page reach. For the most effective, least expensive local advertising, call 706-276-6397 or visit advertise@FetchYourNews.com