thedrifter
03-16-09, 04:01 AM
Seabees celebrate 67th birthday at Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley
By Michele Willer-Allred
Correspondent
Monday, March 16, 2009
Navy Seabees of all ages from all over country came together Saturday night to celebrate the Seabees’ 67th birthday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley.
A capacity crowd of more than 1,000 Seabees in uniform and their guests gathered for dinner, dancing and birthday cake during the black-tie 2009 Seabee Ball in the Air Force One Pavilion at the library.
In addition to the Seabees’ birthday, the event also marked the 167th year of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the 142nd year of the Civil Engineer Corps.
Representatives of the Marine Corps saluted their work that night.
The first construction battalions, or Seabees, were established in March 1942 to provide military construction in war zones during World War II.
Andres Ramirez, 87, who was a Seabee from 1942-71, traveled with his wife, Melba, from Corpus Christi, Texas, to attend Saturday’s event.
Ramirez was stationed at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme before he was sent overseas with the Seabees during World War II.
Andres’ daughter-in-law Cristina Ramirez, who traveled to the event with her husband, Gilbert Ramirez, said her father-in-law is “a very, very proud Seabee” who never misses the annual celebration. This year other family members wanted to join him there to show their appreciation, she said.
Ensign Lawrence Hall, who served 14 years in the Navy before becoming a commissioned officer in the Civil Engineer Corps in Port Hueneme, said he came to the celebration because, “The Civil Engineer Corps has a rich tradition and the Seabees has played a vital part in our country’s history. I wouldn’t have missed this celebration today.”
Not forgotten were the deployed Seabees who could not attend. Lt. Cmdr. Ronald Cooley, a Navy chaplain, led a prayer for those serving overseas. Senior Chief Utilitiesman Jamye Rainwater, who was master of ceremonies, also led a POW/MIA ceremony.
The youngest and oldest active-duty Seabees at the event — Joshua Teer, 19, a construction mechanic from Dallas, and Command Master Chief Robert Marconi, 54, from LaCrosse, Wis. — helped cut the birthday cake. They joined Civil Engineer Corps Capt. James Worcester and Marine Brig. Gen. Charles Gurganus.
Gurganus said the Seabees in Iraq build facilities that protect the Marines there, and also build schools, bridges and electrical lines that help Iraqi civilians rebuild their lives.
Gurganus, who served two terms in Iraq alongside Seabees, said the Seabees typically put their own lives on the line in volatile areas to get the work done.
“I will say that any Seabee past or future, they have my eternal appreciation,” Gurganus said.
Ellie
By Michele Willer-Allred
Correspondent
Monday, March 16, 2009
Navy Seabees of all ages from all over country came together Saturday night to celebrate the Seabees’ 67th birthday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley.
A capacity crowd of more than 1,000 Seabees in uniform and their guests gathered for dinner, dancing and birthday cake during the black-tie 2009 Seabee Ball in the Air Force One Pavilion at the library.
In addition to the Seabees’ birthday, the event also marked the 167th year of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the 142nd year of the Civil Engineer Corps.
Representatives of the Marine Corps saluted their work that night.
The first construction battalions, or Seabees, were established in March 1942 to provide military construction in war zones during World War II.
Andres Ramirez, 87, who was a Seabee from 1942-71, traveled with his wife, Melba, from Corpus Christi, Texas, to attend Saturday’s event.
Ramirez was stationed at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme before he was sent overseas with the Seabees during World War II.
Andres’ daughter-in-law Cristina Ramirez, who traveled to the event with her husband, Gilbert Ramirez, said her father-in-law is “a very, very proud Seabee” who never misses the annual celebration. This year other family members wanted to join him there to show their appreciation, she said.
Ensign Lawrence Hall, who served 14 years in the Navy before becoming a commissioned officer in the Civil Engineer Corps in Port Hueneme, said he came to the celebration because, “The Civil Engineer Corps has a rich tradition and the Seabees has played a vital part in our country’s history. I wouldn’t have missed this celebration today.”
Not forgotten were the deployed Seabees who could not attend. Lt. Cmdr. Ronald Cooley, a Navy chaplain, led a prayer for those serving overseas. Senior Chief Utilitiesman Jamye Rainwater, who was master of ceremonies, also led a POW/MIA ceremony.
The youngest and oldest active-duty Seabees at the event — Joshua Teer, 19, a construction mechanic from Dallas, and Command Master Chief Robert Marconi, 54, from LaCrosse, Wis. — helped cut the birthday cake. They joined Civil Engineer Corps Capt. James Worcester and Marine Brig. Gen. Charles Gurganus.
Gurganus said the Seabees in Iraq build facilities that protect the Marines there, and also build schools, bridges and electrical lines that help Iraqi civilians rebuild their lives.
Gurganus, who served two terms in Iraq alongside Seabees, said the Seabees typically put their own lives on the line in volatile areas to get the work done.
“I will say that any Seabee past or future, they have my eternal appreciation,” Gurganus said.
Ellie