CITY RECOGNIZES US NAVY GREAT WHITE FLEET CENTENNIAL

A City of Port Angeles, US Navy and Navy League Centennial Celebration
It has been one hundred years since 42 "all white" ships sailed into Puget Sound as part of their 43,000 nautical mile global "Peace-with-Strength" mission.

President Theodore Roosevelt's "Great White Fleet" attracted large crowds as the public welcomed the ships throughout the region.

Local Navy League councils supported the US Navy's Centennial celebration of the "Great White Fleet" by presenting special Centennial plaques to the mayors of six of the ports that the fleet visited 100 years ago which included Port Angeles, Seattle, Bremerton, Tacoma, Port Townsend and Bellingham.

Click photos to view larger image size.
Photos courtesy of the Clallam County Historical Society.

The City of Port Angeles recognized the centennial of the Great White Fleet's 1908 visit to the area on May 17, 2008 during a public ceremony at the City Pier.

Also participating were the Port Angeles High School NJROTC color guard, the Cutter Osprey assigned to USCG Group Port Angeles was positioned near the City Pier for the ceremony, and dignitaries arrived in a 1907 Buick driven by Jerry Weiler of Port Angeles.

Public Works & Utilities Director, Glenn Cutler has been appointed an Honorary Member of Distinction of the Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League of the United States.

Cutler is a Captain, U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corp, Retired, and is authorized to represent the Oak Harbor Area Council and to provide services at official ceremonies as required.

The vessels from the Great White Fleet that spent an extended visit in the Port Angeles Harbor in 1908 were the battleships USS Louisiana, USS Virginia, USS Missouri and USS Ohio. USN Captain Dennis E. Carpenter - Commander of the USS Ohio, a SSGN submarine, based at Naval Base Kitsap, along with LCDR Al Ventura, were present for the ceremony.

Special recognition was made to all Veterans in attendance and to one Veterans that served on the "name sake" battleship, the USS Missouri.

The City appreciates the great public turnout and thanks all of the participants for volunteering their time and resources to make this event truly special indeed.

Great White Fleet Centennial Celebration Program
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Event Photos
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With Appreciation

The City extends our thanks and great appreciation to the following groups and citizens that made this event not only possible - but truly special.

US Navy League
Gary S. Gunderson

USS Ohio (SSGN-726)
Commanding Officer, Captain Dennis Carpenter, USN
LCDR Al Ventura, USN

Port Angeles High School NJROTC Color Guard
Under Direction of Major Leo Campbell, USMC

USCG Cutter Osprey
USCG Group - Air Station Port Angeles

Jerry Weiler and his 1907 Buick
Terry Roth, Robert "Ming" Mingram and Kevin Thompson - period military personnel

Port Angeles Community Players for providing the period costume for Mayor Braun.

Elks Naval Lodge

City Personnel

The Honorable Gary Braun, Mayor
Port Angeles City Council

Glenn Cutler
- Honorary Member of Distinction Oak Harbor Area Council / Navy League of the United States
- Captain, Civil Engineer, Corps, Us Navy, Retired

Richard Bonine
Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation

Teresa Pierce
Executive Communications Coordinator

Parks & Recreation Staff

For more information, contact Teresa Pierce, Executive Communications Coordinator at either 360-417-4630 or tpierce@cityofpa.us

More information about the "Great White Fleet" can be found at: www.greatwhitefleet.info

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