SEABEE DAYS LAUDS BUILDERS SHIP TOURS, MILITARY PARADE, ENTERTAINMENT, ATHLETICS TO BE FEATURED AT BASE.Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer Tens of thousands of people are expected in Ventura County this weekend at the annual Seabee Days festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. , featuring a military parade  The perspective and/or examples in this article do not represent a world-wide view. Please [ edit] this page to improve its geographical balance. , athletic competitions and a rare opportunity for ship tours. Part of Armed Forces Day weekend, the event is free. Because of the heightened security at Naval Base A naval base primarily for support of the forces afloat, contiguous to a port or anchorage, consisting of activities or facilities for which the Navy has operating responsibilities, together with interior lines of communications and the minimum surrounding area necessary for local Ventura County-Port Hueneme, new restrictions are in place, and people and vehicles entering the base are subject to search. ``Last year we had the largest attendance ever, close to 40,000 over the two days,'' said Teri Reid, public affairs Those public information, command information, and community relations activities directed toward both the external and internal publics with interest in the Department of Defense. Also called PA. See also command information; community relations; public information. officer for the base. ``This year, with the two ship tours, we hope to have even more visitors. ``Ship tours are always a big draw because they're so rare these days. After 9-11, security really curtailed the public visiting of ships.'' Photo identification is required for adults who wish to board the U.S. Navy destroyer and amphibious transport docked at the base. The weekend event honors the men and women of the Naval Construction Force The combined construction units of the Navy, including primarily the mobile construction battalions and the amphibious construction battalions. These units are part of the operating forces and represent the Navy's capability for advanced base construction. Also called NCF. , known as Seabees, a word that comes from the sound of the first letters of Construction and Battalion. More than 60 years ago, they were recruited into the military from the civilian construction trades and placed under the leadership of the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps The Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) is a staff corps of the United States Navy. CEC officers are professional engineers and architects, acquisitions specialists and Seabee Combat Warfare Officers. . Hundreds of thousands of Seabees have served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. ``As we celebrate our 19th Seabee Days, Seabees from Port Hueneme Port Hueneme (wī'nē`mē), city (1990 pop. 20,319), Ventura co., S Calif., on the Pacific coast; founded 1870, inc. 1948. It has an artificial deep-sea harbor and is the site of a huge naval construction-battalion (Seabee) center. are deployed around the world in support of the global war on terrorism Terrorist acts and the threat of Terrorism have occupied the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S. government for many years. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, as amended by the usa patriot act ,'' said Capt. Steve Wirsching, commander of the 31st Seabee Readiness Group. ``U.S. Navy Seabees are providing combat construction support to the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy Seals in Iraq and in Afghanistan, and are supporting other missions in Kuwait, the Horn of Africa Horn of Africa, peninsula, NE Africa, opposite the S Arabia Peninsula. Also known as the Somali Peninsula, it encompasses Somalia and E Ethiopia and is the easternmost extension of the continent, separating the Gulf of Aden from the Indian Ocean. and a number of locations throughout the Pacific theater.'' Seabee Days at the base's Construction Battalion Center kicks off Saturday with a military parade and flyover of jets, and features exhibits at the Seabee Museum, displays of Seabee skills, and a variety of musical entertainment. Gates open at 9 a.m. The full-dress parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, with more than 700 Seabees accompanied by the First Marine Division Band. Eric Leach, (805) 583-7602 eric.leach(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO --Seabee Days will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Naval Base Ventura County-Port Hueneme. Coolers, backpacks, skateboards, bicycles, glass containers, pets, alcohol and weapons are prohibited. Guests must enter through the Victoria Avenue and Patterson Road gates. The base is east of Victoria Avenue, which can be reached by taking Victoria south from the Ventura Freeway. The Patterson Road gate can be reached by turning east from Victoria onto Channel Islands Boulevard. For information, call (805) 982-6000 or visit dailynews.com CAPTION(S): box, map Box: IF YOU GO (see text) Map: U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Center Daily News |
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