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U.S. Navy set to invade Tampa on Friday
U.S. Navy
As part of Navy Week, members of the U.S. Navy parachute team Leap Frogs are scheduled to make demonstration jumps at area spring training games.
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Published: March 10, 2010
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The Navy's high-flying Blue Angels, the Leap Frogs parachute team, a rocking Navy band, Navy divers and the top Navy chef from the USS Florida are all coming to town for Tampa Bay Navy Week.
"Our sailors will be involved in a wide variety of public activities because we want the people to see what's its like to be in today's Navy," says Lt. Dave Hecht, the Navy spokesman for the event.
Tampa is one of 20 cities selected this year for a Navy Week event. It begins on a Friday with a free concert by the Navy's rock band Pride aboard the SS American Victory, which is docked in the Channel District. There will be free tours and a mass swearing in ceremony of more than 100 recruits.
Tampa Bay Navy Week continues though the weekend of March 20-21, when Navy's Blue Angels flight team will take to the air as part of the annual MacDill AirFest. The event at MacDill Air Force Base is free and open to the public. The gates open at 8 a.m. and the air show starts at 9 a.m. and ends 5 p.m. on both March 20 and 21.
Between Friday and March 21, Navy sailors will be involved in a wide variety of events, from Navy Leap Frogs parachuting to baseball spring training games to Navy divers giving demonstrations at Adventure Island and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
"We want the American public to learn more about the Navy and what their tax dollars are paying for," says Hecht. "People can meet sailors and learn about all the various jobs that are in the Navy from chefs to combat photographers."
He says Navy specialists will be making numerous appearances on Tampa Bay area radio and television stations during the week.
Culinary Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Juan DeJesus, considered one of the Navy's best chefs, will be giving cooking demonstrations in Hillsborough and Pinellas high schools. The Navy band also will be visiting area high schools. DeJesus also will be at the Publix at 7835 Gunn Highway on March 17.
On Saturday and Sunday, guests at Adventure Island will have a chance to take a swim with a Navy diver, hear the Pride rock band and play volleyball against the crew of the nuclear submarine USS Florida. Navy divers also will be giving demonstrations at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on March 15, 16 and 17.
Hecht says the Navy also will be in full force at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ybor City on March 13 beginning at 8 p.m.
As part of Navy Week, the International Academy of Design & Technology in Tampa will host an exhibit of photos taken by Navy Mass Communications Specialist Petty Officer 1st Class Monica Nelson taken during her recent deployment to Afghanistan.
On Monday, Nelson will be at the school at 7 p.m. to discuss her work with the public.
"We are offering a lot of chances for people to meet Navy personnel and get first hand accounts," says Hecht.
For example, the "Bowling for Sailors" night on March 19 at Spiltsville in Channelside will feature discounts to patrons who let sailors bowl with their party.
Sailors also will be helping Habitat for Humanity Hillsborough work on a house on March 18. And during the week they will be visiting the Boys & Girls Clubs and taking official U.S. Navy caps to children patients at St. Joseph's Hospital.
For a complete list of Navy Week activities, go to www.navyweek.org/tampa2010/soe.html.
Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.
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