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Sea of Sailors Welcomes President Obama To Naval Air Station Jacksonville

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091028-09
Release Date: 10/28/2009 1:55:00 PM

By Clark Pierce, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- President Barack Obama boarded Air Force One for a flight to Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville Oct. 26 where he addressed more than 3,400 enthusiastic Sailors, Marines, Department of Defense civilians and military families.

The president was accompanied on Air Force One by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Reps. Ander Crenshaw and Corrine Brown.

The commander in chief was welcomed to the base by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus; Commander, Navy Region Southeast Rear Adm. Tim Alexander; NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. and his wife, Chris; and NAS Jacksonville Command Master Chief (SW/SS) Jeff Hudson.

At noon, the crowd began flowing through security checkpoints at the recently opened Hangar 1122 overlooking the St. Johns River. Navy Band Southeast entertained the thousands of people for more than two hours until Obama, Mabus, Alexander and Scorby took the stage to boisterous applause.

Selected Sailors from NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport and Marines from Blount Island Command stood behind the president during his speech. "It is great to be here at one of America's finest Naval Air Stations," said Obama as he took the podium.

Knowing that the war in Afghanistan is top of mind with many Americans, Obama stated, "While I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or vital interests, I also promise you this – and this is very important as we consider our next steps in Afghanistan – I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary.

"Military communities like NAS Jacksonville take care of their own," said Obama. "It's not the remarkable platforms that give the United States its military superiority… it's not the sophisticated technologies that make us the most advanced in the world… no, we have the finest Navy and the finest military in the history of the world because we have the finest personnel in the world."

Obama noted some of the contributions of Jacksonville-based Sailors, including: the VP-5 "Mad Foxes" for assisting in the search for the missing Air France passenger plane in the southern Atlantic; the VP-16 "War Eagles" for surveillance during the Maersk Alabama hostage crisis off the coast of Somalia; the HS-15 "Red Lions" for special warfare support in Iraq; and the HS-7 "Dusty Dogs" for their upcoming deployment to the Persian Gulf.

After his remarks, Obama shook hands and sign autographs with hundreds of servicemen and women near the stage. Obama also met privately with 12 of NAS Jacksonville's top Sailors and Marines. The Sailors who met with the president said they were honored to be selected to meet their commander in chief.

"I am speechless," said Information Systems Technician 1st Class (AW) Stacey Thinn, the 2009 NAS Jacksonville Sailor of the Year. "It was such a great honor, he is such an inspirational person and it was just an awesome experience all around."

"Today history was written aboard our air station when Air Force One touched down on runway One Zero," remarked Scorby. "Our Sailors, Marines and the entire NAS Jacksonville team were fired-up about the commander in chief's visit. It was a great honor for all of us aboard NAS Jacksonville to have our station selected as the location for President Barack Obama's first visit to Florida's First Coast since becoming the 44th president of the United States."

Alexander said, "It was an honor to meet and host President Obama and Secretary Mabus. I'm extremely proud of everybody at NAS Jacksonville for their support of this significant visit. The White House staff whom I spoke with were very pleased with all the support they received – and that's a reflection of the quality people we have here."

For more news from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, visit www.navy.mil/local/nasjax/.