FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2012
Battle of Midway Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Mallory Square
NAS KEY WEST, Fla. - Naval Air Station Key West invites the public to attend a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway Monday, June 4 at 7:45 a.m. at the Military Memorial at Mallory Square.
The ceremony will feature remarks from Commanding Officer Capt. Patrick Lefere and Command Chaplain Lt. David Martin, NAS Key West's Honor Guard, a recap of the battle and the wreath-laying.
The Battle of Midway was the turning point for World War II in the Pacific. The victory at sea cemented the role of naval aviation in combat, and this celebration affords us the opportunity to commemorate the heroic actions of the fighting men of the Pacific Fleet. Celebrating the hard-earned victory at Midway gives us an opportunity to learn more about this pivotal battle and the brave veterans who fought there and to remind us of what makes our Navy great.
"This historic victory at Midway can be attributed to traits that continue in our Navy today: bold, confident, and proficient Sailors willing to go into harm’s way with well-built, resilient ships and aircraft," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert on his blog, cno.navylive.dodlive.mil. "Our Sailors and Marines demonstrate this same warfighting ethos today as they face unique and demanding challenges, on land and at sea, operating forward, fully ready around the globe. This legacy is built on the foundation of veterans, like those at Midway, who have blazed the trail before us."
The Battle of Midway ceremony is free and open to the public.
For more on the Battle of Midway, including battle maps, interviews with aviators and Navy training films from the battle, go to www.navy.mil/midway. For more about NAS Key West, go to www.cnic.navy.mil/keywest or www.facebook.com/naskeywest.
-U.S. NAVY-