Navy League-Aurora to host annual Pearl Harbor Day luncheon
The community is invited to the annual Pearl Harbor Day luncheon from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, at the Gaslight Manor, 2485 Church Road, Aurora. It is hosted by the Aurora Navy League Council 247 in concert with the Aurora Rotary International.
You do not need to be a member of the Navy League or have a reservation to attend.
The Navy League is a civilian organization started by President Teddy Roosevelt to provide civilian support the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and Sea Cadets.
The reception will begin at 11:15 a.m. followed by the extensive buffet luncheon at 11:45 a.m.
The cost is $20 all-inclusive, and tickets may be purchased at the door.
The program will start with the West Aurora Air Force JROTC Unit as the Color Guard, followed by the Bratton Awards to area high school students who achieved exemplary academic records and community involvement. These awards are judged by a combination of the Aurora Council of the Navy League, Aurora Rotary International, and Aurora University. Pearl Harbor Survivors will be honored during the program.
The keynote speaker is Rear Admiral Stephen C. Evans, USN, Commander Naval Service Training Command, Great Lakes. He is the son of a U.S. Marine. A native of Beaufort, South Carolina, he graduated from The Citadel in 1986 earning a bachelor of arts.
His sea tours include being a plank owner in USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71); fire control officer, USS DEYO (DD 989); combat systems officer, USS Hewitt (DD 966); executive officer, USS Hue City (CG 66); commanding officer, USS Mitscher (DDG 57); deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 24; and commodore, DESRON- 50 where he commanded Combined Task Force 55 (Middle East Force) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Combined Task Force 152.
He made numerous deployments to the Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean, North Atlantic and Western Pacific Areas of Operation earning the Battle Excellence Award in every ship assigned.
Ashore, he served as flag lieutenant to Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force; instructor, Surface Warfare Officers School; chief of Special Operations Command Support, then chief of Southern Command Support, Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC); lieutenant commander detailer then deputy director, Surface Warfare Officer Distribution Directorate, Navy Personnel Command; section head for Land Attack/Strike and ASUW Programs and led the Requirements Analysis effort for the Next Generation Cruiser CG(X), OPNAV N86; director, Professional Development Division and chairman of the Admissions Board, United States Naval Academy and senior military assistant to the 75th Secretary of the Navy.
He took command of Naval Service Training Command in July 2015.
He holds a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and was a 2014-2015 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI Fellow.
His personal awards include the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Gold Stars, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars, the Joint Achievement Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star and the Article 5 NATO Medal.
The Aurora Council is having a membership drive, and will pay half of the first year's dues for new members. This is an opportunity to attend an interesting event, and determine whether you would like to join permanently.
For details, call Leonard Wass at (630) 554-9386. Visit www.auroranavyleague.org.