THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240581
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLENE CASON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 55 lines
The Atlantic Fleet Sailor of the Year Awards ceremony, held in Hampton Roads since its inception 25 years ago, will move to Jacksonville, Fla., this spring.
Nominations for the awards by sea and shore commands from Iceland to Key West, Fla., have traditionally culminated in celebrations hosted locally.
But the Norfolk-based fleet has opted to rotate that celebration among other Navy towns on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. From now on, it will be held every other year in Norfolk, and otherwise alternate among such cities as Groton, Conn., and Ingleside, Texas.
``We want to stress that the festivities are fleetwide,'' said Atlantic Fleet Master Chief David Borne. ``This is a positive program for the fleet and for the community. Norfolk will still have the event 2-to-1 compared with other locations.''
The change has baffled local officials who have helped sponsor the event for the past generation.
``We were surprised and disappointed when we got the letter,'' said Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce president John Hornbeck, who said he learned of the fleet's decision after the fact.
``This is very much what the business community wants to do to honor the military,'' he said. ``We've considered this to be a partnership that we've been involved in for at least the past 15 years, and we're just sorry that we weren't part of the decision-making process.''
Hornbeck acknowledged that the Sailor of the Year program is a Navy event but noted that the chamber has always been involved.
``We put a lot of intensive and extensive effort into the event each spring, in staff time, resources and sponsorships,'' he said.
``I can't say for sure what our role in the program will be in the future. But, for this year, we'll focus our attention on enhancing Fleet Week in the fall.''
The old Virginia Beach Chamber of Commerce got involved with the Navy's recognition of its top sailors when the program first began in 1972. The Navy brought finalists into town prior to naming its top men and women; the chamber offered to put up the candidates' families. When local city chambers merged into the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, the Sailor of the Year banquet and other activities moved to Norfolk.
While the five finalists nominated each year by sea commands and four from shore commands spend the week being scrutinized by a selection board, local businesses and merchants continue to arrange free hotel rooms for the sailors' families, host receptions and cookouts, and set up local tours.
Despite Hornbeck's reservations, Borne said the fleet saw ``no downside to a rotational schedule.''
The move should not affect relations with the city.
``We hope,'' Borne said, ``we will continue to have a wonderful relationship with the community.''