SECNAV Visits Northwest

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chantel M. Clayton, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Northwest

April 15, 2010 - SILVERDALE, Wash (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus traveled to the Pacific Northwest for a four-day visit April 11-14.

During his time in the Northwest, Mabus toured military installations, held all hands calls aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bangor and met with local government, business and civic leaders.

Mabus also took the opportunity to reenlist Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Ryan Vannorman, who works at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility pump shop located on NBK Bangor.

"Not only was it a great honor to meet him, but I felt really honored that he took the time out of his busy schedule to be a part of my reenlistment ceremony and to reenlist me," said Vannorman.

During the all hands call aboard NBK Bangor, more than 600 Sailors and Marines packed the Bangor Plaza Ballroom to hear the SECNAV speak.

"On behalf of a very grateful country, I appreciate the job that everyone in here does. I don't think people see enough of what you do and the sacrifices you and your families make," said Mabus.

Mabus commended the flexibility Sailors and Marines display while serving their nation and their ability to meet whatever challenges they face.

"We can do anything from special warfare to disaster relief, to humanitarian assistance to partnership building. People in today's Navy and Marine Corps are skilled and dedicated. The Navy I was in years ago cannot touch today's Navy, because today, we have the highest skilled, best educated, most incredibly trained and the most dedicated fighting force that this country and the world has ever known," Mabus said.

Mabus thanked the Sailors and Marines for their service and explained how appreciative both he and the American people are for their sacrifices.

"People are appreciative of the security you provide them and future generations. One of my responsibilities is to go out and tell people what our Sailors and Marines do for them every single day, to ensure they know the hard work you do to protect them. On behalf of all of those folks who never see and never know what you do, thank you very much."