Sailors Shine in Yorktown Waterman's Heritage Festival

By Mark O. Piggott, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Public Affairs

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown enjoyed the fun and festivities of the 2010 Yorktown Waterman's Heritage Festival at the Yorktown Waterman's Museum in Yortown, Va., July 11.

The festival is held annually to honor watermen who fish on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the men and women of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard who protect them.

The festival features waterman's boat races, maritime and environmental educational displays, arts and crafts vendors and various military units. Sailors from the NWS Yorktown's Security Department brought a 45-foot harbor security boat and patrol cruiser to display for festival patrons.

Other military elements included a U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat from U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown and Marine Corps humvees from 2nd Fleet's Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST) at NWS Yorktown.

"The military's participation is always a big part of the festival every year," said David Niebuhr, executive director for the Yorktown Waterman's Museum. "We can't do enough to thank them for their service to our country and for their support of the Yorktown community."

The highlight of the festival is the annual waterman boat races. Each year, the local watermen try to win honors and bragging rights for the next year. From outboard motors to big diesel engines, the boats put on quite a show for all the spectators to see.

"It's amazing to see what these workboats are capable of," said Capt. Chuck Marks, NWS Yorktown's commanding officer. "These men take pride in their work and show it by maintaining their boats in a high state of readiness. That's the mark of a true seaman."

Throughout the day, people who wandered the festival grounds got a chance to see military hardware up close and interact with Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. The festival gives the local community the opportunity to see their military neighbors outside the fence line.

"Our mission of fleet ordnance support requires intense security and some restrictions, especially when it comes to the base operations," said Marks. "We welcome opportunities like the Waterman's Festival to bring us a little bit closer to the community we call home."

"I know we can always rely on the military to help us in any way, shape or form," said Niebuhr. "They add significantly to the Waterman's Museum goal of educating people on the resources and history of the York River."

The festival concluded with a rousing performance by the U.S. Fleet Forces Band "Four-Star Edition" playing top rock, pop and country hits.