Military, Civilians Celebrate Seafair Festival

By Mass Communication Specialist Nardel Gervacio, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

SEATTLE (NNS) -- Service members, their families and the local Seattle community celebrated the 61st annual Seafair festival at Genesee Park in Seattle Aug. 7-8.

The public interacted with service members from all branches and observed a flight demonstration by the Blue Angels air show and hydroplane races.

"I just watched the Blue Angels flight show, and it was really awesome," said Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Angela Alvarado Leal of Long View, Wash., assigned to Naval Security Force Everett. "I think it's great that there are so many different people here, and how they are all here to honor the men and women in uniform."

For some, the festivity at Genesee Park was a way for the public to see what the military has to offer.

"Seafair festival is great for the whole family and pretty much everyone else, a great place to be in any situation, I really enjoyed the Blue Angels performance " said Timothy Porter of Seattle. "I just saw a tour of the USS Kidd (DDG 100) and the USS Port Royal (CG 73) few days ago also, their great ships and I was very impressed with what I saw."

Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Lan Albright of Clearwater, Wash., assigned to Naval Security Force Everett, said that, although he is a Washington native, this was his first time at Seafair.

"I like it even with the rain; you get to meet a lot of wonderful people," said Albright. "I got to see the Blue Angels, which was a first for me. The whole Seafair experience has been great and I'm enjoying myself."

Seafair 2010 offered a unique opportunity to inform the public of the Navy's capabilities and showcase its armed forces through both personal interaction with service members, flight demonstrations and tours aboard visiting ships Port Royal, Kidd and USS Green Bay (LPD 20).

"The events today have been very entertaining, and there were much more than I thought there would be," said Denise Groon of Federal Way, Wash. "My family and I really enjoyed watching the hydroplanes races and the Blue Angels perform. I also enjoyed seeing military personnel interacting with the civilians."