NWS Seal Beach Det. Norco Celebrates New Main Gate Sign, Name Change

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eli Medellin, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Public Affairs

Norco, Calif. (NNS) -- Navy and Norco community leaders celebrated the unveiling of the new main gate sign at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Norco Jan. 30.

The new sign coincided with a name change for the facility, which had previously been known as Detachment Corona. The base name was changed to better reflect its location and strong ties to the local community.

"We are proud of the great relationship we have with the Norco community," said Commanding Officer Capt. Terry Auberry. "I look forward to building on this relationship even more in the future."

At the beginning of World War II, the site was established as a naval hospital to serve wounded Sailors and Marines from the war. In December of 1941 it was officially named "Naval Hospital, Corona," after the nearest large community at the time.

With the expansion of guided-missile development, the base also became a site for the Navy's weapons system assessment program. The hospital officiallly closed in 1957, and since then the facility has gone through a number of name changes.

The installation's main tenant, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, is the Navy's primary weapons assessment organization.

Throughout the last 70 years, the City of Norco has grown up around the base. Local leaders expressed their support for the name change.

"We are very passionate about our community," said Norco Mayor Kevin Bash. "We were already supportive of the base. Now that it's a 'Norco' base, that just makes it all the better and will provide much more ownership to this community."