By ROMAN FLORES Imperial Valley Press News Editor - Feb 13, 2024
NAF EL CENTRO – Military and civilian swag was seen all about the hangar of the Naval Air Facility El Centro’s 17th annual “Wings of Elegance” Air Show Gala here on Friday, February 9.
The Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce presented the annual event in conjunction with NAF El Centro to “help honor the men and women of the Navy and remind the community that we're really blessed to have the Navy base here,” IVRCC Executive Director Terri Rogers said. “It's to support our local military installation and to build community relationship with our service members, also to increase engagement between our base and the business community.”
“We get dressed up and we encourage our community to come out and support the Air Show,” Rogers said. “We've been doing this for 17 years and it just gets better and better.
“We work with the IVRCC and provide them a venue, and we've done that for a number of years now,” NAF El Centro Public Information Officer, Kristopher Haugh, said.
“I know we enjoy partnering with the IVRCC in this endeavor to promote not only the Air Show to promote mutual partnership and cooperation,” Haugh said. “It's an awesome opportunity for the chamber, businesses to get together with the Commanding Officer and his team to get together and have an evening of discussions and fun."
“We donate some of the money back to the base and it's something that our community really enjoys,” Rogers said.
In addition to attendees being announced and trumpeted into the hangar and the presentation of the colors by the Navy Color Guard, and the subsequent dinner, three Sailors of the Year were recognized for their service during the event.
Throughout the night locals and service men and women took photos near the Boeing FA-18 Super Hornet jet on display, as well as other photo opportunities at the event.
Rogers said she hopes people who attended Friday’s Gala and also those who were not in attendance show up in support of the local Navy base, the Blue Angels and service men and women for the Air Show on March 9.
“It's the sound of freedom when we hear the jets in the air, really,” Rogers added. “God bless our men and women in the military,” she said.
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