EVERETT — Celebrating the 10th birthday of Naval Station Everett will come in threes next month: A trio of events will be held, and three commemorative coins will mark the anniversary.
Planning for the April 8 anniversary started in December, and Gov. Gary Locke is scheduled to attend a luncheon that day to honor the Navy’s presence in Everett.
But Navy supporters will start saluting sailors here even earlier. A community celebration is planned April 3 at the Everett Mall.
An anniversary celebration could not be held at the Navy base because of security concerns.
"We’re taking the base to the public, so they can see what their Navy has, and has been doing," base spokeswoman Jeanie Kitchens said.
The event at the mall will feature indoor and outdoor displays of Navy gear, entertainment on two stages, an art contest with entries by schoolchildren throughout the county, and more.
Navy fans, no doubt, will want to walk away with one of the keepsake souvenir coins.
The coins will be struck by Northwest Territorial Mint, an Auburn-based company that makes medallions and commemorative coins. Other recent coins minted by the business include one for Operation Iraqi Freedom and a medallion celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Doug Roulstone, former captain of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, was chairman of the coin committee. He said the design for the coin can be reused for future anniversaries at the base — by making changes to the flip side.
"We wanted to make it a design that would be timeless, that we could continue to use," Roulstone said.
Local artist Bernie Webber designed the original logo for Naval Station Everett, but since that one is owned by the Navy, he helped come up with new artwork for the anniversary coin.
Three styles of the coin — about the size of a half dollar — will be minted with different finishes, including ones with a nickel alloy and others with an "antique brass" look. It will be sold for $10 at the "Salute to the Navy" celebration at the mall.
It also will be given to those who attend the Navy luncheon at the Everett Events Center on April 8.
The coin logo shares some similarities with the one for the Navy base.
Both feature two warships — one an aircraft carrier — as well as waves, mountains and a totem pole. The new coin also depicts the American flag, and the Everett Events Center, something that wasn’t around when construction on the base began in November 1987.
Navy Station Everett’s roots stretch back to the early 1980s, when talk of a new Navy base in Puget Sound began to intensify. Everett was the top choice among 13 contenders when the homeport selection was announced in 1984. Congress approved money for construction in 1986. The construction contract for the $56 million pier for an aircraft carrier was awarded the following year.
The pier opened in June 1992, but the naval station wasn’t officially dedicated until April 8, 1994.
Today, the Navy is the county’s second-biggest employer after Boeing. The station is homeport for six ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, and a Coast Guard cutter. All told, the base has more than 5,000 military personnel, 500 civilian workers and 6,100 family members of active duty personnel.
The three anniversary events are being put together by the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce, the Navy and members of the city’s and county’s Navy support team.
The mall event kicks off with an hour-long program at 11 a.m. featuring speeches by local dignitaries. It runs to 4 p.m. Also planned, a giveaway of 1,000 anniversary cupcakes.
"First come, first served. We’re a little worried about having a mob," joked Kate Reardon, Everett spokeswoman.
The celebration at the mall will be followed later in the evening with a "Navy night" at the Everett Costco. The free event, also open to the public, will feature food, entertainment and activities for kids.
The anniversary luncheon at the Everett Events Center is an RSVP event. Between 400 and 600 people are expected. Elected officials, including Congressman Rick Larsen, Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon and Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, will attend, as well as Navy officials from Washington, D.C.
Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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