NLUS councils provide funds and fun for sea services

Sea Power, Oct 2003 by Vergun, David

World Wars I and II galvanized U.S. citizens in support of the armed forces like no war before or since, significantly affecting the Navy League and other patriotic organizations. Many new NLUS councils formed throughout the nation, joining the army of eager citizen volunteers manning the home front.

Between and after the wars, though, adding new members and retaining current ones was much more challenging for the councils. Many continued to attract new members-primarily by maintaining peacetime support for the sea services through numerous programs that combined a sense of mission with individual fulfillment. Following are just a few examples of the more successful programs:

In 1964, the 600 members of the Providence Plantations Council (R.I.) were particularly active in raising money for Navy Relief; hosting luncheons, banquets, and other social events for naval and military personnel; and sponsoring both the Sea Cadet Ship USS Blandy and the Navy League Cadet Ship USS Parle. The council also helped raise college scholarship funds for children of submariners killed aboard the USS Thresher. The council was perhaps best known, though, for helping the U.S. Navy implement its Moral Leadership Program (MLP)-later adopted Navy-wide. "MLP was a mixture of programs, including job placement for those separating from the Navy and an awards program for outstanding service or leadership," said Dr. John Avedisian, a former council member and New England region president. "The Navy liked the program so much that it adopted parts of it, including the awards program and a transitioning plan for Sailors. Additionally, council members invited Sailors to their homes."

The Jersey Shore Council (N.J.) donated a Chrysler convertible to the Naval Air Reserve Training Unit at nearby Lakehurst in 1961. The donation quickly became an annual event, focused primarily on new convertibles for Navy recruiters. Soon afterward, other councils started donating new cars-again, mostly to sea-service recruiters. A 1964 Navy article called it "one of the Navy League's most successful efforts."

In 1962, the San Diego Council pioneered Operation Highline, to help retiring armed forces personnel make the transition to their new lives as civilians. The Highline program-which offered, among other things, classes in resume writing, job-seeking tips, and job placement help-proved so successful that it, too, was adopted by other councils throughout the United States.

The San Diego Council began an innovative "Man in the Street" program in 1966. The goal of the program-which featured base and ship tours and meetings with Sailors and Marines-was to educate the community about the role and continuing importance of the nation's sea services. People of particular influence in the community-teachers and principals, for instance, and print and broadcast journalists-were especially encouraged to participate by touring ships and bases and meeting with Sailors and Marines.

Navy League councils have always been quick to honor sea-service legends. One such legend was Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet during World War II. In 1960, in recognition of the five-star admiral's 75th birthday, NLUS councils across the country honored Nimitz by encouraging state governors and city mayors nationwide to issue official Fleet Admiral Nimitz Day proclamations.

The Puerto Rico Women's Council frequently hosted dances for the enlisted men from the visiting ships of many countries-including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Colombia. Jane Ward, chairman of the council's dance committee, said in 1967 that the council was hosting the dances "as a patriotic duty." The purpose was "to stand behind our men in uniform," Ward said. "The best way to improve the image of a man in a Sailor's uniform is to get to know him and to realize he is just like our brothers, sons, or the kid next door." That year, the council sponsored 23 dances, attended by an average of 150 Sailors and Marines. The council also provided free dinners to visiting Sailors, as well as guest rooms in San Juan resorts and hotels.

The Puerto Rico Women's Council also started a Home Hospitality Program to bring lonely service personnel into local homes where they could enjoy Sunday and holiday dinners garnished with a generous touch of Puerto Rican friendship. The council also performed community volunteer work-distributing thousands of copies of the U.S. Constitution, for example, to children in public schools.

In 1958, councils throughout the San Francisco Bay area raised funds to buy school supplies for the children of Morocco. The supplies-airlifted to Morocco by aircraft assigned to Naval Air Station Oakland-were presented to the Moroccan Minister of Education, M. Bekkari, who said: "This is a great occasion for the children of Morocco. I would like to thank the Navy League of the United States for making this possible."

The Columbus Council (Ohio) is another innovative organization with a long-standing interest in supporting young people. In 1979, the council placed copies of Sea Power magazine in all high schools throughout the Columbus area. It also purchased promotional materials for sea-service recruiters. When USS Ohio-the Navy's first Trident ballistic-missile nuclear-powered submarine-was launched, the council sponsored a state-wide competition in Ohio public schools to design an appropriate insignia for the ship. The winner received a U.S. Savings Bond and a trip to the Electric Boat Corporation shipyard in Groton, Conn., to attend the launching of the Ohio.