A familiar face has officially taken his place at the helm of the Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League.
Oak Harbor businessman and former mayor, Jim Slowik, was sworn in as the group’s president March 8 at the 35th Change of the Watch and tenth annual award ceremony at the Officers’ Club on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Colors were presented by an Oak Harbor High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps color guard as the Daybreak Trio sang the National Anthem. Rev. Dave Johnson, from the First United Methodist Church in Oak Harbor, performed the invocation.
Outgoing copresident Dick Devlin provided opening remarks, telling members the work they do on behalf of the maritime services is important.
“You are doing work that needs to be done,” he said. “And the work you do becomes more important every day as we transition from war to peace.”
A year in review photo presentation and music provided by Jerry Jones and Gordon Bainbridge entertained the nearly 100 members and guests as they dined. Formal presentations began with a brief overview of the NJROTC program at Burlington-Edison High School in Burlington.
“It’s a good program. The young men and women learn life skills and we hold them accountable,” said NJROTC Captain Butch Bailey. “You guys here are a major source of support for our program and we truly, truly, truly appreciate it.”
Members of Oak Harbor High School’s NJROTC were also honored. Cadet Commander Joyce Abides earned the Outstanding Naval Science Cadet award and Cadet Petty Officer 2nd Class Brendan Bristow was presented with the Navy League’s Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal.
“This is our 39th year,” said NJROTC program supervisor Bill Thiel. “We have 195 cadets in the program and we’ve moved from a company to a battalion. NJROTC members account for 12 percent of the school’s total enrollment.”
The OHAC also supports the Gadsden Battalion, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps in the Marysville/Everett area. Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medals were presented to two members of the battalion — Cadet Chief Petty Officer Patrick Leighton and Cadet Petty Officer 2nd Class Chelzy Lee.
Member awards included the Community Service Award, which was presented to Whidbey Island Bank and the City of Oak Harbor; Dave Weisbrod was named Navy Leaguer of the Year; the President’s Award was presented to John McMahon; Joe Farina and Cathy Niiro were presented with Navy League Scrolls of honor; and the John Vanderzicht Memorial Hall of Honor award was presented in absentia to former president Tom Tack.
In a written statement to league members, Tack expressed his appreciation to copresidents Dick Devlin and Beth Munns, who stepped in to finish his term when Tack accepted a job in New York State.
And then it was time for outgoing copresident Beth Munns to swear in the new president, his vice presidents and other council officers. Slowik had only a few words for the audience.
“I’m struck by how important it is that all of us be a part of Team Whidbey,” Slowik said. “Hopefully we can support the Navy in the way in which it needs to be supported.”
Master of ceremonies for the evening, Dave Williams, sent attendees off with these words of encouragement: “It’s been a great night for our council and we’re heading off on our 57th and 58th years with great leadership.”
