The Coronado Chamber of Commerce hosted its 32nd Annual Salute to the Military Ball on Saturday, March 11th at the historic Hotel del Coronado. The Chamber welcomed over 200 active duty military guests and their dates, as well as nearly 300 community members for a spectacular evening in the Del’s Grand Ballroom. The fabulous food, dancing and the Del’s unparalleled atmosphere were the backdrop for sincere reflection on the sacrifices that men and women in uniform make for our country every day.
This year, I had the pleasure of attending the Ball as a volunteer and made an appearance on behalf of the Coronado Times. Nothing could have prepared me for how remarkable the event would be and how I would walk away from the Ball with a deeper understanding of how supportive the community is of the military.
“It was truly an unforgettable evening,” said Chamber Executive Director Sue Gillingham. “We are so grateful to have had such wonderful support from the Coronado community in making this our best year yet for our military heroes.”
The Ball was originally started in 1985 as a way for locals and the surrounding business community to show their appreciation of our Coronado military members and their families. These families often live right next door in a small town like Coronado, but it’s not often that an opportunity is presented to thank them personally for their service. And such, the Salute to the Military Ball began on the premise that military members would be celebrated at a spectacular evening thrown in their honor each year, and all would attend for free. These men, women and their families have long been an important part of our community, supporting our local businesses and often times moving back to Coronado to retire.
The evening began with cocktail hour. It’s always fascinating to see how well members of the military mingle with complete strangers. That may seem like an odd statement, but I know other military spouses can relate to me when I say it’s an impressive skill. I’m constantly finding my extroverted-introverted self in new, unfamiliar environments and being encouraged to socialize with complete strangers.
However, at an extravagant event like this one, people conversed with such poise and professionalism and you could tell that everyone knew what a big honor it was to be there. Whether women were dressed in ballgowns or decorated in uniform or men were wearing a suit and tie, tuxedo, or mess dress, everyone was there to show gratitude for those who have served and are serving our country and protecting our freedom.
Bosun’s whistles signaled the main event was about to commence in the Grand Ballroom. The five course meal was delectable and the dinner conversation was delightful.
The Chamber was thrilled to have Vice Admiral Nora W. Tyson, USN, Commander of 3rd Fleet, as the Distinguished Speaker, as well as multiple distinguished military veteran guests, including Pearl Harbor survivors, in attendance.
Admiral Tyson was candid about her journey to become the first woman to lead a U.S. Navy ship fleet and shared an inspiring message about the monumental influence effective leadership can make on history.
“Admiral Tyson did such a wonderful job,” said Cindy Anderson, Ball Co-Chair. “Her inspiring talk had the entire room captivated, and we are so grateful she took the time from her busy schedule to share her stories.”
The evening also included the presentation of the 19th annual Captain Harry T. Jenkins Memorial Award and the 6th annual VADM James & Sybil Stockdale Award to deserving military members. The Harry T. Jenkins Award emphasizes honor, integrity and commitment. The Stockdale Award recognizes a military couple who best exemplify the selfless service and dedication to the community, the military, and the country.
As each award was distributed, guests stood to their feet, clapping, cheering, and showing their utmost support and gratitude to the men and women who have made significant impacts on their communities.
“This incredible evening couldn’t happen without the outstanding support from our sponsors, and we want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts for helping us make this event such a great success,” said Gillingham.
Those who made this event possible include: the Hotel del Coronado, BDT & Associates, Higgs Fletcher & Mack, California American Water Company, the Port of San Diego, the Salof family, The Boeing Company, Coronado Ferry Landing, Lincoln Military Housing, Lockheed Martin, SEAL Family Foundation, Crestmont Property Management, L-3 Telemetry & RF Products, San Diego Military Advisory Council, Chase Bank, Coronado Bliss AVEDA Lifestyle Salon, Coronado Hardware Glass & Paint, EDCO, El Cordova Hotel, Glorietta Bay Inn, the Bennett, Heinze & Langmaid families, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, North Island Credit Union, Orca Maritime, Philip Carter Winery of Virginia, Sacred Heart Parish & School, the Salvador Foundation, the San Diego Padres, San Diego Military Advisory Council, R-3 Strategic Support Group, the USS Midway Museum, and the Woiwode & Wright families. A special thanks goes out to the Coronado Eagle & Journal as the Award & Printing Sponsor, Barbara & Gus Theberge as the Military Cocktail Sponsor and the Hotel Del Coronado as the Patriotic Title Patron.
All questions about this event can be directed to the Chamber’s staff at 619-435-9260 or to [email protected].
