Saturday, November 23, 2024

Weekend for Wings – Local Navy Spouses Serving in Their Own Way

Weekend for Wings Poster

Weekend for Wings 2018, a charity event raising money for scholarships to support Naval Aviation dependents, is coming to Coronado March 9 & 10, with events both in town and on Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI). The event kicks off with a Golf Tournament at NASNI on Friday morning (for those with base access) followed by a no host Happy Hour at Mc P’s Irish Pub beginning at 4PM. On Saturday folks with base access are invited to attend the concert and silent auction on North Island from 4-7 pm, where they will be treated to music from the local band It’s Never 2L8 and have the opportunity to bid on items donated by many local businesses including Holland’s Bicycles and Bay Bridge Brewing Company. Weekend for Wings is a charity event for Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation, an organization started by Navy wives in Virginia Beach, VA back in 1987. According to the Wings Over America website, the event raises money “to provide college scholarships to dependent children and spouses of all US Navy Aviation personnel – officer and enlisted – active duty, retired, honorably discharged or deceased who served within Naval Air Forces. Recipients are selected on the basis of scholastic merit, community service, extra-curricular activities and character.”

As a thriving Navy community, Coronado has many Navy spouses who are actively involved in various local organizations, from volunteering in the schools and churches, to working with charities. Military families serve and sacrifice in their own ways and they are required to be extremely resilient. During moves, Navy spouses are primarily responsible for helping their families integrate into schools and various extracurricular activities while their service member starts their new job or heads off on deployment.  Because there are many mid-school year moves for Navy families, spouses focus on setting their children up for success in their new schools, new sports teams and anything else they may be doing. In addition, two or three year assignments can make it difficult for spouses to stay on track in their own careers, so they apply their talents toward community volunteer work or organizations like Wings Over America.

The Weekend for Wings 2018 event has been organized by a core group of local Naval Aviation spouses including Peg Shoemaker who said, “I am constantly impressed by the spouses I meet, and the level of talent, commitment, drive and tenacity they have to accomplish a task. Their ‘can do’ spirit is humbling and never ceases to amaze me. A lot is asked of military families, and this charity event helps support them in a small way…and I am proud to be a part of that.”

For more information on this event please visit wfw2018.gesture.com

 



Jeannie Groeneveld
Jeannie Groeneveld
Jeannie is a retired Naval Aviator and Public Affairs Officer whose post-Navy career includes freelance writing, PR Consulting and a two year stint as the San Diego Padres Military Affairs Advisor. Having been stationed in various parts of the country including Washington D.C., Florida and Hawaii, Jeannie appreciates how amazing the Coronado community is and loves the experience her children have had growing up here. Jeannie earned her BS in Marine Biology from Auburn University, her MS in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego and her MA in Communication and Media Relations at San Diego State University. A life-long learner and avid traveler Jeannie enjoys writing travel pieces, Navy stories and anything else that will broaden her perspective. When she is not working you will find her watching her boys play sports, walking Odin at dog beach, hiking, playing beach volleyball or spending time with the family.Have news to share? Send tips, story ideas or letters to the editor to: [email protected]

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