NAVY WEEK 2009 IN ROCK COUNTY WISCONSIN

U.S. Navy Sailors, VIP guests, Navy Band Great Lakes “Horizon”, and the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team are all headed to Janesville and Beloit Wisconsin this May for the area’s very first “Navy Week” celebration. Navy Week runs from the 24th thru the 31st of May, 2009.

The Chief of Navy Reserve, Vice Admiral Dirk J. Debbink, a native of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, will be serving as the Flag Officer for Navy Week. He will be speaking at area civic groups and schools as well as making appearances at community events along with other high-ranking Navy
and Marine Corps officers.

From the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine, Lt. Andrew Baldwin, M.D. (known to millions of reality TV fans as “The Bachelor”) will be in town presenting on the opportunities for health care professionals within the Navy. The Navy is supports the medical needs of both itself
and that of the US Marine Corps.

Navy Band Great Lakes from Great Lakes, IL will be sending their rock band “Horizon” to the area for public performances throughout the week. “Horizon” plays musical standards ranging from classic rock, to funk, to contemporary top 40 hits with a touch of showmanship that will leave people pleasantly surprised that the band is comprised of uniformed active-duty Navy Sailors.

The Navy Parachute Team "LEAPFROGS" will also perform at local schools and other venues including the Southern Wisconsin Air Fest at Janesville's airport. The LEAPFROGS are comprised of Navy S.E.A.L. team members who are Navy and Marine Corps members dedicated to
Special Operations Warfare programs.

Topping the week off will be the Blue Angels performances at the Southern Wisconsin Airfest. “The Blues” are widely regarded as the world’s premier flight demonstration team, and are making their first return trip to the area since their 2006 performance. The US Marine Corp's
aircraft "Fat Albert" will also perform with the team, demonstrating the jet assisted take-off system or (JATO) to the crowd at the air show.

Throughout the week, the Rock County Area S.E.A.L. Fitness Challenge will be held involving local high-school students and the general public, competing to make the grade with Navy S.E.A.L. physical training. Top contenders will face off at the Southern Wisconsin Airfest
on Saturday the 30th of September. For more information on this event click here: S.E.A.L. Fitness Challenge.

Navy Weeks' work to bring a concentration of Navy assets and personnel to Middle America to allow areas without a significant Navy and Marine Corps presence to view and experience the sea services at their best. Navy Weeks are coordinated through the Navy Office of Community
Outreach (NAVCO), and the Rock County area is one of twenty-three to have been selected to host one this year.

For additional information about any Navy Week event, please contact Lt. Ron Flesvig via our Public Affairs Officer at (847) 688-7100 x122 or via email at James.Antonucci@Navy.mil.

Schedule is subject to change and cancellations.