Council News

Tampa Council works closely with local commands to support Navy League mission ...

The Tampa Council was recently represented at the annual combined USCENTCOM/ USSOCOM Holiday reception held at MacDill AFB. Pictured above, flanking Mr. Mike Patrick, Tampa Council president, are (L-R) Adm. William J. Fallon and Mrs. Fallon and Adm. Eric T. Olson and Mrs. Olson. According to Patrick, having such a senior Navy presence in the Tampa area -- the commanders of both CENTCOM and USSOCOM are four-star admirals -- has significantly elevated the Navy influence in the area.

During the council’s annual Toys for Tots event in December, council members reached out to all branches of services represented within the more-than-60 coalition countries helping to fight the Global War on Terror by recognizing them at the holiday reception. This year, Brigadier General Arne Sharpkje from Norway (Senior Coalition Representative) and Colonel Ian Smith (Senior British Military Advisor) of Great Britain were the guests of honor. 

The Tampa Council has also worked closely with both commands in funding, planning and hosting the annual Navy Ball which has also taken on much greater significance since the most recent change of commands. Additionally, the Tampa Council sponsors an annual Sailor/Marine and Sea Cadet(s) of the Year Awards Dinner to recognize the outstanding enlisted Sailor, Marine and Cadet from all the commands in Tampa, which currently numbers more than a dozen. 

Outside of Washington DC, the Tampa Council has one of the most diverse U.S. Navy and international military concentrations in the continental US, and the Council is working diligently with the other regional councils to recognize these heroes and increase support for them and their families within the Tampa Bay community.

Patrick, who is Vice President of Operations for Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, notes that Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC) has extended their popular "Here's to the Heroes" program through 2008. This program has provided free admission to BEC parks for over 4 million service members and their dependents since 2003, continuing Anheuser Busch's long standing tradition of support for our Military that dates back to the Civil War.