Highlights from the 105th Annual National Convention

The Navy League of the United States' 105th annual national convention at the Desert Springs J.W. Marriott Resort and Spa began with opening ceremonies on Thursday, Oct 1, 2007. The Palm Springs Navy League Council, headed by local businessman John Easton, hosted the four-day event that brought more than 500 members and guests from around the world. With more than 535 registered attendees, the national convention began with a busy first day of events that included more than 20 committee meetings and a tour of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty Nine Palms.

One of the highlights of the Convention was the Sea Services Awards Luncheon on Friday, November 2nd, 2007, where more than 20 Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine military and civilian personnel received highly-coveted awards for outstanding service, particularly while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom in support of the Global War on Terror. The guest speaker for the awards luncheon was MajGen. John Kelly, the commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF, Forward) which is home-based at the Marine Corps Base in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Other convention highlights included a K9 drug and bomb detection demonstration by the Coast Guard’s new special operations unit - DOG (Deployable Operations Group). The demonstration included a static display of a 25’ Defender class boat used by Coast Guard dive teams and tactical law enforcement teams to board vessels that are noncompliant or of high interest. Additionally, Navy League members had the opportunity to learn about the current challenges facing the sea services during a panel discussion featuring MajGen. Kelly and senior leaders from the Navy, Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration.

Closing out the convention was Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway, the dinner guest speaker at the finale engagement. Gen. Conway commanded I MEF during two combat tours in Iraq and later served as the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. before becoming commandant.

First-day visitors were invited to a Navy League Golf Tournament and Welcome Reception.

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