Submitted by Doug Crawford

We don't have the exact numbers yet, however we estimate that close to 50,000 people saw and heard the Santa Barbara Navy League and AIRPAC Sea Cadet Squadron at the Avocado Festival, and another 10,000 saw and heard us at the Santa Barbara Seafood Festival.

During the two events Santa Barbara Navy League Board Members stood for hours, talked a lot, wept a little, collected and read close to 2,000 wonder filled postcards written by attendees who chose to "Salute The Troops" at the Navy League Booths. In addition to all of the wonderful discussions, post cards, and new membership applications...we received more than $2,000 in donations!

Many thanks to the SBNL Board Members who worked at our "Salute The Troops" booth at the Avocado Festival the previous Friday, Saturday and Sunday weekend...AND any thanks to the SBNL Board Members who worked at our booth this past Saturday at the Harbor Seafood Festival!

It was a lot of work AND a lot of fun as we worked to "Salute The Troops."