USS RONALD REAGAN HOST COMMITTEE ANNOUNCE GALA EVENT

Navy League of The United States - Santa Barbara Chapter

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SANTA BARBARA NAVY LEAGUE ANNOUNCES
STATE STREET FLAGS “SALUTE THE TROOPS” CAMPAIGN

FOR RELEASE: 2/28/2007

Santa Barbara, Calif., February 14, 2007 -- The Santa Barbara Navy League announced today a “Salute the Troops” campaign which will recognize and honor America 's military men and women. The Flags will fly and the Campaign will run March 2 - 12, 2007.

“Today, there are approximately 1.5 million Americans on active duty in the military. At this critical time in our nation's history, the Santa Barbara Navy League felt it important to move beyond our stated mission of support for the sea services and reach out to every man and woman in uniform to thank them for their dedication to our nation,” stated Karen Crawford, President of the Santa Barbara Navy League. “We invite the community to join us in this expression of gratitude.”

The campaign kicks off on Friday March 2, 2007 with the flying Santa Barbara Navy League flags as part of the Santa Barbra Downtown Organization's State Street Flag Program. The Santa Barbara Navy League flags will fly on State Street along with American Flags until March 12, 2007.

The Santa Barbara Navy League flag depicts an aircraft carrier on watch at sea while three aircraft patrol the skies above. The ship has special significance because it is a sailor's home during deployment.

One of the best morale-boosters for service men and women is receiving mail from home, even if it is from a complete stranger. The Santa Barbara Navy League is inviting community members to actively support our troops by writing postcards of appreciation to:

• Those serving aboard the Santa Barbara-based U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BLACKFIN and the Santa Barbara Marine Safety Detachment.

• Sailors serving aboard ships that have visited the Santa Barbara community. Navy ships that have visited our community are: USS CLEVELAND, USS DECATUR, USS DENVER, USS ELLIOTT, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, USS MCCLUSKEY, USS MILIUS, USS OLDENDORF, USS RAINIER, USS RENTZ, USS RONALD REAGAN, USS RUSSELL, USS SACRAMENTO, USS STETHEM and USS JOHN YOUNG, USCGC ALERT.

• The Santa Barbara Navy League will also handle delivery of postcards written to the Marines, Army and Air Force.

In response to the “Salute the Troops” campaign, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum said, “As Mayor, I am grateful to the Santa Barbara Navy League for their active support of our military. The flags and banners on State Street remind us that there are Santa Barbara citizens serving our country stationed all over the world. They are working to protect our freedoms.”

The Navy League is a non-profit organization that has provided moral support, recognition and family support to the personnel in the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the U.S. Flag Merchant Marine for over 100 years. The purpose of the Santa Barbara Navy League is not to advocate one course of action over another, but to stand in support of those men and women in uniform who have volunteered to answer when called upon by their nation; to educate the nation and our nation’s leaders regarding the needs of our maritime nation; and to support youth programs such as Santa Barbara’s AIRPAC Sea Cadet Squadron for youth between the ages of 11 and 18.

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Editor's Note: Guidelines on how to write the troop is below.

HOW TO WRITE A POSTCARD OF APPRECIATION

• Send postcards only. A postcard showing a photo of your city, beautiful scenery or an animal is good to send. Or you can purchase a blank postcard and draw a picture.

• Indicate the name of the ship or branch of service you are writing to at the top of the card.

• Write a message of support. Let them know how much you appreciate their dedication to our country!

• Mail your postcard to:

Salute the Troops
c/o Santa Barbara Navy League
P.O. Box 4007
Santa Barbara , CA
93140

The following is NOT ACCEPTABLE:

• Obscene or offensive materials: photos, drawings or any other material which is sexually explicit or which has the potential to offend members of another race, background, nationality, ethnicity or religion.

• Personal identifying information: (applicable to participants who are under the age of 18) No last names, street address, city, e-mail or other personal information may be included in correspondence.

• Questions intended to obtain privileged information.

For more information contact:
Doug Crawford or Lin Graf - Public Affairs/Media Relations
pr@santabarbaranavyleague.org
Santa Barbara Navy League
(805) 879-1598