100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation Hosts Gala in San Diego, CA to Commence Year-Long Celebration

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation is pleased to announce that a year-long celebration in honor of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard's 100th anniversary of flight will commence this weekend.  The Centennial of Naval Aviation Kick-Off Gala, on Saturday, February 12, 2011, is part of the weekend-long celebration in San Diego, CA which will initiate a year-long celebration across the United States.  The sold out gala will take place onboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, CA.  Known as the "Birthplace of Naval Aviation," the San Diego Bay is where the first flight of a naval aircraft, a Curtiss Wright seaplane built by Glenn Curtiss, took place in 1911.

A black-tie event, the Kick-Off Gala will include guest speakers, special performance entertainment, and a video presentation paying tribute to the Centennial of Naval Aviation.  Featured guest Brigadier General Payne, US Marine Corps (Ret), the oldest living Naval Aviator will be in attendance, in addition to Naval Aviators from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and NASA, senior military leaders, elected officials, and other national figures.  

Also part of the Centennial Kick-Off celebration will be a Parade of Historic Aircraft at Naval Air Station North Island on February 12, 2011.  The year-long National Centennial events will include air shows, conventions, and festivals in 24 states.  The 100th Anniversary celebration year will close with a gala at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC on December 3, 2011.  The 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation will also support the 2012 Marine Aviation Centennial Celebration which will culminate in a gala on May 19, 2012.

Hosted by the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation, the team leading the Kick-Off Gala includes Rear Admiral John "Mac" McLaughlin, US Navy (Ret); Major General Bob Butcher, US Marine Corps (Ret); and Captain Jim DiMatteo, US Navy.  100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation events are presented by The Boeing Company.  Speaking at the Kick-Off Gala will be President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Dennis Muilenburg.  Other national sponsors include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, Breitling, Sikorsky, General Atomics, Pratt & Whitney, GE Aviation, Rockwell Collins, and BAE Systems.

Jim Zortman, sector vice president and executive lead at Northrop Grumman, states, "The 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation is a special celebration for our company. We have been supplying the Navy with aircraft and technology for nearly as long as the Naval Aviation programs have been in existence. We are proud of this partnership, and proud of the role we have played in supporting the men and women who serve our nation and defend our freedoms."

About the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation

The 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation is a publicly supported, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization working independently to support the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard with their 2011 Centennial Celebration.  The Foundation's mission is to raise national Naval Aviation awareness and honor a century of mission-ready men and women throughout the 2011 Centennial of Naval Aviation.  As a result of regionally-based events and educational displays, the Foundation will recognize unique Naval Aviation achievements and provide resources for national involvement in the Centennial of Naval Aviation.  For more information, including sponsorship opportunities and reservations, please visit www.navalaviation100.org, email [email protected], or call (619) 814-1352.  

SOURCE 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation