NEW YORK, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rear Admiral J. Robert Lunney, NYNM, (Ret.), president of the New York Council, Navy League of the U.S. announced that several prominent New Yorkers will be honored at its 110th Anniversary Dinner to be held on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.

General Peter Pace, United States Marine Corps (Ret.), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005-2007), and Vice Admiral John Terence Blake, U. S. Navy Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Integration and Capabilities Resources will be the distinguished honorees. Both were born in New York City.

The annual dinner is the occasion for honoring those who have significantly contributed to the nation and to the nation's sea services and supports the Navy League's efforts for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Merchant Marine. The Navy League was formed 110 years ago in New York with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt.

Co-chairmen for the dinner are two more distinguished New Yorkers: The Honorable Richard Greco, Jr., former Assistant Secretary of the Navy (2004-2006) and currently the Managing Partner of Filangieri Capital Partners, and David J. Goldring, chairman of the Overseas Military Sales Corporation. Both will also be award honorees at the dinner.

"We are grateful to our dinner co-chairmen for their leadership at this event. Their considerable efforts help immeasurably to assure the continuity of our efforts to support the sea services," RADM Lunney stated.

"It is our privilege to support the New York Council in its work," said Mr. Greco. "David Goldring joins me in giving our best efforts to support the important work of the New York Council of the Navy League." He added, "We invite everyone to help the organization to continue its good work."

The NY Council conducts personnel support activities for adopted U.S. Navy ships, stations and members of the sea services. They support youth through such programs as the NJROTC, Young Marines and Naval Sea Cadet units in New York. The Council has an ongoing program to provide college scholarships to secondary school graduates in these programs. The Council helped form a supplemental education fund for the crew of USS New York.

Those who wish to attend the dinner, become a sponsor, or provide tickets to uniformed personnel, contact George Simpson. E-mail: navyleaguenyc@aol.com.

SOURCE New York Council, Navy League