South Tidewater News

Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on July 29

“We all came together, and we always have come together, and we always will come together.” Mayor Bobby Dyer spoke to the brave men and women of our armed forces at the Military Recognition Reception in Virginia Beach. Bryan Stephens, President & CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber, told the honorees, "We are extremely proud to recognize all of our outstanding men and women who serve our Nation and whether your active or thinking of entering the civilian workforce, we want you to stay, get a high paying job and make Hampton Roads your home.”

The Hampton Roads Chamber is proud to serve this region as an Impactful Advocate and is unapologetically pro-business. We are also unapologetic when it comes to support for our military members/families and Dyer continued his speech emphasizing in agreement with Stephens ”and that is why Bryan is right we are the greatest military in the world and we have been for a long time and we will continue to remain that for the longest time. “This determination is strength, its resiliency, it’s who we do that we serve and honor with a purpose, and that’s we are all here in recognition of greatness”.

Dyer spoke about his past military experience and shared that his uncle’s carrier was sunk by a German U-boat. Dyer's Uncle was his inspiration for wanting to serve in the Marine Core and how the military is determined to remain the greatest military on Earth, “This determination is strength, its resiliency, it’s who we do that we serve and honor with a purpose, and that’s why we are all here, in recognition of greatness”.

Congratulations to the Honorees for their gracious service, hard work, determination, and resiliency for consistently making the United States Military the best military on the planet: 

To view the captured moments of this event, click here. 

YN1 (SW/AW) MICHAEL A. CAMERON	PRESIDENT, BOARD OF INSPECTION AND SURVEY (INSURV) JEB Little Creek
PS2 (AW) LORI M. MILLER	PRESIDENT, BOARD OF INSPECTION AND SURVEY (INSURV) JEB Little Creek
Personnel Specialist First Class Petty Officer (Aviation Warfare) Emmanuel Meenu	VR-56 NAS Oceana
Aviation Maintenance Administration First Class Petty Officer (Aviation Warfare) Erica Bouzidi	VR-56 NAS Oceana
EN2 James Campos	USS WHIDBEY Island (LSD E41) JEB Little Creek
IC2 Joseph Rivera	USS WHIDBEY Island (LSD E41) JEB Little Creek
Sonar Technician (Surface) Second Class (SW) Christopher Arnold	Center for Combat Systems Unit Dam Neck Naval Base Oceana Dam Neck
Gunners Mate First Class Surface Warfare Gary DeGraffenreidt	Center for Combat Systems Unit Dam Neck Naval Base Oceana Dam Neck
AVIATION ORDANCEMAN SECOND CLASS RACHAEL FOLEY	NAS Oceana
BOATSWAINS MATE SECOND CLASS EBONIE JONES	NAS Oceana
MASTER-AT-ARMS CHIEF PETTY OFFICER WILLIAM HOWE	NAS Oceana
MASTER-AT-ARMS THIRD CLASS COLIN MCSWAIN	NAS Oceana
CULINARY SPECIALIST CHIEF PETTY OFFICER KEVIN  ANTHONY	NAS Oceana
CULINARY SPECIALIST FIRST CLASS MARIE SOUTHERLAND	NAS Oceana
CULINARY SPECIALIST FIRST CLASS TOCOYA CLARK	NAS Oceana
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ANA DOUGLAS	NAS Oceana
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST SECOND CLASS SHA'QUANDA STEPHENSON	NAS Oceana
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST THIRD CLASS CRISTIAN PIRIZ	NAS Oceana
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST FIRST CLASS TYE MCCARTY	NAS Oceana
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST FIRST CLASS MATTHEW TIMPER	NAS Ocean
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JOSEPH COLLARD	NAS Oceana
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SECOND CLASS VICTOR DEJOY	NAS Oceana
MASTER-AT-ARMS THIRD CLASS ALEX SUTTON	NAS Oceana
CULINARY SPECIALIST SEAMAN KAYLA HURTS	NAS Oceana
MASTER-AT-ARMS SEAMAN MARK ROEMAN	NAS Oceana
AVIATION BOATSWAINS MATE (HANDLING) SECOND CLASS ALBERT STELZIG	NAS Oceana
AVIATION BOATSWAINS (EQUIPMENT) MATE THIRD CLASS  GIOVANNI PINA	NAS Oceana
AVIATION BOATSWAINS MATE (HANDLING) THIRD CLASS BIANCA KNIGHT	NAS Oceana
MASTER-AT-ARMS THIRD CLASS STEPHEN TODD	NAS Oceana
MASTER-AT-ARMS SECOND CLASS SABRINA FERRANTI	NAS Oceana
RETAIL SPECIALIST SECOND CLASS RASHAD SIMPSON	NAS Oceana
CULINARY SPECIALIST SECOND CLASS CHASON ANDERSON	NAS Oceana
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER FIRST CLASS TIFFANI GLASCO	NAS Oceana
CULINARY SPECIALIST FIRST CLASS TAWNY RECTOR	NAS Oceana
CULINARY SPECIALIST FIRST CLASS LATRETRA GIBSON	NAS Oceana

Original source can be found here.

Source: Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce