Sailors and civilian members of the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce gathered together April 18 in the Grand Vista Ballroom to celebrate Naval Station (NAVSTA) Everett’s 14-year anniversary.

The event, dedicated to Individual Augmentee (IA) Sailors of the past, present, and future, involved many local business leaders, military members, and several elected officials including Everett Mayor Ray Stephenson and Congressman Rick Larsen, of Washington’s 2nd District.

The ceremony began with a state of the station address by NAVSTA Everett Commanding Officer Capt. Thomas Mascolo.

“I think that it’s safe to say that our ships are deployed or preparing to deploy in doing what they are designed to do: support our national security policy,” he said. “Our mission here at Naval Station Everett is to support those ships, the Sailors and their families. The base is the second largest employer after Boeing, our payroll, military and civilian is $205 million; we make $45 million of purchases, many of that also here in Snohomish County. There are about 5,500 military on the base and the ships, and we are supported by about 650 civilians.”

Mascolo also mentioned the Chamber’s new Discount Marketing Program, designed specifically for military shoppers.

“When you go into the Everett Mall you see these clings offering military discounts and it’s an incentive to the businessman, and incentive to the Sailor to shop there,” said Mascolo. The thought of bringing some of that $205 million into your store is probably worthwhile and probably worth the discount to those people in the Puget Sound that have something to do with the Department of Defense.”

During the lunch portion of the ceremony, four IA Sailors from NAVSTA Everett were honored for their service. A small biography of each Sailor, including their IA assignment duties, was read and then they each were presented with a large gift basket with gifts from over 50 area businesses.

Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Richard Devlin, NAVSTA Everett 1st Lt. and IA Coordinator, said he learned a great deal while serving as an IA.

“You should learn the culture and the basic language so as not to disrespect the citizens,” said Devlin. “Also, Sailors should really prepare for the challenge of working with the Iraqi civilians.”

Congressman Larsen, who flew in from Washington D.C. to attend the event, had these parting words for this community event.

“I want to emphasize a couple of things, it was certainly your hard work and success that made it happen, to keep NAVSTA Everett not just off the BRAC list, but to put it on the list of stations that the Navy and the Department of Defense wants to keep, and wants to grow.”