Photo By Staff Sgt. Richard Hoppe | Kassie Rodriguez and her family navigate a whimsical path during the 2014 MWR Boat...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Families, friends and families-of-friends looking to enjoy a little holiday spirit gathered at the Marina on Saturday evening. Christmas lights, wreaths, palm leaves and many merry decorations were strung from bow to aft by participants who entered this year’s MWR Boat Parade, an annual tradition here at Guantanamo Bay.
“The boat parade has been going on for about six or seven years,” said Kassie Rodriguez, the Outside Recreation Event programmer for the MWR.
Children and adults helped decorate a total of 10 boats while the Cuban sun slowly set on the bay. All the little colorful LEDs and luminous decorations began to twinkle in the fading light as dusk closed in. Intricate designs ranging from stars to lizards brightened the night as the boats floated upon their calm, dancing reflections. Some covered up their beach attire with pointy elfish ear hats and Christmas tree skirts in place of festive shawls.
Rodriguez wanted to thank everyone for their participation this year to help make this year’s boat parade a success, she said. She even joined in with her family on a boat to help celebrate Christmas in the Caribbean. Others got the chance to invite their families from afar to help celebrate the holidays.
“My daughter is here visiting for the holidays, so it’s nice to get out on a boat with her,” said Steve Baseden, a Navy contractor who works on Guantanamo Bay. “It was a good time.”
The parade of boats made two laps from the admiral’s house to the captain’s house and back, floating along a whimsical path as they trolled through the evening. Cheerful holiday and country music played from both the U.S. Coast Guard and the Island Country Radio boats while the spectacle of lights made their circles around the old battleship moorings in the bay.
The merry annual event is open to all ages with a valid boater’s license, which is easily obtained with a little determination, said Rodriguez.
“I hope people spread the word to others who are new to the island, so they can come experience some GTMO traditions,” Rodriguez said. “... So hopefully they can join next year.”
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.24.2014 13:39 |
| Story ID: | 151079 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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