Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Hutch Johnson | NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (October 21, 2021) Capt. David Baird, commanding officer of...... read more read more
Hamburgers and hot dogs sizzle on a hot grill. Families, coworkers, and friends fill tables lining the parking lot, enjoying light conversation while listening to live music from the stage. In the background, the laughter and sound of children fills the air as they race through the inflatable obstacle course or attack bubbles with their balloon swords.
The Team Rota Appreciation Event was just one way Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota Commanding Officer Capt. David Baird aimed to show his gratitude to the community for their hard work and dedication during Operation Allies Refuge (OAR) / Operation Allies Welcome (OAW).
“I just want to say thank you to all of you,” Baird said during his opening remarks. “I was constantly amazed at how generous you were with your time, how generous you were with your belongings, and how awesome you all were. That is what this is all about. This [event] is a small gesture compared to the overwhelming work you all did.”
The event, which was coordinated by Rota Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department with support from sponsors, took place at the El Patio complex, Oct. 21. There was live music, free food, a children’s area, wandering balloon artists, and circus entertainers.
This event was an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the completion of OAR/OAW. NAVSTA Rota first received word that it would support evacuations from Afghanistan approximately two months ago. The installation quickly stood up an in-processing center and temporary living facilities before the first flights arrived.
“On Aug. 27, we received our first aircraft,” said Baird. “And over the coming days, we received a whole bunch more – at all hours of the day and night – and we eventually received 2,619 folks to include the one child who was born here at Naval Hospital Rota.”
Baird praised Rota community members for helping evacuees to feel welcomed and cared for during their time here and ultimately providing them with hope for a better future. He closed his speech with a letter from an evacuee dated Oct. 6, that echoed his feelings on how Team Rota completed the mission.
“We would like to say a special thanks to team at Rota Naval Base for opening their doors for us, providing a good environment, and assigning such great and kind people to engage with all of us,” the letter stated. “Finally we are leaving this camp with good memories and positive impressions.”
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2021 06:58 |
| Story ID: | 408666 |
| Location: | ROTA, ES |
| Web Views: | 236 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, “Thank you for your Great and Unforgettable Hospitality” Naval Station Rota Holds Appreciation Event for Community, by Courtney Pollock, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
