President's Corner

PRESIDENT's CORNER 2008

San Francisco IS a Navy Town!!

The San Francisco Council of the Navy League of the United States has been chartered for over 70 years. Our Charter “Support to the Sea Services” has been our key focus throughout our History. During these many years, we have seen “The City”, Our San Francisco, go through some very dynamic and Life altering events.

This year of 2008 has found us active continuing that “Support of the Sea Services” with our efforts in legislative Affairs. This key interface with our Congressional Leaders seeks support for our much needed Shipbuilding Programs for the Navy and Coast Guard and advanced equipment needs for our US Marine Corp. Our Military Services are “Out There” projecting and protecting this Nation, so the battles do not have to be fought on our shores. They are doing a fantastic job!

But here on the domestic side, we face “Challenges” which are just as important. We have faced a challenge to Shutdown the Blue Angels Flight Team during Fleet week; we are active in supporting the American Legion Cathay Division to save the JROTC program in our San Francisco High Schools. And the most recent efforts by the Berkeley City Council to kick the Marine Corp Officer Selection office “Out of town” Calls out for us all, to come the their defense.

The World has recognized the San Francisco Bay Area as “Out there”, Anti-Military and just plain against our servicemen and woman who serve our nation. A good part of that perception is rightly earned! But it has been my experiences that this is a small, a very small, but very vocal group!

I had the opportunity to meet with Mayor Newsom during a visit to San Francisco by The C. O. of the USS San Francisco SSN-771 Captain Dave Ogburn USN, along with His Chief of the Boat (COB). The Mayor was very clear when he said” San Francisco is a Navy Town! Always has been, Always will”! This same message can be heard from most of the citizens in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

And when you are here in town, during Fleet Week,…. it shows!

During Captain Ogburn's visit we walked around Downtown San Francisco and frankly I didn’t know what to expect myself, but I was indeed surprised! People, all sorts of different people walked up to our group, Shook the “Skippers” hand and thanked him for his service. That my friend's, Is the San Francisco I know and grew up with.

We got challenges, but the Navy roots of San Francisco run deep! Yes! There is History in San Francisco and the task of change is before us. The San Francisco Council, The Flagship Council, is leading the way on this change; we need you, Those who know that San Francisco is Still a Navy town and I am asking you to join with us in reestablishing the View that San Francisco Is a Navy Town!.

Best Regards

Chuck Shea, President
San Francisco Council

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• 2007

This past week we had the pleasure of having a team of dedicated US Army Officers who direct the JROTC Program in San Francisco’s High Schools attend our San Francisco Council Luncheon at Scoma’s on the Wharf. The Presentation was focused on their efforts to save the program. (I call you attention to visit the page that has the article San Francisco Torpedoes the JROTC within our website, as reference.)

These gentlemen provided an excellent briefing on the status of the program which is in a kind of Limbo! The JROTC Program is currently targeted to “ Sunset in December 2008”. They also advised, that a Taskforce made up of Educators and Parents has been formed to study the program and to find an alternative. They are working hard to save the program. I sincerely wish them the best of luck!

But in the pursuit of that effort, they must believe and trust that the Politico’s on the San Francisco School Board are honest and sincere in their desires to “find an alternative program”. I, however have serious doubts.

As we have seen over the past 30 plus years, the nation has watched the deterioration of a once Great City, “Bagdad by the Bay” has Herb Caen coined it, and it started with the San Francisco Unified District School Board.

What is happening to the JROTC today, started in the 1970’s with the initial attack on the Boy Scouts. Do you remember that action? The San Francisco School District kicked the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts out of the schools, where for years the local units and parents met at the school gym or auditorium. As one of those Scouts, I remember the sense of community. Each Thursday night, I was off in my Scout uniform to the meeting of Troop 135 at Sunnyside Elementary School. The neighborhood, families and the Educators were all focused around the school. What a great place to grow up! But now, because of the so called wisdom of a few, this has been taken away.

I ask, “Is the City now a better place because of that action”?

Now the School Board has come once again,.. this time for the 1600 students enrolled in the JROTC program at San Francisco High Schools on the basis that the School Board does not belief in supporting the Military, therefore, in their reasoning’s, the program should be terminated.

I for one, believe that this is a valuable program and needs to be retained, and in this case “SAVED” from those who wish to do harm to innocents!

I have committed to support “The Friends of JROTC” and I am asking you and your friends to join us to Save the JROTC in San Francisco.,……… NOW, is the time!

Best Regards,

Chuck Shea

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