The Navy League Santa Rosa County Council showed for their appreciation for the men and women serving at Naval Air Station Whiting Field with their annual awards banquet recognizing sailors and flight instructors of the year for 2014.
Click here for a photo gallery from the Navy Leauge of Santa Rosa County annual awards banquet
“Their commanders or person in charge nominates the,” said Jo Ann Sisson, President-Elect of the Navy League.
Sisson said the annual banquet allows the Navy League the opportunity to show their appreciation for the local military personnel.
“We have taken it upon ourselves to honor them from our community, because they contribute, they shop here, they rent here, and we want to thank them,” she said.
Sisson said the community is showing their appreciation by giving each recipient certificates from Florida Congressman Jeff Miller, a certificate from Milton Mayor Wesley Meiss, City Manager Brian Watkins and gift certificates from local businesses.
“That is something our community consistently does,” Sisson said.
Sailors of the Year:
· HM3 (FMF) Weston Langley, USN
Blue Jacket of the Year, Naval Branch Health Clinic
NAS Whiting Field
· HM2 (FMF) Joshua White, USN
Junior Sailor of the Year, Naval Branch Health Clinic
NAS Whiting Field
· HM1 (FMF) Channing Smith, USN
Senior Sailor of the Year, Naval Branch Health Clinic
NAS Whiting Field
· AWRS Timothy N. Thomas, USN
Sailor of the Year, HT-18/TAW5
· AWS2 Thomas Dougherty, USN
Sailor of the Year, HT-28/TAW5
· AC3 Takiyah E. Watson, USN
Blue Jacket of the Year, NAS Whiting Field
· MA2 (EXW) Joshua R. Riendeau, USN
Junior Sailor of the Year, NAS Whiting Field
· ABH1 (AW/SW) Sofia Gonzalez, USN
Senior Sailor if the Year, NAS Whiting Field
Flight Instructors of the Year
· LTJG Lars Anderson, USCG
Training Squadron Two
· LT Michael Caruso, USN
Training Squadron Three
· LT Jerimiah W. Wiesner, USN
Training Squadron Six
· LT Patrick Salvitti, USN
Helicopter Training Squadron Eight
· LT Nathan Scheiber, USN
Helicopter Training Squadron Eighteen
· LT Victor M. Barba, USN
Helicopter Training Squadron Twenty Eight
· CDR Aaron Beattie, USNR
Training Air Wing Five Reserve Component
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Navy League recognizes sailors, flight instructors of the year (PHOTOS)