Between Memorial Day and Independence Day, there may be no better time to reflect on how the United States Armed Forces preserve our liberty at home. To help show their support, Unitus has been recently collaborating with the U.S. Navy.
Earlier this month, Unitus hosted the five-member United States Navy Rock Band to perform at Unitus Plaza downtown, drawing a crowd to take in the stellar entertainment event. The performance garnered such a warm reception that Unitus President/CEO Steve Stapp is planning to hold an expanded version next year.
“We received a lot of feedback about how talented the band was, which made it an even more distinct honor to have them at the Plaza” said Stapp. “We are currently brainstorming ways we could expand on this year’s performance, with a focus on honoring our veterans specifically.”
Nurturing his own family heritage, on June 6 Stapp recruited his son Robbie to join him on board the USS Pinckney (DDG 91). They boarded the vessel in Astoria, OR and rode down the Columbia River into Portland. The following day, Stapp and Marketing Manager Lori Fink had breakfast with Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, aboard the Pinckney.
There is more collaboration on the horizon. Stapp has been invited to a U.S. Navy Overnight Embark aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) as part of the Commander Naval Air Forces Distinguished Visitor Embark Program. He will fly out to the naval aircraft carrier while at sea, experience an arrested landing on the ship, stay aboard overnight, and embark with an aircraft catapult launch the next morning.
“To see a thriving organization (Unitus) reach out and support U.S. Military personnel, in this case the U.S. Navy, is important,” said Marc Knutson, Navy Veteran and Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Navy Recruiting District, Portland. “As a Viet-Nam vet, it is very gratifying to build positive relations between the military and a public entity as influential as Unitus.” “Unitus honors all the heroes in our community who serve in the U.S. Military and the first responders who keep our community safe and secure,” added Stapp.
