in Honor of the Battle of Midway
by Denny Trice, NASKW Public Affairs Office
Naval Air Station Key West invites the public to attend a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Midway Friday, June 3 at 9 a.m. at the Military Memorial at Mallory Square.
The Battle of Midway was the turning point for World War II in the Pacific. The victory at sea cemented the role of naval aviation in combat, and this celebration affords us the opportunity to commemorate the heroic actions of the fighting men of the Pacific Fleet. Celebrating the hard-earned victory at Midway gives us an opportunity to learn more about this pivotal battle and the brave veterans who fought there and to remind us of what makes our Navy great.
“Midway was an improbable victory for our Navy. Our force was small, not battle hardened, and it faced the might of the Japanese imperial navy,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead. “It was the determination and courage of our Sailors that turned the tide. As that ‘greatest generation’ departs us, they leave behind a priceless archive of lessons learned. We must honor their legacy by passing along to our Sailors today and our fellow citizens their contributions and sacrifices to the Navy and the nation. As our admiration for their deeds continues to grow, we must never forget their hard-won lessons and the legacy they passed along to us.”
The Battle of Midway ceremony is free and open to the public.
Click here for more on the Battle of Midway, including battle maps, interviews with aviators and Navy training films!
