Lots to See, Do and Hear During Navy Night in Bossier City

A nice crowd braved the iffy weather yesterday to check out Navy Night at Airline High School.

Things got kicked off with an aerial demonstration by the Leap Frog Parachute Team.

While we were watching the plane fly back and forth over the stadium in preparation for the jump, my daughter and I got to meet World War II Navy WAVES veteran Mary Burns Melson of Shreveport. In 1944, she served as a Petty Officer 2nd Class and gave flying lessons to pilots.

Afterward, everyone moved back inside, where Navy Divers and Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams had some of their gear on display. My 6-year-old wore the special glasses while an EOD Team member guided the bomb disposal robot around the room, and I tried on the bomb disposal suit. It was incredibly heavy, and I only had on the top half of the suit and the helmet. The guys told me in all, the gear weighs about 80 pounds.

Inside the auditorium, Navy groups like the USS Constitution sailors and USS Louisiana submarine crew were recognized, and a joint Navy Week proclamation was read by Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler and Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker.

A big highlight of the event was a group of young men and women taking the oath to enlist in the Unites States Navy.

The evening concluded with a performance by Navy Band Southwest. That certainly brought back memories of my time in junior high, high school and college bands.

The Leap Frogs and EOD teams have events scheduled all over town the rest of this week. This weekend, we can look forward to seeing the Navy Blue Angels during the Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air Show. Gates open at 9AM Saturday and Sunday for that.