Washington Times, Inside the Beltway

December 1, 2011 - Washington, DC - Bristling with top brass and good will, the black-tie Centennial of Naval Aviation Commemorative Gala celebrates an incredible 100 years of U.S. naval aviation Thursday at the National Building Museum. On hand for the flyer’s fete: Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta; U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus; Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., commandant, U.S. Coast Guard; Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, assistant commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff;Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, chief of Naval Operations; Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson, commander of the final NASA space shuttle flight; and Capt. Jim DiMatteo, president of the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation.

Country music croooner Lee Greenwood of “Proud to be an American” fame will entertain; “fabulous” videos of past, present and future naval aviation will remind guests of Navy prowess. On the menu: beef tenderloin and jumbo prawns, locally grown salad and veggies, and a dessert reception and champagne toast.

And the details: “Decor will be decorated in blues and golds - with a touch of red and light blue,” a spokeswoman says. “Flowers are red roses, gold orchids and light blue hydangeas in vases - and navy linens. These are the colors that represent the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.”