Navy Ball to celebrate 234th birthday Published Oct. 2, 2009 By Amy Schiess Strategic Communications Wing ONE TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Navy Birthday Ball, a celebration of sailors past and present, is scheduled for Oct. 10 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The annual ball is held by Strategic Communications Wing ONE, the Oklahoma City Navy League and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. "The ball is always a special evening for our sailors to get a chance to interact with this fantastic community and share some of our Navy traditions with them," said Capt. Dwight Shepherd, commander of Strategic Communi-cations Wing ONE. "I can't think of a more appropriate way to honor our one-of-a-kind relationship." The ball is also a way to give back to today's sailors, said retired Capt. Gus Gudmunson, Navy League president. "When you spend your whole life in the Navy like I did and enjoy it like I did, I want to make sure I give back," he said. "As an old war horse, my motivation is for someday down the line when these young ones retire, they'll remember and say, 'When I was in Oklahoma, we had the BEST Navy ball.'" Historically the largest Navy ball in the nation, last year's attendance reached 880 and is expected to draw a similar crowd next month for the Navy's 234th birthday. "Oklahoma City is proud to be home to the nation's largest Navy birthday ball," Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President and CEO Roy Williams said. "We are thrilled to be a part of this event. I know there are many of our members who look forward to this event all year." "It's neat how there are so many people from the community who show up and they are so pro-military and pro-Navy," said Lt. Shane Zimmerman, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN. "It's kind of refreshing to see that." Several Navy traditions mark the course of the evening, such as the piping aboard of honorees and the tribute to missing comrades. The black-tie event also serves as the venue to recognize the wing's sailors of the year and the recipient of the Kimberly Clark award. That award recognizes a Navy or Marine reservist who best reflects the exemplary qualities displayed by Petty Officer 1st Class Kimberly Clark, who was killed by the terrorist attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995. B.J. Penn, former assistant secretary of the Navy for installations and environment, will be the guest speaker. Penn served as acting secretary of the Navy for three months earlier this year and retired from civil service Sept. 3. He began his career as a naval aviator and flew more than 6,500 hours in 16 different types of aircraft. A reception begins at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Contact Chief Petty Officer Rebecca Dixon at 739-3966 by today to purchase tickets. Ticket prices are $20 for E-1 to E-4 and GS-1 to GS-4, $25 for E-5 to E-6 and GS-5, $40 for E-7 to E-9 and GS-6, $45 for CWO to O-3 and GS-7 to GS-11, $65 for O-4 to O-5 and GS-12 to GS-14 and $75 for O-6 and GS-15 and above. Only one guest is allowed at the same ticket price. Additional guests cost $75. No covers or ribbons in any configuration for Navy members. For E-6 and below, wear dress blue with large medals and warfare insignia. For E-7 to O-3, wear dress blue or dinner dress blue with mini medals and devices. For O-4 and above, wear dinner dress mess. Members of other services should wear equivalent uniform. Civilians may wear tuxedo, formal suit or cocktail dress or gown.