Festival Wishes Troops a Happy New Year

Daletta Gary wrote a different kind of letter Monday to her boyfriend,Gary Cantrell, who left for the Persian Gulf on the aircraft carrier Ranger three months ago.

Instead of an account of the day’s events, Gary wrote about a unique festival at Seaport Village dedicated to wishing U.S. military personnel a happy New Year.

The stationary she sealed and addressed as she sat on the sun-drenched grass was donated by a sponsor of the half-day celebration. Another sponsor supplied the postage that would get the letter to him.

“I think this is neat,” she said. “It makes people feel closer, like everyone’s pulling together and showing lots of support.”

More than 50,000 people crowded the waterfront shopping area to send a New Year’s message to U.S. troops stationed overseas or just away from home. The festival began with Navy marching bands and a USO variety show.

It ended in the early evening with a message formed by a thousand people holding flashlights, followed by a thunderous 20-minute fireworks display.

Proceeds from sales of T-shirts, beverages and food will be donated to the USO, an international organization that provides support to military personnel and their dependents.

Besides coordinating all-volunteer entertainment shows, one of which Bob Hope participated in last week in Saudi Arabia, the USO provides literacy training, free meals and job counseling.

The donations will be welcomed for the program, which is funded by private contributions and the United Way, said Terry Waldie, executive director of USO in San Diego.

“It’s overwhelming that the city and private corporations are getting behind us and supporting the military through the USO,” Waldie said. “The need for our services has increased due to the Desert Shield crisis.”

The administrators of Seaport Village thought up the idea about four months ago, said Dana Lazzarevich, director of marketing.

“We were looking to do something that would tie in really strongly with the community for New Year,” she said. “When we found out the number of San Diegans affected by the Persian Gulf situation, a salute to the military automatically became our goal.”

Seaport Village approached a radio station, KJQY-FM, and, from there, a 28-member committee was formed including representatives from the San Diego Unified Port District, KNSD-TV (Channel 39) and private corporations.

“It’s really just been a tremendous groundswell of support,” Lazzarevich said.

She said that, in the San Diego area, there are about 125,000 dependents of military personnel stationed in the Persian Gulf.

Seaport Village invested about $150,000 in the festival, the Port District gave about $20,000 for a stage and big screen, KNSD-TV televised the event live, and sent footage to NBC affiliates across the nation. A variety of private corporations donated materials and services.

Although they don’t know anyone personally stationed in the Middle East, Paulette Deniston and her family drove out from La Mesa to participate.

“We are here to show support for our troops in the Middle East,” she said. “It’s the least we can do for those who are supporting our country, and we hope it will have a positive effect on their morale and spirits to know that we are behind them. This will be our New Year’s celebration.”