Seabee Summerfest Built on Fun and Proud History

Nine-year-old Steven Browning has been to most of the annual Seabee Summerfests, but it’s not their history and tradition that the Navy base resident looks forward to every year.

It’s the rides.

“Some of them are frightening and some of them are fun,” Steven said.

But Seabee Summerfest is about more than exciting rides.

“It gives a lot of people an understanding of what we do, because a lot of people don’t understand,” steelworker Jan Beamer said.

About 11,000 people turned out Saturday for the first day of the 12th annual Seabee Summerfest at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme. The event continues today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Festivities kicked off Saturday morning with a military parade and opening ceremony, featuring Seabees decked out in their white uniforms.

“Seabees, you really look outstanding today,” Daniel Hambrock, commanding officer of the center, said during the ceremony. “It was the Seabees who paved the way in times of conflict.”

The Seabees, formed in 1941, recruited members from the civilian building trades to build airstrips, warehouses, hospitals and housing. They also were trained in combat.

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Pediatric oncologist Kenneth Williams remembers a more primitive era when he served as a Seabee stationed in Okinawa during World War II. Despite the expansion of Seabee capabilities, the Los Angeles resident said, military traditions don’t change.

“This is a walk down memory lane,” Williams said as he watched the parade.

Frank Lewis of Oxnard, who once served in the Air Force, also came to the festival with a sense of nostalgia. He had his two granddaughters with him.

“I like to see a military parade and maybe they’ll think a little more of the military,” Lewis said.

Although 5-year-old Karissa Lewis said she was excited about the parade, she had a loftier goal.

“We’re going to go on that slide,” Karissa said, pointing to a multistory potato-sack slide.

But there also was fun to be had checking out the numerous booths designed to explain the different roles that Seabees play. Festival-goers could climb aboard a tank or tour a barrack.

Eight-year-old Stephanie Williams won a game of tick-tack-toe against a Seabee diver submerged in a clear tank.

“It was fun because he was playing with me,” Stephanie said.

Marine Sgt. Jonathan Broc explained the workings of various automatic weapons at another exhibit. Broc and his colleagues helped kids climb into a Humvee that had a 76-pound machine gun attached.

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“You’ll see a lot of adults get up on the Humvee just like the kids,” Broc said. “Everybody’s like a big kid when it comes to this stuff.”

For Oxnard resident Emma Abare, Seabee Summerfest is not as much about naval education as it is about competition. Abare is the three-year reigning champion of the pet look-alike contest.

She and her 6-year-old Maltese, K.C., retained a piece of her crown Saturday by tying with Piru resident Lourdes Dominguez, who entered with three Chihuahuas. Not only did they share the title, the winners split the $100 gift certificate to a local pet store.

Dressed in matching red shirts with dog patches, visors and sunglasses, Abare, who designs and creates new costumes each year, said she was proud of K.C.

“He’s making money for his food,” Abare said.

Across the base, festival-goers toured the missile frigate Gary after waiting in a line almost as long as the 450-foot ship.

Marian Birmingham of Oxnard said the hourlong wait for the 25-minute tour was worth it.

“I didn’t realize they would have so many different types of radar,” she said. “That’s amazing.”

Radioman chief and tour guide Louis Kimbriel showed his group of 20 everything from a torpedo launcher to the ship’s gym.

“I love it,” Kimbriel said. “You get to tell them what it is you do around here.”

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Seabee Summerfest Events

TODAY

11 a.m.: Cardio Kids Aerobic Demonstration

11:30 a.m.: Christine Foster (live country-western music)

12 p.m.: Star-Spangled Baby Contest

1:30 p.m.: Christine Foster

2 p.m.: Karaoke Contest

11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Gary Ship Tours

11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Classic Car Show

Military displays and demonstrations, sports competitions, a craft show and carnival will continue throughout the day.

For more information, call 982-4493.