North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Transformation
April 21, 2015
Norfolk NATO Festival Set to Start with Flag Raising Ceremony
[From Virginia’s own Thomas Jefferson: “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations – entangling alliances with none.”]
The 28 national flags of NATO will be prominently displayed during a flag raising ceremony at the Scope Plaza in Downtown Norfolk at 5 p.m. on April 24.
The ceremony will mark the beginning of Norfolk NATO Festival weekend and will include performances by the U.S. Fleet Forces Band and speeches by Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) French Air Force General Jean-Paul Paloméros, Festival Ambassador and SACT Senior Military Member of the Year Spanish Air Force Master Sergeant Pablo Alonso Martin, Mayor of The City of Norfolk the Honourable Paul D. Fraim, and Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs the Honourable John C. Harvey Jr.
Following the flag raising ceremony, attendees are invited to enjoy the Virginia International Hullabaloo at Scope Plaza and the NATO Night at the 2015 International Tattoo in the Scope Arena.
On Saturday the excitement continues at 10 a.m. with the 62nd Annual Parade of Nations in Downtown Norfolk. The parade is the only one of its kind in the United States and features colourful floats designed and built by each of NATO’s 28 member nations, as well as High School- ROTC- and other bands, performers and a host of other exciting things.
Following the parade, NATOFest commences at Towne Point Park at 11:30 a.m. NATOFest provides a unique opportunity for the public to interact with members of the only NATO headquarters located in the U.S. and features a NATO Village of nations, cultural performances, international art and cuisine, and craft beers.
So, join us at the 2015 NATO Festival for some or all of the fabulous events and activities in celebration of NATO in your community. All activities are family friendly and all except the tattoo are free!
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