Recognizing Naval Air Station Pensacola

Floor Speech

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Mr. PATRONIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 200th birthday of Naval Air Station Pensacola, the cradle of naval aviation and the home of the beloved Blue Angels.

For more than two centuries, this installation has stood at the forefront of military innovation. As the Navy's first permanent air station and the birthplace of naval aviation and training, NAS Pensacola transformed into a defining pillar of our national defense.

From its earliest days, training just a handful of aviators and operating only a few aircraft, NAS Pensacola quickly became the proving ground for the future of warfare in the air. It trained the Navy's first aviators. It helped to pioneer carrier aviation techniques. At the outset of World War I, it stood as our Nation's only naval training station.

Through every generation since, NAS Pensacola has continued to shape the course of history, preparing pilots for the challenges and evolving into the premier training hub for Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and allied aviators from around the world.

Today, NAS Pensacola remains one of the Navy's most vital training platforms, supporting more than 23,000 military and civilian personnel and graduating tens of thousands of members each year.

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