250 S Harbor Blvd
San Pedro, CA 90731
USA
The 5th Annual Gravely Award Celebration Honors Former Secretary of California Department of Veteran Affairs, Major General (Retired) Peter J. Gravett, US Army
On Thursday, February 15, 2018, former Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Major General (Retired) Peter J. Gravett, US Army, California National Guard (retired) and LAPD (retired) will be honored with the 2018 VADM Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Leadership & Service Award. The event is part of “IOWA Remembers,” the annual series of tributes and ceremonies presented by Pacific Battleship Center (PBC) aboard Battleship IOWA. The series advances PBC’s mission to “Celebrate the American Spirit” by marking national, military and naval dates of importance. The event is FREE to attend but space is limited so please RSVP online. There is a reception preceding the award program.
The Celebration Experience includes the winner of the Gravely Essay Contest, which challenges students to explore VADM Gravely’s motto: Education, Motivation & Perseverance. The winning student will read his or her essay and will receive the student award honors.
“It’s a minute to refresh your day on the waterside and relax with Tanya’s rewarding celebration of history, of those who have gone before, for all who will come after,” states Jane Johnson, who co-chairs the Gravely Award with Tanya Acker, from the CBS syndicated court show “Hot Bench”, who captivates audiences with her summaries.
“We believe that the Battleship IOWA is the perfect venue to recognize amazing people with their leadership and service,” says the museum’s CEO Jonathan Williams. “Gravely and Gravett both have connections to our ship and our community.”
This year the Gravely Award recognizes and honors the considerable leadership and service of Major General (Retired) Peter J. Gravett, who says with a smile, “My life and career have been non-traditional.” Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and raised in San Pedro, California, General Gravett has devoted his professional career to the service of others. He continues to lead tirelessly in retirement on behalf of veterans, children, the homeless, and other vulnerable populations in our communities while staying connected on personal, state and national levels.
Both VADM Gravely and Major General Gravett committed to the service of their country during a time of segregation and have been considered trailblazers in their respective service. As a young communications officer in a newly integrated Navy, Samuel Gravely was assigned in 1952 to the USS IOWA, stationed in Long Beach, CA. As his last command, Major General Gravett served as commanding general of the 40th Infantry Division from 1999 to 2002, the first African-American to become a division commander in the Guard’s 225-year history. Gravett was honored to meet VADM Gravely in the 1990s during the annual “Fall Gathering” of African American admirals and generals in Washington DC.
The VADM Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Leadership & Service Award, conferred annually, recognizes leaders in Southern California who exemplify the Vice Admiral’s trailblazing and courageous service. Past recipients have included Dr. Wanda M. Austin (2014), CEO & President of The Aerospace Corp., African American Board Leadership Institute’s Yvette Chappell-Ingram (2015), businessman Noel Massie (2016), US Operations Manager for UPS and award winning film and literary writer Antowne Fisher (2017).
Samuel Gravely was the first African American to command a warship (USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD 717)); command a major warship (USS Jouett (DLG 29)); to achieve flag rank and eventually vice admiral, and to command a numbered fleet (U.S. 3rd). Throughout his career, Gravely received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. The destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), commissioned in 2010, was named in his honor. Upon leaving active duty, Admiral Gravely continued to work in Washington on defense coordination and satellite communications. He retired in 1980 as director of the Defense Communications Agency in Washington, overseeing the communications network linking Washington with American and allied bases worldwide.
The Gravely Celebration Experience is grateful to the sponsors who make the event possible. They include Pacific Western Bank (Premier); UPS and Tanya Acker & Randy Douthit (Platinum); Craig & Jane Johnson (Gold); Los Angeles Chargers, South Coast Shingle Company, Inc., CBS Television Distribution, and Jerico Development (Silver); Black Knight Patrol and Larson O’Brien Law (Bronze). The Crail Johnson Foundation is the proud sponsor of the student essay portion of the evening.
About Battleship IOWA
Entering service more than 70 years ago, the USS IOWA deployed to the South Pacific in the uncertain early years of World War II. The iconic battleship served with distinction in that war and later, during the Korean War. In the 1990s, as the Berlin Wall crumbled, the IOWA concluded her active duty. Battleship IOWA now serves as a historic naval ship museum. Forged in war and guardian of the peace, the proud ship keeps watching as the proud sentinel of the LA Waterfront. IOWA’s teak decks and steel bulkheads echo the words and deeds of history, having carried upon them three U.S. Presidents, six of the nine American five-star military leaders, countless foreign dignitaries, and most importantly, thousands of her own heroic IOWA sailors. Visitors are awed by the IOWA’s proud legacy as one of the fastest and most powerful ships ever to sail the world’s oceans. Battleship IOWA is open to the public daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hours are 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please visit Battleship IOWA’s website additional information on special events, group tours, educational programs, and Naval retirement flag service.
