Child Development Center Recognizes EOD Namesake During Month of the Military Child

POINT LOMA, Calif. (NNS) -- The Patrick Wade Child Development Center (CDC) and Naval Base Point Loma recognized the surviving children of fallen Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Patrick L. Wade with a book reading and a gift to the Wade family, April 26.

LaVone Bradley, a training and curriculum specialist, started an initiative called "Notes from the Heart" for the children, parents and staff of the Patrick Wade CDC to write letters to Mrs. Wade and the Wade children.

"This will ensure the family knows we haven't forgotten them and as the years go by, we want to keep the pride of 'Go Navy' at our site to always honor one of our own (and those who may have come after him) through what we do for military children," said Bradley.

The event began with Lt. Lenaya Rotklein, deputy public affairs officer for Commander U.S. Third Fleet, presenting a flag and a heartfelt note to the teachers of her daughter's preschool class. Rotklein had recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, where the flag had been flown. She said that she was able to focus on her job because she knew the excellent care her children were receiving from the Patrick Wade CDC teachers.

Capt. Scott Adams, commanding officer of Naval Base Point Loma, read the book "How to Catch a Star" to the preschool class and the book, along with the "Notes from the Heart", were then presented to Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Gamble, operations officer for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One, for the Wade daughters to read and enjoy.

Gamble, a friend of the Wade family, spoke about how Wade was not only a hero who sacrificed much, but also a loving and devoted father whose daughters had played in the same playground during Wade's time in San Diego. He said that the preschoolers there shared something very special with the Wade children.

The Patrick Wade Child Development Center, completed in 2011, was named in honor of Wade, who gave his life in 2007 during combat operations in Iraq .

U.S. Navy EOD is the world's premiere combat force for countering explosive hazards and conducting expeditionary diving and salvage.

To learn more about EOD Group One, visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/eodgroup1>