Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay held a ceremony in honor of World War II Submarine Veterans, Nov. 2.

This is the 30th year the base has hosted the ceremony honoring submarine veterans.

“This ceremony is important because these submarines laid the foundation of our modern submarine force,” said Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Kegan Ciampini, a Sailor assigned to the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738), homeported in Kings Bay. “We owe our submarine force to these veterans for what we are today.”

In addition to the more than 500 submarine veterans and family members in attendance, there were also 13 World War II veterans in the audience.

“This is the largest crowd we’ve ever had,” said Command Master Chief Alan Propes, the command master chief of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.

The keynote speaker was retired Vice Adm. Albert Konetzni, who retired from the U.S. Navy Submarine Force in 2004 after 38 years of service.  Konetzni expressed his gratitude for the veterans in the crowd and the importance of having this ceremony on an active submarine base.

“The nation owes a great deal of gratitude toward the submarine force,” said Konetzni.  “You operated in uncharted waters and hazardous conditions.  By having the ceremony here, you get to see Sailors that are currently serving today.  Our current force is made of American inventiveness.  It continues to reinvent itself and you, in World War II, started that tradition.”

The ceremony included the ringing of two bells for the 65 submarines that have been lost at sea and are now on "eternal patrol."

“A total of 52 submarines were lost during World War II to protect and preserve the freedom of this fine country,” said Capt. Wayne Wall, commanding officer of Training Trident Facility.  “It has been more than 50 years since the last submarine was lost, but the veterans and Sailors here pay tribute to those lost and keep their memory alive.”

William W. Seaword Jr. was one of the World War II submarine veterans in attendance and served in the submarine force from 1943-47 and 1950-51.

“This is my first trip to Kings Bay for an event like this,” said Seaword, from York, Maine.  “I’ve been to dozens of these events, but Kings Bay was the greatest I’ve ever attended.  I love the Navy, and I love to see the amazing support from the submarine community.”

Executive Director of the St. Marys Submarine Museum, Keith Post, is the lead coordinator of the four-day event.  Post was a submariner and joined the Navy in 1981 and retired in 2003.

“This is a Team Kings Bay show,” said Post. “It takes a lot of planning and moving parts, but honoring our submarine veterans is the right thing to do."

“It is important to show these veterans how much we appreciate what they have done not only our nation, but the world,” he said. “It’s important that we never forget and share with our Sailors that true history. We have the ceremony on the base so our Sailors currently serving can listen to these veterans and hear their sea stories and help them remember and reconnect.  These war heroes have changed the course of history.”

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is home to five Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines and two Ohio-class guided missile submarines.

Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 10, visit www.navy.mil/.