Only Hurricane Bob could stop the streak of hospitality and openness the Kempenaar family has been extending to the U.S. Navy and international officers attending Naval War College's (NWC) Naval Command College (NCC) over the last 60 years.

Only one year, 1991, since the first one was held in 1955 has the NCC Family Clambake been cancelled.

"We couldn't do it. There were trees fallen all over the yard and we couldn't find enough space to park the cars," said John Kempenaar, grandson of Esau Kempenaar who started the annual clambakes that are held each year on the third Thursday in August in Middletown, RI.

There were 601 guests registered to attend the feast held last night, including the 49 senior (O5/O6) naval officers from 47 different nations, their spouses and family members who were the focus of the festivity.

It all started with the current family patriarch, Rocky Kempenaar's, paternal grandfather Esau Kempenaar, who had three sons and two daughters. Esau came over from Holland in 1908 with his wife Saime and started a family that included three sons and two daughters (all now deceased).

The first Kempenaar Family Clambake for the NCC was held in 1955 and was then, as it is today, truly a family affair.

"I remember coming out as a kid and having to work the bakes every year, said John Kempenaar while reminiscing about this family tradition. "We used to have 2 bakes a year back when I was a kid. They were expensive to have and when they first started holding them in the late 50's it would take 3 days to get the coals going, break out the spit and have everything ready. There were a total of 26 people at the first bake."

Esau had befriended a Naval officer.

He liked to throw parties, so that's how it started.
It was as simple as that.

The tradition has been passed down from generation to generation but it never crossed anyone's mind to stop holding them just because Grandpa Esau died. Then his children passed away. For the past several years, Grandsons Rocky Kempenaar and his cousin John Kempenaar have been at the helm. Last night great granddaughter Kirby Ashworth, smiling and welcoming everyone, was running around between registration tables and the stove area so family tradition appears to be continuing.

"This family has been generous to everyone," said Middletown Town Councilman Henry Lombardi referring to the Kempenaars. Lombardi has been a resident of Middletown since his freshman year in high school and currently serves on the Middletown Town Council with Rocky. "Some families are strong enough to keep traditions like this alive," he said.

The event runs like a mess meal on a large amphib (well, perhaps more like a Tiger cruise, but you get the point.) The six hundred plus guests and staff gather in a field off of Valley Road in Middletown, RI. The place is very well manicured with a couple of volley ball courts set up, ample parking on the lawn, a nice restroom facility with running water and rows and rows of tables and folding chairs under tents.

Bushels of steamers; hundreds of loaves of brown bread and ears of corn; nearly 200 pounds of potatoes and, of course, over 600 lobsters gave their lives in cause of this celebration of patriotism, friendship and community. This is a rain or shine event. You don't fire up the stoves and ovens and buy 600 lobsters just to postpone, unless, of course there is a hurricane.

"This is an incredible tradition your family began 60 years ago," said Rear Adm. P. Gardner Howe III, President of Naval War College prior to the "duty section" of young local high school students coming out with all of the food.

"The CNO, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps and Commandant of the Coast Guard signed out a Maritime Strategy for the U.S. that talks about the Global Maritime Network. There is no way that any one nation can address the challenges of the world alone - the only way to do it is through strong partnerships and strong allies across the globe. These alliances are built on relationships. Thank you to the Kempenaar Family and the good people of Rhode Island for setting conditions for some of these critical relationships to be built," Howe said.

Following Howe's remarks, a Certificate of Recognition sent by R.I. Governor Gina Raimondo was read aloud. The certificate welcomed the NCC Class of 2016 and declared them all honorary citizens of Rhode Island while here in the Ocean State.

Then began the wonderful tradition where the students are all introduced, along with their spouses, in alphabetical order by nation with Cmdr. Khemissi Rachi from Algeria starting off this year's class.

"On behalf of the students of the class of 2016, we are proud to be a part of the friendship between the Kempenaar Family and the Naval War College," said NCC Class Vice President Cmdr. Anna Karin Broth from Sweden.

Then the crowd could take no more talk because the smell of hot butter and warm bread was becoming too much to bear.

The Kempenaar family faces may have changed over the years but their legacy of generosity continues to touch thousands of U.S. and international military officer's throughout the world.

"It was 23 years ago this year that I came here as a student at the war college. Many of my classmates and I still reminisce about that night whenever we get together. Thank You so much for continuing to host us," said Adm. (ret) Guillermo Barrera to John Kempenaar prior to sitting down for his Family Clambake.

Barrera is a current Chief of Naval Operations International Fellow from Columbia currently on staff at the Naval War College and was a happy guest at the Kempenaar bake last night.

Kempenaar just smiled.


For more news from Naval Station Newport, visit www.navy.mil/.