On a recent trip to Catalina Island, visitors at the Avalon Casino were greeted with an additional piece of Americana fluttering in the breeze. Alongside the collection of United States service flags, the battle ensign of the USS Fort Worth has found a place of honor. This new addition, capturing the essence of military pride and fellowship, comes courtesy of the City of Fort Worth itself. The flag was donated to join the casino's Memorial Day display, a patriotic gesture that fortifies the bridge between the naval community and the public they vow to protect.
Commander Dana Canby, a seasoned naval officer with a track record spanning five ships and 19 years, remarked on the unwavering support of Fort Worth's residents. In a story published by The Catalina Islander, they noted, "I've never had a support committee as active as Fort Worth's residents," underscoring the city's commitment to its naval comrades. It is an emblematic moment when a community's support unfurls on such a prominent display, sailing the winds of Californian shores, per the City of Fort Worth.
Those who have served on the USS Fort Worth carry with them a sense of camaraderie and pride that spans both land and sea. With this flag now soaring alongside its military brethren, Catalina Island's Avalon Casino showcases a solidarity that resonates beyond the purely ceremonial. Visitors and residents alike are given a visual reminder of the sacrifice and service of the men and women who serve aboard the USS Fort Worth. It's a silent salute, a cloth stitched testament to the valor of those at sea.
The Avalon Casino, a beacon in the Catalina Island community, dutifully raises above its edifice a constellation of service flags. This Memorial Day, they included the USS Fort Worth in this firmament. According to a story in The Catalina Islander, this gesture binds the community in a shared respect for those serving aboard the USS Fort Worth, culled from the sea to the sky, where the island's visitors can look up and acknowledge the living history and ongoing narrative of naval defense.
