Since 1985, the Coronado Chamber of Commerce has hosted military couples for an elegant night of dancing, eating and celebration at the Hotel del Coronado.
On Saturday, April 6, the 38th annual Salute to the Military Ball will honor Coronado’s active-duty couples with this year’s theme, “CORONADO: Our City, Our Navy. Thank you for serving!”
A night of honoring Coronado’s military
Every year, the ball’s specific theme expresses a sense of appreciation toward Coronado’s military members. In 2018, the ball was centered around Vietnam veterans in light of the Department of Defense’s recognition of 50 years since the war. The following year was focused on honoring Coronado’s military spouses. This year’s theme is centered around a sense of gratitude toward the attending active-duty couples.
“We want them to feel like their service matters to the navy, to the city, to the nation,” said Mike Woiwode, chair of the Salute to the Military Ball and former president of the Chamber of Commerce. “Most people are aware that it is difficult to recruit into the military, and difficult to retain at this point in history. We would like the people who are on active duty who attend this event to go away thinking that their chosen career is a good decision, and we want them to feel good about that decision.”
The ball will entail a cocktail reception, four course gourmet dinner, keynote speech, an award ceremony and dancing in the Hotel del Coronado’s Founder’s Hall.
Three awards will be presented at the event, each named after former prisoners of war who resided in Coronado following their deployment. The CAPT Harry T. Jenkins Memorial Award, the VADM James & Sybil Stockdale Community Service Award and the VADM Edward H. Martin Distinguished Community Service Award will be given out to military personnel who exemplify similar characteristics to those the awards are named after – such as leadership and community involvement.
Sponsors support a special night for the couples
People are encouraged and welcome to support the event, whether it be through sponsoring a military couple or table. The varying levels of sponsorships are outlined on the Coronado Chamber website.
An honor sponsorship – set at $1000 – grants free admission to an active-duty military couple, as well as to the sponsor and their plus one. There are varying levels of sponsorship, all the way up to supporting an entire table.
Those who wish to honor the military members by helping fund the event will join the list of organizations and donors that have made the long-standing tradition possible — including the Hilton Worldwide, Hotel del Coronado, California American Water, Carol Sommer, Bob & Gail Bardin, City of Coronado, Councilmember John Duncan, Navy SEAL Foundation and Liberty Military Housing.
“Not many people who serve on active duty could afford to go to a formal event at the Hotel del Coronado on their own nickel,” said Woiwode. “People of Coronado, the businesses of Coronado, the City of Coronado – we want to let the military have an experience that’s unique. The sponsorship is a heavy lift to underwrite an event at that location.”
Individual tickets can also be purchased via Eventbrite until March 22. There is a limited number of discounted tickets available for veterans.
Coronado-based active-duty military personnel are encouraged to contact their command for further ticket information.
Those who wish to sponsor a military couple or table are encouraged to reach out to Membership and Events Director Kerri Dowling via her email: kerri@coronadochamber.com.
