NORFOLK, Va. – A week-long series of activities that celebrated the close collaboration between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the citizens of Hampton Roads concluded Saturday. For the past week, the Norfolk NATO Festival brought together members of NATO’s 32 nations, to honour the principles and values that shape the interests of the Alliance.
This annual tradition marked the 71st anniversary of the Norfolk NATO Festival, the only one of its kind in the United States, and the 75th Anniversary of the NATO Alliance itself. Notable events included a Flag Raising ceremony on April 18th that featured General Philippe Lavigne, supreme Allied Commander Transformation and Mayor Kenneth Alexander. The Flag Raising ceremony is a formal military tradition that serves to reflect on the history, people and cultures that bound the Alliance together and serve as a foundation of the longest lasting and strongest Alliance in history. The ceremony was followed by NATO Night at the Virginia International Tattoo.
“Look closely at the flags as they march by you. Behind each and every flag of these 32 Allies, there is a long and proud history that has brought a distinct people to where we are today. You can also see hints of shared histories in the Scandinavian crosses or many tricolours. Shared histories that have brought all of us together, coming out of the ashes of World War Two… To ensure the one billion people living in Allied nations, that they can set their own paths in peace and security,” said General Philippe Lavigne, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.
On April 20th, a Parade of Nations marched through downtown Norfolk. The parade featured floats and staff members from NATO’s 32 nations, high school bands and cheers squads, civic leaders and groups, first responders and U.S. military representation from across Hampton Roads. The parade was followed by an International Village in Town Point Park where area residents visited and learned about NATO, visited the tents of NATO nations, enjoyed cultural dress and food. Over 5000 people from across the Eastern United States participated in the celebration.
The spirit of the Norfolk NATO Festival will continue through to July when NATO’s 75th Anniversary Summit is held in Washington, D.C, where the leaders of all NATO member nations will meet to discuss the future of the Alliance.
Norfolk, Virginia is NATO’s Home in North America and the Alliance has three separate entities located in the city:
- Headquarters, Supreme Allied Command Transformation is NATO’s Strategic Warfare Development Command that anticipates future security needs, designs military capabilities and educates Allied forces to ensure NATO maintains its warfighting edge. The Command leads NATO’s military transformation and develops concepts, creates innovative processes and capabilities, and prepares training and exercises for new missions and roles that are now further challenged by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Joint Force Command Norfolk defends NATO’s Allies in the North Atlantic and High North, from seabed to space.
- NATO Centre of Excellence: Combined Joint Operations from the Sea is a pre-eminent source of innovative military advice on combined joint operations from the sea.
