George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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Steel Beach Picnic 131

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GW Sailors ‘hit the beach’ without leaving the ship The “Steel Beach Picnic is a staple of naval tradition, an opportunity to spend time with shipmates in a more relaxed atmosphere than that of the fast-paced underway working environment. For GWs picnic, crew members enjoyed burgers, hot dogs and grilled chicken. The entertainment included a “Pie in the Face contest, during which Sailors could choose from a number of volunteers and pay to have them take a pie in the face. At bottom right, AFCM (AW) Jesse J. Elliott, the ship’s Command Master Chief, shows what a good sport he is. 130 Steel Beach Picnic

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Fun Days give Sailors enjoyable diversion Even GW's hardest-working, most dedicated crewmembers need an occasional break, which is why the “Spirit of Freedom held two “Fun Days” during the deployment. “Fun Day,” a day during which the crew stands down from the normal daily routine, consisted of a broad assortment of activities for Sailors to enjoy. For the sports-minded Sailor, there were volleyball and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments held in the hangar bay. On the mess decks were spades and chess tournaments, and there were damage control-related contests on the flight deck. The ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation department awarded prizes to the winners of the tournaments, which had a very high participation rate. 132 Fun Days