Charles E. Hawkins Squadron, Texas Navy Association

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Charles E. Hawkins Squadron, Texas Navy Association

We are about Texas, marine and nautical life, and history. We are the Galveston, Texas Squadron promoting and preserving the history of The Texas Navy.

05/18/2026

The Charles E. Hawkins Squadron in Galveston is pleased to announce the winner of its 2026 Texas Navy Essay Contest, Vala S. of Llano Junior High School in Llano, Texas. Vala is a student in Ms. Nichole Ritchie’s seventh grade Texas History class.

The Hawkins Squadron was contacted a few weeks ago with a request to consider entries from LJHS, as Ms. Ritchie anticipated numerous submissions to the contest. After some deliberation, and considering that Hawkins did not receive any local entries in the first two years of the contest in 2024 and 2025, I decided to accept the LJHS essays instead. (I believe three other Texas Navy Squadrons did, as well.)

We received three essays from LJHS on the assigned topic of the Battle of Campeche. Vala scored the highest overall, and was ranked highest by four of the five Hawkins Squadron judges. (The fifth scored her essay a close second.)

Our Hawkins Squadron volunteer judges were Becki Hall, Michael Wonio, Diane Wonio, Lou MacBeth, and myself. Thanks, y’all!

In addition to the cash prize, Vala received a one-of-a-kind print on canvas of an original painting by Grzegorz Nawrocki of the Battle of Campeche, now in a private collection. The Hawkins Squadron received kind permission to reproduce this image as a print for this purpose from the historian who commissioned it, naval historian Kazimierz Zygadlo (thanks, Kaz!). The two runners-up received reproduction Texas Navy Ensigns, and all received formal certificates recognizing their work.

Vala’s essay now goes forward to the TNA Education Committee’s statewide competition, along with the first place essays of the other squadrons. The statewide winner will be announced on July 1, 2026.

Congratulations, Vala, and thanks to Ms. Ritchie for encouraging her students!

Andy Hall

05/07/2026

FLEET WEEK SUNRISE SALUTE SHIRTS

Available for Re-Order:

This attractive collector’s item sold out during the Sunrise Salute at Seawolf Park. If you were unable to purchase one, please take advantage of this one-time preorder opportunity. Orders must be submitted by noon Saturday, May 9.

Particulars: White shirt, brand Gildan, front left chest is the TNA logo badge, back of shirt is the Sunrise Salute Parade of Ships logo.

Cost: $30 each including tax. Please add $9.95 for shipping for each overall order.

https://texasnavy.com/event-6679623?CalendarViewType=0&SelectedDate=5%2F6%2F2026

04/20/2026

A big BRAVO ZULU goes out to Texas Navy Adm. Linda Elting, Squadron Commander of the Sam Houston Squadron, for the wonderful Fleet Week Houston Dinner she and her colleagues at Lakewood Yacht Club organized on Sunday evening. As Fleet Week Houston moves into its final days, it's clear the event has been a tremendous success for Houston, Galveston, and their surrounding communities.

Here, Texas Navy Association President Kat Howell (center) presents resolutions honoring Fleet Week Houston to flag- and Commanding officers (l. to r.): Commander Arthur Bond, USN, USS MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL (LCS-21); Brigadier General David C. Hyman, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Western Recruiting Region; Commander Lee Shewmake, USN, USS ST. LOUIS (LCS-19); and Rear Admiral Kimberly Walz, USN, Reserve Director Maritime Operations, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Photo by Texas Navy Adm. Neil Chatelain.

04/11/2026

NOTICE TO MARINERS SUNRISE SALUTE SHIP PARADE

04/09/2026

Texas Navy Friends:

We’re less than one week out from Fleet Week Houston’s Sunrise Salute at Seawolf Park in Galveston on Wednesday morning, April 15.

Please join the Texas Navy Association at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, for a Sunrise Salute to Navy Fleet Week at Seawolf Park at the far eastern end of Pelican Island. The event is free and open to the public.

The event will begin at 7 a.m., with a brief ceremony recognizing the ships, officers, and crews participating in Fleet Week, followed by the Parade of Ships past Seawolf Park by the four ships formally participating in the event. The vessels currently scheduled to participate are USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3), USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (LCS-21), USS COOPERSTOWN (LCS-23), and USCGC EDGAR CULBERTSON (WPC-1137). EDGAR CULBERTSON is a Sentinel-class Coast Guard Cutter, and homeported in Galveston.

The Sunrise Salute will include a ceremony of music, Texas Navy Proclamation, City of Galveston Proclamation, the Parade of Ships, and flyovers by current military and vintage aircraft.

Free event parking at Seawolf Park is available for persons attending this event.

We still need a few Texas Navy volunteers to assist with guiding visitors and distributing TNA promotional material. If you can volunteer from 0630 to 0830, please shoot me an e-mail or DM me on Facebook.

Hope to see y’all there!

Andy Hall

04/05/2026

It's great to see Jasper Holmes get the credit for coming up with the "AF" ruse that exposed the Japanese attack on Midway, that turned out to be a critical turning point in the Pacific War.

It's good, too, to see the story of Herm Kossler's never-delivered bottle of scotch, that Holmes described in his autobiography. (IIRC Ned Beach mentioned Holmes's practice in one of his books, too.)

CAVALLA is now part of the Galveston Naval Museum, and a couple of years ago the local Texas Navy Squadron presented the museum with a bottle of scotch in memory of Holmes's tradition, that is now displayed in the CO's cabin on board.

Address

Galveston, TX

Telephone

+1 832-848-2151

Website

http://www.texasnavy.org/

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