Havelock women express support in Washington for OLF

Havelock women on a business summit to Washington, D.C. last week used the opportunity to bend the ear of a Navy admiral to voice support for the OLF.

Brenda Wilson, a local realtor and member of the Havelock Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, was in the nation’s capitol September 14 and 15 for The Washington Perspective event when the opportunity presented itself.

It was Wilson’s ninth time attending the annual fall event that brings together local, state and national leaders. Barb Whiteman and Vanessa Lawrence, of Havelock joined her.

Jay Bender, interim director of the Military Growth Task Force was also in attendance.

The three ladies had been listening to a speech by Admiral Gary Roughead, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations when a northeastern North Carolina potato farmer stood up to voice his opposition to the placement of a Offsite Landing Field at the Hale’s Lake site in Currituck and Camden counties. The proposed placement of the OLF at the site has had much local opposition. Another site in Gates County has also had opponents.

The Navy has been studying potential locations for the OLF in Virginia and North Carolina to replace the OLF at Fentress Auxiliary Landing Field in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The OLF is used by pilots to train for landings aboard aircraft carriers.

“The reason that it upset me so much was it seemed to be ‘all about me’. He didn’t seem to care about the military. It was solely about ‘me and my farm,’” Wilson said.

“One of his main concerns was that it was going to affect his millions of dollars in income,” said Lawrence, who is Community Planner and Liaison at station headquarters at MCAS Cherry Point. Lawrence serves as a special Marine Corps representative in the community.

“It certainly hit a chord with us that he was speaking so rough to the admiral. We were definitely adamant hearted from it,” Lawrence said.

“I just felt like I couldn’t let the admiral think that everybody in North Carolina was against the OLF,” Wilson said. “I have a son in Iraq right now.”

Using a pen, Wilson scratched the phrase “WE WANT THE OLF” on the back of a piece of paper from her event packet.  

“I was scratching just as hard as I can to make it darker and held it up for him to see it,” Wilson said.

Wilson was so far away she thought the admiral would not be able to see the message.

“So I just thought that was useless so I went up to the microphone. I just felt like I needed to express myself. With all those people I just really didn’t want the admiral to think that everybody In North Carolina is against the OLF, because I really don’t think we are,” Wilson said.

“I just announced who I was and that I’m from Havelock and MCAS Cherry Point and that we want the OLF,” Wilson said.

“She did an outstanding job of representing the area,” Lawrence said. “She brought up how important vital training is for our military.”

Later, Wilson approached the admiral and shook his hand. According to Wilson, the admiral said “I’ll call you tomorrow.” Wilson said she hasn’t heard from him yet.

“He hasn’t called but at least he knows that somebody in this area cares about the OLF and that there is a place for our military to train,” Wilson said.

“Ms. Brenda and Ms. Barb stood up and really stressed the support for Cherry Point and encouraged representatives to support the OLF,” Lawrence said. “They did a really good job of putting Havelock on the map and at The Washington Perspective.”

“I was very proud to see her up there in the absence of local representation that she stood up in support of the military here. She did a really great job,” Lawrence said of Wilson.

Roughead’s speech was in the middle of a morning of appearances by many national names including retired General Wesley Clark, journalists Judy Woodruff and Chuck Todd, Presidential Cabinet Members Tim Vilsack and Ray LaHood, former Governor Howard Dean former U.S. Senator Trent Lott and U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn.

Wilson said she had a brief meeting with Congressman G.K. Butterfield.

“I spoke to Butterfield because I am one of his constituents,” Wilson said. Butterfield had left out Havelock when he announced what area he represented at a question and answer session hosted by members of the U.S. House of Representatives in the Congressional Visitor Center, according to Wilson.

“I said ‘I’m Brenda Wilson and I’m from Havelock.’ And he said ‘That’s east of New Bern right?’” according to Wilson. “Barb got behind her and said we love Havelock and we would like you to look at Havelock,” Whiteman said to Butterfield.

The group also met with Allison Cooke, legislative correspondent for Congressman Walter B. Jones, who was in attendance but not able to speak with the Havelock contingent.

The event is held every September for elected officials, community college presidents and members of local chambers of commerce.

“I don’t get to go every year, but I go when I can,” Wilson said.