About 400 military officers and their families gathered at the Naval Academy in Annapolis yesterday to celebrate the opening of the $7 million Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center, which they say will help the public better understand the value of the academy and the life of midshipmen.
"This will be a good news story about the academy," said retired Capt. Roland Brandquist, president and CEO of the Naval Academy Alumni Association. "These honored career officers understood that heritage."
The center, near the main visitors' gate, is named after Navy Capt. Lyle Oliver Armel II, and Marine Lt. Col. William Groom Leftwich Jr., 1953 graduates of the academy who served in Vietnam.
Captain Armel, whose decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with Combat "V" and two Air Medals, retired in 1983 and died in 1989. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Colonel Leftwich participated in 27 major operations against the Viet Cong before he was killed in Vietnam on Nov. 19, 1970, when the helicopter he was riding in crashed while returning from a mission. His many decorations include the Navy Cross and Silver Star.
Yesterday, Academy Superintendent Adm. Charles R. Larson called the men dedicated professionals and heroes.
"Both men emulated honor, courage, commitment," he said. "They demonstrated integrity, professionalism and leadership; all qualities we want our midshipmen to aspire to."
During the 45-minute ceremony, the widows of the two officers were given roses and thanked for their help and patience with the center.
"The Naval Academy has always welcomed visitors," said Capt. William T. R. Bogle, commandant of midshipmen. "But now we have a first class visitors center to make the visit more memorable."
The two-story building has been divided into several areas, allowing visitors to roam wherever they please. An 84-seat theater on the first level shows continuously a 12-minute orientation film titled "To Lead and To Serve." There also is an information desk where tours will begin.
Museum-quality exhibits on the second level depict the various aspects of Naval Academy life.
There also are videos of plebes explaining why they entered the academy, exhibits on subjects plebes must learn and career paths available to academy graduates.
The Naval Academy guide service is in the center and will offer educational tours for students, anniversary tours showing life at the academy during the last 150 years and a tour designed for those who served in military operations.
Construction of the center, which is open seven days a week, was funded by public and private sources.
