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Ken Potts turns 100
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HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY KEN!
By Nikki Stratton, Sponsor, USS Arizona SSN 803
On April 15, 2021 the state of Utah celebrated Ken Pott’s 100th birthday. Quite the milestone for anyone, but more so for Ken Potts, the oldest of the two remaining USS Arizona survivors.
While Ken would have been content with sitting home and having cake surrounded by a few close friends and family, a small group of military members and myself organized a few surprises. Huge shout outs to Lt. Matt Previts, STGCM(SW) Marc Masters, and Paul Sabataitis for making all this happen!
We started the day with a proclamation from Utah Governor Spencer Cox stating that April 15 will now be known as Ken Potts Day in recognition for his service to our country and his 100th birthday milestone.
We then headed out to the Provo airport and met with the squadron of VX9 and their F16 Foxtrot aircraft. Ken was ready to hop in the pilot seat and do some barrel rolls, however the weather and lack of a pilot’s license grounded them. After, we headed to a local church where Navy reservists sang a hearty “Happy Birthday” and “Anchors Away” to the birthday boy. Ken was presented with banners signed and sent from Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii. We headed back out to the airport where Ken took to the skies in a UH-60 Blackhawk accompanied by members of the Utah National Guard. Ken returned home and watched a nearly half hour montage of birthday messages sent from around the globe. It featured the Secretary of the Navy, Commander of the US 7th Fleet, Chief of the Navy Reserve, US Secret Service, FBI in California, Boy Scout Troops in Ohio, a performance by the Pacific Fleet Band, a birthday shout-out from Hawaii Navy personnel in dress whites from the grounds overlooking the USS Arizona Memorial, and so many others!
We finished the day with a drive-by parade featuring the Provo Police Department, County Sheriff’s, Provo Fire Department, and over 100 local vehicles. It was a perfect end to a wonderful 100th birthday celebration.
Editor’s Note: Nikki Stratton is the granddaughter of USS Arizona survivor Don Stratton. He passed away last year at the age of 97. Nikki has an integral role as a sponsor for the fast attack submarine USS Arizona (SSN 803), which is expected to launch in 2025.
