NORFOLK, Va. — It was April 2, 1950, when WTAR signed on to bring you the news of the day. For our 75th anniversary, we're looking back at the good times that unified our area over the past decades.
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The U.S. Navy is the backbone of our nation's military and it's also a huge part of the fabric of Hampton Roads. We’re there to cover the deployments, but it's the homecomings that capture our hearts.
One particular homecoming that stands out is when the USS Forrestal and USS Randolph pulled into Norfolk Naval Base to crowds of anxious spouses, kids, fathers and mothers waiting to see their sailors.
And in 1964, our cameras were rolling for an aerial homecoming as families waited for their pilots to touch down at Naval Air Station Oceana.
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Another notable moment came on November 4, 1960, when thousands gathered at Granby High School to see a charismatic senator from Massachusetts who was running for president.
Norfolk area residents greeted John F. Kennedy in rock star fashion.
“In the great times of crisis and the great times of opportunity, the people of Virginia have begun to look to the future,” said President Kennedy.
Norfolk was one of the last stops in the campaign, four days before the election, and WTAR was there from the time his plane touched down at Norfolk Municipal airport to the moment he left the commonwealth. During his visit, our crews captured the excitement as everyone tried to get a glimpse or picture of the young candidate.
“The people of this country are going to choose to go forward, and I say the people of Virginia are going to make up their own minds—they’re going to decide themselves,” said President Kennedy.
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Our coverage over the past 75 years spans from American political royalty to British royalty: Residents of Tidewater came together to give Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II a warm welcome in October of 1957.
Virginians clamored to get a look at The Queen and her husband Prince Philip when they visited Jamestown Festival Park for the 350th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement.
“This festival illustrates these two stories: yours and ours. They are stories in which all of us in the United States and Britain and throughout the Commonwealth take a special pride,” The Queen noted. “In essence, they are both stories of experiments and adventures in freedom."
It was the first time a reigning British monarch had visited Jamestown. It would be the first of two visits, with another occurring in 2007 for the 400th anniversary.
The royal couple also visited the College of William & Mary during that 1957 trip.
Fast forward about 20 years when we covered a special "queen" moment: WTAR was there in 1974 when Francesca Tonarelli of Italy was crowned the 21st Azalea Festival Queen.
Our cameras were rolling as viewers came out to see Queen Azalea as she visited a traditional Italian pizza shop.
Norfolk established the Azalea Festival in 1954 as a way to officially honor NATO and its allies after Norfolk became NATO’s official home in North America.
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Over the years, WTAR viewers also came together to see great entertainers like jazz pioneer Louis Armstrong, who played in Norfolk often in the 50s and 60s.
During an interview we did with him in 1959, we asked: “Louis Armstrong, has jazz changed much since it started?" He responded, "Not as far as I’m concerned. We don’t worry about style we just go out and play good music.”
As journalists, past and present, one thing that never changes is that our viewers come together for each other.
We were there as Norfolk city officials and notable Norfolk citizens, including the late Pete Decker, broke ground on the first St. Jude Dream Home in 2000.
I was honored to announce the first winner of the St. Jude Dream Home, and our station has been a proud sponsor ever since.
WTKR News 3, celebrating 75 years of recording the times we all came together to share what’s important to our community.
