<em>Photo above from left to right: Jaime Dailey-Vergara, HM2 Oyekade Dada, Taiwo Dada (their two children, ages 1 &amp; 3), Alice Howard, and Jimmy Boozer at the State of the Bases Breakfast. Speakers at this event included MCRD Parris Island – Col. Jeffrey Rule, Commanding Officer of Weapons &amp; Field Battalion, Naval Hospital Beaufort – Captain Anne Lear, Commanding Officer, and South Carolina Military Base Task Force – Bill Bethea.</em>

[caption id="attachment_27179" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-27179" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/COVER-Dada-e1453987631273-300x287.jpg" alt="HM2 Oyekade Dada dressed as one of the three wise men in the 2016 Beaufort Christmas Parade. Photo courtesy of Michael Fleischbein of the Sea Island Rotary Club." width="300" height="287" /> HM2 Oyekade Dada dressed as one of the three wise men in the 2016 Beaufort Christmas Parade. Photo courtesy of Michael Fleischbein of the Sea Island Rotary Club.[/caption]

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce was proud to host more than 150 people at the 2016 State of the Bases Breakfast, presented by Marine Federal Credit Union and SCE&amp;G, on January 21st at The Beaufort Holiday Inn &amp; Suites.

The Parris Island Band kicked off the event with patriotic songs. Col Peter Buck, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Commanding Officer served as the Keynote Speaker. Military leaders at MCRD Parris Island and Naval Hospital Beaufort as well as leaders from the South Carolina Military Base Task Force also spoke.

During the event, The Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee (MAC) honored HM2 Oyekade Dada, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, and his family, as the Military Family of the Quarter. The award is sponsored by Atlantic Marine Corps Communities at Tri-Command and was created to honor our local military families for going beyond the call of duty to serve our country and our community. The Dada family was presented the award during the Chamber’s State of the Bases Breakfast.

HM2 Oyekade Dada is a Squadron Corpsman for MAG-31, MACS-2 Detachment A and F-35B. He has been stationed at MCAS Beaufort since 2013 and serves as a member of the Tri-Command Junior Enlisted Association and the MAG-31 medical training team.

[caption id="attachment_27180" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-27180" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/COVER-DADA-2-300x147.png" alt="HM2 Oyekade Dada pictured along with the rest of the Leadership Beaufort Class of 2016." width="300" height="147" /> HM2 Oyekade Dada pictured along with the rest of the Leadership Beaufort Class of 2016.[/caption]

In addition to serving our country, HM2 Dada and his family are involved in many organizations and programs throughout the Beaufort community. HM2 Dada is active in The Sea Island Rotary Club, Toastmasters International, a member of Leadership Beaufort Class of 2016, coached soccer, volunteers with the Beaufort County Emergency Response Team and several local festivals, as well as participates  in many other organizations. His wife, Taiwo Dada, volunteers her time at the hospital. They have two daughters and are both active in their church and volunteer with the Beaufort-Jasper EOC Head Start Program at the St. Helena Center. HM2 Dada also serves as the 2015/2016 President for that organization.

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<em>Photos above: 2016 State of the Bases Breakfast.</em>