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Naval Station Great Lakes Welcomes Jim Gaffigan for a Hilarious Operation MWR Show

Jim Gaffigan performing during Great Lake's Operation MWR event.

May 22, 2024 | Story by Naomi Wilkins | Commander, Navy Installations Command

WASHINGTON --- Jim Gaffigan is known for his comedy, and he did not disappoint when bringing his tour to Operation MWR at Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) on May 9, 2024. “We were excited to feature something a little different here tonight, a stand-up comedy show! When looking through the list of choices we found Mr. Gaffigan’s name and we were pretty excited,” says Elizabeth Weaver, Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Director at NSGL.

Starting the night at the Ross Theater, the show opened with comedian Ryan Hamilton, who took to the stage with his entertaining stories of the New York hustle and bustle. Hamilton had the audience in hysterics as he told jokes about his unfortunate encounter with a shuttle bus. The show was a first for Hamilton. “I have never performed for the military before, but this is always something I have wanted to do, so this is exciting for me,” said Hamilton in an interview before the show. Hamilton expressed his hope that “we get to laugh together,” as a way to connect with the military community.

Shortly after the opening act concluded, Gaffigan took to the stage amid cheers from the crowd. Gaffigan, popular for his stand-up comedy shows centered on fatherhood and food, continued to entertain and engage the crowd with these familiar themes. “I’ve been doing this long enough where I have an idea what will work,” said Gaffigan. When asked his approach to connecting with Sailors and their families through his performance, he explained, “So much of it is the everyday experience, so I just assume that Sailors and others in the audience are dealing with the everyday realities that we are all dealing with.” Gaffigan ended the show with a salute to the Sailors, expressing gratitude for their service.

Jessie Edwards, an attendee at the event, shared that he has been a long-time fan of Gaffigan and described the performance as "awesome," noting that he had always wanted to see Gaffigan live.

Capt. Steve Yargosz, Commanding Officer of NSGL, explained that “Operation MWR helps all of our Sailors, our students, our staff and even civilians here on base. It makes sure that everybody has a chance to blow off some steam, get connected with each other and become a community.” He continued, “It is an opportunity to provide back to our Sailors who are our primary focus.” Yargosz continued to thank MWR for the support NSGL received for Operation MWR.

Navy MWR's Operation MWR, presented by GOVX, will host 65+ free events at Navy installations worldwide from May to June 2024. These events aim to boost morale and resilience among service members and their families through live entertainment, recreational activities, food, games and more. Open to active duty members, reservists, veterans, retirees, DoD civilians and eligible MWR patrons. For more information about Operation MWR and to find your local event, please visit NavyMWR.org/OperationMWR.

Navy MWR’s mission is to deliver high-quality, customer-focused programs and services that contribute to resiliency, retention, readiness and quality of life. Navy Entertainment tours make a positive impact on the morale of our troops. The program provides quality, live entertainment for Sailors stationed overseas and on deployed ships at sea. For more information about the program, visit NavyMWR.org/Entertainment.

No Navy endorsement implied.

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