2026 AV-8B Harrier Sundown Ceremony

1.  As Marine Corps Aviation continues the Tactical
Aircraft (TACAIR) Transition Plan, the AV-8B Harrier II+ will reach
the end of its planned service life in fiscal year 2026.  To honor
the legacy of the aircraft and the Marines who served with it, 2d
Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) will host a Harrier Sundown celebration at
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point (MCAS CP) from 2 – 4 June 2026.
The main effort will be the official AV-8B Sundown Ceremony held on
the flightline at 1000 EDT on 3 June 2026.
2. Overview of events.  The sundown week will feature events hosted
by 2d MAW units, local governments, local business, and the Marine
Corps Aviation Association (MCAA).  The official website is:
https://www.2ndmaw.marines.mil/Units/MAG-14/VMA-223/Harrier-Sundown/.
This website currently has a list of events and a survey to register
interest to attend each event.  It will be updated with registration
links and refined details as planning finalizes in the coming months.
Many events are free to attend; events requiring payment are the
Havelock 5K Run/Walk, both golf tournaments, and the MCAA gala
(invitation only/limited public tickets may be available soon).
Funding and travel are the responsibility of attendees; official
travel may be authorized in accordance with Joint Travel Regulations.
Major events and general locations are listed below for reference;
specific locations and time will be detailed on the Sundown website.
All events are subject to change or cancellation.
2.a.  Events (read in three columns)
Date       Event                                    Location
1 Jun 26   Sundown Social Hosted by
           Visit New Bern                           New Bern, NC
2 Jun 26   Havelock 5K Run/Walk                     Havelock, NC
2 Jun 26   Squadron and Simulator Open House        MCAS CP
2 Jun 26   Havelock All-American Picnic             Havelock, NC
3 Jun 26   AV-8B Sundown Ceremony                   MCAS CP
3 Jun 26   Sundown Downtown: Celebrating Harrier
           Heritage on the Morehead City
           Waterfront                               Morehead City, NC
4 Jun 26   Sound of Freedom Harrier
           Golf Tournament                          MCAS CP
4 Jun 26   MCAA Harrier Farewell Gala               New Bern, NC
3.  Points of Contact (POC):
3.a.  Squadron and Simulator Open House/ AV-8B Sundown Ceremony/
Sundown Social Hosted by Visit New Bern/ Havelock All-American
Picnic/Sundown Downtown: Celebrating Harrier Heritage on the
Morehead City Waterfront/ Sound of Freedom Harrier Golf Tournament/
Eric Scheibe/Maj/Unit: VMA-223/ TEL: 252-466-4767/
email: eric.scheibe@usmc.mil//
3.b. MCAA Harrier Sundown Gala/ Robert Deforge/ Col (Ret.)/ MCAA/
TEL: N/A/ email: bobdeforge@flymcaa.org//
3.c.  2d MAW Action Officer/ Brendan Burks/ Col/ 2d MAW Chief of
Staff/TEL: 252-466-3785/ email: brendan.burks@usmc.mil//
3.d. 2d MAW Protocol Officer/ Cristy Grady/ CIV/ 2d MAW Protocol
Officer/TEL: 252-466-2434/ email: cristy.grady@usmc.mil//
3.e. MAG-14 Action Officer/ James Connolly/ LtCol/ MAG-14 Executive
Officer/TEL: 252-466-2087/ email: james.p.connolly@usmc.mil//
3.f. 2d MAW COMSTRAT/ Joseph Leitner/ Maj/ 2d MAW Director, COMSTRAT/
TEL: 252-466-4386/ email: joseph.leitner@usmc.mil//
3.g. POCs for events not listed in this paragraph will be available on
the official Sundown website as planning finalizes.
4.  Coordinating Instructions.
4.a.  All units associated with planning and execution for Harrier
Sundown events should provide maximum support to Marine Attack
Squadron (VMA) 223 to ensure mission success.  These units include
but are not limited to Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) Aviation,
HQMC Communications Directorate, 2d MAW, Marine Aircraft Group 14,
MCAS Cherry Point, and Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS).
4.b.  Base access instructions will be published via the Sundown
website in the coming weeks.
4.c. Attendees are encouraged to make billeting reservations as
soon as possible.  Lodging reservation options will be available via
community event links on the Sundown website in the near future.
Commercial options not associated with local community efforts are
available at any time via standard reservation means. The USMC does
not endorse any local community or lodging source.
4.d. Uniforms.
4.d.1. The uniform for all local government and business hosted
events is civilian attire.
4.d.2. The uniform for the Squadron and Simulator Open House and the
AV-8B Sundown Ceremony is green flight suit or green MARPAT utilities
for Marines and smart casual for civilians.
4.d.3. The uniform for the MCAA AV-8B Sundown Gala is evening dress
or blue dress A for Marines and black tie for civilians.
5.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General William H. Swan,
Deputy Commandant for Aviation.