Capt. Scott Gootee, commander of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, addresses members of the Naval Order of the United States during their 125th Annual Congress Oct. 23, 2015, at the Intercontinental Hotel in New Orleans. Gootee joined Lt. Gen. Rex McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, and Rear Adm. David Callahan, commander of Eighth Coast Guard District, to address the crowd about the history and evolution of the Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard and Naval Reserve components into the comprehensive readiness forces they are today. According to retired Navy Capt. Gary Bair, the host committee chairman for the national congress of the Naval Order of the United States, the purpose of the congress is to preserve and promote naval service history and heritage. The NOUS is open to veterans of each of the naval services, as well as their descendants.