INTERACTIVE: A field guide to NATO's military hats

^{CLICK ON THE FLAGS ABOVE TO MEET SOME OF OUR LOCAL NATO SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR HATS.}

TUCKED INTO A CORNER of Norfolk Naval Station, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation is home to military men and women from all 28 member states. And each one has a hat.

For this year’s Azalea Festival, which honors the Czech Republic, we decided it would be a fine time to explore that commonplace, yet distinctive, part of the uniform.

Think of it as a field guide, but remember: “Each member nation sends very good people here. When you have good, quality people, it makes it easy to work,” said Italian Adm. Luciano Zappata, NATO’s deputy supreme allied commander transformation. “More important than hats are heads.”

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AZALEA FESTIVAL 2009

The 56th annual International Azalea Festival, honoring the Czech Republic, officially kicks off Monday. Here’s a look at the week’s festivities, or go to this calendar.

^MONDAY
Opening ceremony and coronation of the queen
Norfolk Scope Plaza
4 p.m.; Free
This year’s queen, Czech Army Capt. Magdalena Dvorakova, will be crowned in a ceremony that celebrates Norfolk’s international community with the raising of all NATO member nations’ flags.

^WEDNESDAY
Student forum
L. Douglas Wilder Center, Norfolk State University
9 a.m. - Noon; Free
Norfolk high school students will perform skits exploring the events of Prague in Spring 1968 and the future role of NATO in this annual competition.

^THURSDAY
World Affairs Council dinner
Norfolk Waterside Marriott
6:15 p.m.; $50 members; $65 nonmembers
The dinner will honor Ambassador Petr Kolar of the Czech Republic.
Information: (757) 363-3090 or www.hrwac.org.

^FRIDAY
Court coronation and fashion show
Half Moone Cruise Center
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; $40
This year’s show celebrates a Czech national holiday, the Day of Love, and the poet Karel Hynek Macha. Fashions provided by Dillard’s; hair and makeup by Changes.
Information: (757) 605-3073 or www.azaleafestival.org.

Azalea Night at The Virginia International Tattoo
Scope
7:30 p.m.; Cost varies; information: www.vafest.org or (757) 282-2822
This performance includes a tribute to service members and to the Czech Republic. (For more details about the Tattoo, see the Pulse entertainment section in Thursday’s Virginian-Pilot.)

^SATURDAY
Parade of Nations
Downtown Norfolk
10:30 a.m.; Free
Bands, floats and marching units will represent the NATO member nations. The parade starts at Water Street and continues onto Waterside Drive with a right turn onto Plume Street and a left onto Granby Street, ending at Freemason Street.

The Czech National Theatre Ballet and Queen’s International Ball
Harrison Opera House and Half Moone Cruise Center
7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; $125; $100 for military
Information: (757) 605-3073 or www.azaleafestival.org.

^SUNDAY
NATOFest
Outdoor Park, Scope Plaza
Noon to 3 p.m.; Free
Explore the food, culture and entertainment of 28 nations.