The Navy threw a huge Welcome Home Troops celebration at Naval Base Ventura County on Friday and invited all active-duty personnel, base civilian employees and their families.

Everything was free, and about 3,000 people showed up for the music, games, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, salad and other foods that never seemed to lack a long line.

Children were in perpetual motion, thanks to a climbing wall, tsunami slide, pony rides, face painting and a kiddie train that rolled around the party area.

Among the four bands thumping out chords, Muele Newman was joined by a local musician. Capt. Brad Connors, the base's commanding officer, brought his blues guitar to the stage and joined in the band's set.

"I'm really into blues and classic rock," Connors said, "but I learn about today's music from my daughters, who give me something and say, Here, can you learn this?'"

"Something like this event shows a lot of support from the home front," said Seabees Chief Petty Officer Rolando Daquioag, who had a great time dancing with his daughter, 18-month-old Ligaya.

Daquioag, 39, said he served in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Currently, he is home port liaison for sailors and their families at the base.

In 2003, he was with a Seabees bridge platoon that was one of the first to enter Baghdad. "We did repairs on bridges over the Tigris and Euphrates rivers," he said.

When asked if the Seabees were in much danger while doing their work, Daquioag said, "Yes, there was an element of danger, but we were attached to the First Marine Division, and we felt that with the Marines we were in good hands."

Daquioag said there was a marked difference between his 1991 and 2003 experiences in Iraq.

"This one has a lot more support from the states, such as with e-mails and care packages," he said. "That makes life easier for the troops over there."

While Seabees and Navy corpsmen from the base are now serving in Iraq, others are training for deployment there next spring.

Construction Mechanic Third Class Jarrod Jeske, 22, of Mattawa, Wash., is training with a crane crew. Asked if he had any thoughts about being sent to Iraq, Jeske shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'd just be doing my job."