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Vol. 20, No. 22 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 05.31.12
Remember veterans past, present on Memorial Day By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama urged all Americans to remember those who sacrificed for the country and to help service members still feeling the effects of war, May 26. In his Saturday address, the president reminded Americans that Memorial Day is more than just a well-earned three-day weekend. “In town squares and national cemeteries, in public services and moments of quiet reflection, we will honor those who loved their country enough to sacrifice their own lives for it,” he said. On Monday, Obama placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony honorsed all Americans who died in war from those at Concord and Lexington to Baghdad and Kandahar. Later in the day, Obama participated in a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial marking the 50th Anniversary of the war that claimed 58,000 Americans. “It’s another chance to honor those we lost at places like Hue, Khe Sanh, Danang and Hamburger
On Memorial Day, we come together as Americans to let these families and veterans know that they are not alone.” U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth Above: Three Pearl Harbor survivors (right) pay respect to their fallen shipmates while a U.S. Marine stands at parade rest in the shrine room at the USS Arizona Memorial, May 27, during the USS Arizona Memorial’s 50th Anniversary commemoration ceremony. The USS Arizona Memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1962. The shrine room displays the names of 1,177 service members that perished on the USS Arizona.
- President Barack Obama
Hill,” he said. “And we’ll be calling on you – the American people – to join us in thanking our Vietnam veterans in your communities.” But even as Americans remember those who died, they need to remember the veterans who also sacrificed, the president said. Hundreds of thousands of service members have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, tens of thousands of them have been wounded. “We have to serve them and their families as well as they have served us: By making sure that they get the healthcare and ben-
Left: President Barack Obama lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Va., May 28.
» see MEMORIAL DAY | A9 Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
New York Mets host Military Gunston Hall Sailors ‘kick Appreciation Day at Citi Field the habit’ during Tobacco
Cessation Program
By MCSN Karen Blankenship Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
By MC3 (SW) Jonathan Sunderman Amphibious Squadron 8 Public Affairs
NEW YORK
The New York Mets and the USO hosted the fifth annual Military Appreciation Day on Memorial Day, May 28, at Citi Field as part of Fleet Week New York 2012. Held nearly every year since 1984, Fleet Week New York is the city’s celebration of the sea services. Fleet Week New York provides an opportunity for the citizens of New York City and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see, firsthand, the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services. Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, threw the first pitch. “Today we’re at Citi Field and they’re throwing a big party for us for Military Appreciation Day here with the Mets,” said Alexander. The game opened with a performance by the USO Liberty Bells, followed by the national anthem performed by the U.S. Navy Band Northeast.
USS GUNSTON HALL, AT SEA
MCSN Molly Greendeer Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, throws the first pitch at the 5th annual Military Appreciation game at Citi Field during Fleet Week New York 2012.
The Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15, from Naval Air Station Oceana, flew over the field at the end of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Several service
» see METS | A9
RIVERINE SAILORS COMPLETE FINAL PHASE OF UNIT LEVEL TRAINING Riverine Squadron 1, Det. 2, completed their final phase of unit level training including Category IV live-fire exercises on the Salt River at Fort Knox, Ky., May 8 - 11.
» see A3
Fleet Week New York 2012 For more photos and event coverage from Fleet Week New York 2012, see B3 - B5.
Sailors aboard amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) participated in Gunston Hall Smokeout (GHSO), May 16, marking two weeks tobacco free for some participants. GHSO is a spin-off of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, which is held across America, and was created to encourage tobacco users to give up the habit. “Smoking is simply one of those habits that is difficult to justify when all the pros and cons have been evaluated,” said Lt. Cmdr. Albin Pearson, Gunston Hall’s chief engineer and GHSO coordinator. “Once the ship set sail on deployment, I finally decided it was time to quit and the right thing to do was to encourage other’s to quit.” Statistics show that nearly 20 percent of Americans currently use tobacco products, and according to a 2008 Department of Defense survey, nearly 31 percent of Sailors smoke cigarettes. Participants meet weekly to encourage one another and discuss effective ways to get other Gunston Hall Sailors to join in on the campaign. “We are not only focused on the smoking aspect, even though most participants are smokers,” said Pearson. “We are encouraging anybody with any sort of bad habit the opportunity to quit and have the emotional support from the people they work close with day in and day out.” For one person, estimated healthcare costs
SOLAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT U.S. Marine Corps solar power project to save taxpayers est. $3.9 mil. in electricity costs over 20 years.
» see B6
and loss of productivity in the work place due to smoking are estimated at $3,800 per year. “I didn’t realize how much time I used up taking smoke breaks until I quit,” said Yeoman 2nd Class Eric Primero. “I wanted to stop for health reasons most importantly. All in all, I just feel better and I’ve found better ways to prioritize my time.” According to Department of Defense statistics, nearly a fifth of service members started using tobacco after they joined the services. “I smoked when I was younger, but quit for many years and started back up again when I joined the Navy. I guess I saw it as a way to take a break and ultimately to relieve stress,” said Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class James Speed. “I quit for good this time and today, actually, is my 14th day without a cigarette.” To substitute their cravings, most participants have chosen to get in better shape by dedicating more time to their workouts. There are many resources available to tobacco users interested in quitting, including military treatment facilities and clinics that offer tobacco cessation programs and support groups. Gunston Hall is part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Gunston Hall is deployed and currently supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. For more information on programs similar to GHSO, visit www.nmcphc.med.navy. mil/Healthy Living, or www.navy.mil/local/ nmsc/.
OPSAIL 2012 VIRGINIA Pirates, tall ships, musical presentations, fireworks and much more as OpSail 2012 Virginia kicks off in the seven-cites in June.
» see C1
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