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Celebrating 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family
Vol. 21, No. 27 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 07.11-07.17.13
IKE, HUE CITY, CARRIER » AIR WING-7 RETURN HOME
see A4-A5
A lifetime of love from a moment of pain
Sailors display a sign while marching in support of the “Keep What You Earned” campaign on Naval Station Norfolk. “Keep What You Earned” is a fleetwide initiative, encouraging Sailors to make healthy lifestyle decisions.
By MCC Jayme Pastoric Center for Personal and Professional Development Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH
MC3 (SW) Frank J. Pikul
NAVSTA Norfolk hosts march to support ‘Keep What You Earned’ By MC3 (SW) Frank J. Pikul Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
NORFOLK
More than 650 Sailors from commands throughout the Hampton Roads area marched in support of the “Keep What You’ve Earned” (KWYE) campaign on Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, July 2. The march comes just before the holiday weekend to highlight the Navy’s newest flagship campaign, “Keep What You’ve Earned,” a fleetwide campaign that encourages Sailors to make responsible decisions when it comes to alcohol and illustrates the consequences of bad choices. “Because one bad decision could cost you not only your Navy career, but your family and even your life,” said NAVSTA Norfolk Command Master Chief Anthony E. Adams. “Our Sailors on shore and at sea work hard and deserve what they earned. This
4TH OF JULY ACROSS THE FLEET Check out The Flagship’s coverage of Independence Day celebrations and events that occurred at sea.
» see A3
campaign is designed to help prevent them from making a decision, or a series of decisions, that could cost them everything.” Groups of Sailors began the march from four different locations on the base, holding signs and banners to help deglamorize the use of alcohol, as well as other destructive lifestyle choices, such as domestic violence, sexual assault and texting while driving. “The march was to inspire Sailors and to show that we care,” said Chief Yeoman Monica Grenion, from Commander, Navy Region MidAtlantic, who took part in the march to show her support. “We want them to know that we care about them and their future and we truly want them to keep what they have worked so hard to earn.” The groups ended the march at the Parade Field where Morale, Welfare and Recreation hosted a rally with
refreshments and entertainment for the participants. “This was an opportunity to voice our concerns and opinions about serious issues that are affecting the Navy and the military as a whole,” said Adams. “We want to educate our Sailors on making choices that will help them in the future.” During the rally, Capt. David A. Culler, commanding officer of NAVSTA Norfolk, spoke to Sailors on the importance of the campaign. “I want to see our Sailors succeed in whatever they do,” said Culler. “Sailors need to realize and know the consequences of their decisions regardless of whether they are in the workplace or outside of it. I believe that this campaign is making a difference in our Navy and I trust that our Sailors will be making the right decisions and choices for themselves and their families.”
There is something that changes in a family that has a tragic loss. It’s even harder when that family member is a little boy who is only 8 months old. It’s the strength of the family and what they do next that will define them, and for the Harmons, it was to create a lasting memory of their son, the fighter. “Our son Benjamin was born on May 17, 2011, six weeks early, with the extremely rare combination of a hypo-plastic right heart [congenital heart defect] and Down Syndrome. Benjamin spent seven months in intensive care at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) before
Courtesy photo During Benjamin’s time at CHKD, he underwent multiple heart procedures and battled several dangerous infections.
he passed away on Feb. 2, 2012,” said Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Harmon, Manpower and Manning Officer for the Center of Personal
» see HARMONS | A9
Alexander to close out Navy career; welcomes new opportunities on horizon By David Todd The Flagship Managing Editor
NORFOLK
Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic will close out his military career, July 12, marking 33 years of dedicated service to the U.S. Navy. And despite his long list of accomplishments and accolades through the years, what he’ll miss the most, he said, is simply, “the friends I’ve made – the people.” “The people aspect his huge,” he said. “I will miss the challenges and the things we’ve faced here [in the Mid-Atlantic Region] and in other commands, but at the end of the day it’s really about people … and that’s what I will miss the most.” Although he grew up in a Navy family, joining the military was not a clear career choice for him until after he graduated from
SAPR MESSAGE In a message to flag officers, commanding officers and officersin-charge, VCNO Adm. Mark Ferguson highlighted Navywide accountability for sexual assault, July 8.
» see B6
college (University of Colorado in 1978). It was then that his father, a seasoned pilot of single engine airplanes and a retired Navy captain, provided him the means to get his private pilot license, which, unbeknownst to him, was the dawn of his illustrious naval career. “I got my license and I thought, ‘This is pretty cool, I’d like to keep flying. I like being in aviation,’” he recalled. “I looked into how I could get more hours or how I could possible get into the commercial side, and it was clear that the most economical approach to getting more flight time was through the military.” Upon completion of Aviation Officer Candidate School in March of 1981, he was commissioned an ensign and later designated a naval aviator in November of the same year.
BUFFALO SOLDIERS STAMPEDE INTO HAMPTON A Charity Ride with an estimated 1,200 cyclists on July 20 will raise funds for two Hampton Roads charities identified by the local chapter to receive checks totaling $5,000. » see C2
» see ALEXANDER | A9
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