VOL. 53 NO. 41 OCTOBER 16, 2014
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, DAM NECK ANNEX, AND NALF FENTRESS
JET
Domestic violence survivor shares her story at NAS Oceana
INSIDE
CMC TURNS RETIREMENT INTO VOW RENEWAL —Page 4
BY MC2 (SW) ALYSIA HERNANDEZ NAS Oceana Public Affairs Sailors and civilians filled the Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana Chapel for “Love Shouldn’t Hurt,” the annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month program Oct. 8. This year,as in the past,the Fleet and Family Support Center invited a special guest to share her personal story of overcoming domestic violence. “Rae Pearson-Benn, a former Mrs.Virginia Beach times two, an author of a book called “Still Standing” … a woman who has won a best actress award, this is all in the wake of a horrible story of domestic violence … Rae is a strong lady,” said NAS Oceana Commanding Officer Capt. Kit Chope, as guests joined him in welcoming guest speaker Rae Pearson-Benn. Pearson-Benn began sharing her story. “This was back in the 90s when I entered the Old Dominion University campus and I was much like this bubbly person that you see now … ready to just do big things.” She grew up a bit sheltered in Virginia Beach, didn’t come from a broken home and she had a strong father who “worked his butt off to make sure that I never was hungry.” She pledged a sorority which had a brother organization, with a particular “gentleman” who pledged the same year. He was very handsome, muscular and quiet, which she gravitated towards because she’s very outspoken. He made her feel special because he was cute, older and “unlike most college students, he had a job already, he actually owned a house, he had a smooth Camaro, and he was checking me out.” “As the relationship developed and my
— See Survivor page 3
MATSG-33 TAKES PME TO NEW HEIGHTS —Page 6 Photo by MC2 (SW) Alysia Hernandez During the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at NAS Oceana, Oct. 9, the Panamanian Folkloric Group of Hampton Roads perform traditional Hispanic dances for the audience. The annual observance was held at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd and featured FRCMA Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Rodriguez as the guest speaker.
NAS Oceana celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month BY MC3 TIMOTHY DAUGHTON NAS Oceana Public Affairs NAS Oceana and Dam Neck’s heritage committee held a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in the Oceana Chapel of the Good Shepherd Oct 7. The guest speaker for the event was Capt. Joseph Rodriguez, a native of Bronx, N.Y., who grew up in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Rodriguez is currently the commanding officer of Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic, located at Oceana. Before speaking to the guests in attendance, Rodriguez thanked the members of the heritage committee for putting together the event. “These folks put in a lot of time and effort to put these cultural events together and work hard to enhance diversity across the
About Hispanic Heritage Month The observance first began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 until 1988, when it was expanded into a monthlong celebration from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
spectrum,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez explained the difference between being Hispanic and Latino. Hispanic by definition is being from a Spanish-speaking country, whereas being Latino is based on being geographically from a Latin American country. He also discussed the growing number of Hispanic Americans living in the — See Observance page 5
CELEBRATING THE NAVY’S BIRTHDAY AT FLEET WEEK HAMPTON ROADS —Pages 8 - 9
RUNWAY 5K In honor of the Navy’s 239th birthday, NAS Oceana and MWR will host a “5K on the Runway” on Oct. 20. Registration will be in hangar 23, near Oceana Air Operations. The run begins at 8 a.m. from hangar 23 and crosses all four of Oceana’s runways. The 5K is free and open to all ID card holders. For more information, call 433-3928 or visit www.discovermwr.com/ navyfitness/runs.html.