Gosport - June 14, 2019

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Hunter Hayes free concert June 21 ... NAS Pensacola MWR and Air Force Reserves invites you to a free Tour For The Troops

concert June 21 at the NASP Portside Complex lawn. The concert features Hunter Hayes with special guests Brandon Ratcliff and Jessie Ritter starts at 6:30 p.m., gates open at 5:30 p.m. Lawn chairs and blankets welcome, federal rules apply: bags and items subject to search, no guns, knives, recording devices, alcohol, food, drinks or pets allowed. For more visit NavyMWRPensacola/events.

VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com

Vol. 83, No. 23

June 14, 2019

NAS Pensacola Funeral Honors Support Program:

‘Properly laying to rest those who have honorably served’ Story, photos by Greg Mitchell NAS Public Affairs Office

NAS Pensacola’s Funeral Honor Support Team (FHST) provide services to approximately 50 funerals per month to fulfill “a solemn and sacred obligation” to deceased veterans and their families.

One of the most important programs the Navy has to offer is the coveted Funeral Honors Support Program (FHSP). The program’s necessity is evident due to the abundant number of funerals conducted throughout the year at Barrancas National Cemetery onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. Being a part of the Funeral Honors Support Team (FHST) calls for paying respect toward those who have faithfully defended the country. FHSP recognizes and commemorates the honorable service of deceased military personnel. The practice of rendering funeral honors is considered a solemn and sacred obligation. “It is obviously a sad time for someone when they lose a loved one, but when the families show you that they really

appreciate what you are doing for them, it feels like you are giving something back to them,” ABE2 Timothy Wesley, leading petty officer said. “Being a part of the funeral honor team means that it is our responsibility to ensure that the service member has the opportunity to lay to rest in as much peace as possible. It is a serious commitment that we aim to fulfill each and every time we set foot on Barrancas National Cemetery.” Funeral honor teams consist of active duty service members. There is no specific requirement to be a part of the team; selections are strictly based on the need at each respective command. “The most rewarding thing about being a part of this team is that we have the opportunity to honor service members that have passed away by providing a ceremony only fitting for See Honors on page 2

NEXCOM announces 2018 Bingham Award winners • NAS Pensacola’s NEX Aviation Plaza is the category 3 winner By Kristine Sturkie Navy Exchange Service Command

The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) announced its 2018 Bingham Award winners. The Bingham Award was established in 1979 to recognize outstanding performance in operations, customer service and community support. “This award is presented to both the NEX and the local Navy command to recognize their partnership and commitment to support the quality of life of our military members and their families,” retired Rear

Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer, NEXCOM said. “All our NEXs and associates go above and beyond to provide PREMIER customer service to our most deserving customers. These Bingham Award winners are truly the best of the best within our enterprise.” The 2018 Bingham Award winners and runners-up are: Sales above $70 million (Category 1) • Winner: Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois • Runner-up: Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida

Driver, pull over: Texting while driving now a primary offense By Mike O’Connor Gosport Editor

As of July 19, a new law will take effect making texting while driving a primary offense in the State of Florida. The law was signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis May 17. Until the signing, texting while driving had been a secondary offense, which law officers could cite a driver for only after having stopping them for a primary offense; for example, a moving violation. Onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Safety & Occupational Health Specialist Jane Bush of the NAS Pensacola Safety Office is pleased with the law’s passage. “Florida became the 41st state to ban texting while driving,” she said. “Finally, Florida has enacted this overdue response to texting and driving, and hopefully we will begin to see the effects in the near future.”

Texting and cellphone use while driving onboard NAS Pensacola is and has been legally regulated for some time. Base legal instructions state: “(1) Driver use of a hand-held cellular phone in a moving vehicle is hereby prohibited. Anyone convicted of driving while using a cellular phone without a hands-free device is subject to a mandatory one-week suspension of driving privileges as provided …. “(2) The prohibition against using hand-held cellular phones does not include handsfree cellular phone devices. Hands-free devices include consoled/ dash-mounted or otherwise secured cellular phones with integrated features such as voice-activation, speed dial, speakerphone or other similar technology for sending and receiving calls.” The new state law does take effect July 19, but law enforcement officials will be See Texting on page 2

Sales $34 to $70 million (Category 2) • Winner: Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba • Runner-up: Naval Air Station North Island, California Sales $23 to $34 million (Category 3) • Winner: Naval Air Station Pensacola Aviation Plaza, Florida • Runner-up: U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan Sales $13.5 to $23 million (Category 4) • Winner: Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton, Washington See Bingham on page 2

Wendy’s set to open at NEX Aviation Plaza From Mike Johnson Marketing Director, Wendy’s

Great tasting, fresh never frozen beef hamburgers, Frostys and great customer service are coming to the Naval Air Station Pensacola when the newest Wendy’s opens in the NEX June 20.

“We are incredibly honored to be opening a restaurant on NAS Pensacola,” Brian McDaniel, SVP Operations of Carlisle, a franchisee of the Wendy’s Company said. “It is our privilege to serve the See Wendy’s on page 2

Medal of Honor recipient onboard NASP ... Hershel “Woody” Williams, a Medal of Honor recipient and a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, ate breakfast with a group of Marines from Marine Aviation and Training Support Groups 21 and 23 at the Oaks restaurant onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola recently. Williams, 94, earned the Medal of Honor for his valor during the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945. He is the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Iwo Jima. Photo by Jason Bortz

Published by Ballinger Publishing, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy. Opinions contained herein are not official expressions of the Department of the Navy nor do the advertisements constitute Department of the Navy, NAS Pensacola or Ballinger Publishing’s endorsement of products or services advertised.


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