NAS Pensacola Hispanic Heritage Celebration Oct. 4 ... The NAS Pensacola Diversity Committee will present a Hispanic Heritage Celebration at 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at the NASP Chief’s Club at Lighthouse Point. Guest speaker will be Cmdr. Manuel Cortez. For more information, call 452-4667.
Vol. 80, No. 39
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
September 30, 2016
Gold Star mothers, families honored at NASP By Stephanie Hunter Special to Navy Installations Command Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) – Throughout history, bells have been used to announce a death or to express the gravity of an individual’s passing. They are struck to communicate the depth of sorrow and the extent of loss. On Sept. 22, in association with Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, Navy installations across the continental U.S. participated in Bells Across America for Fallen Service Members where the names of the fallen were read and a bell tolled to honor and remember them. The Navy is proud to recognize the sacrifices of our fallen service members and the Gold Star families left behind through these coordinated ceremonies. Onboard NAS Pensacola, Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), in cooperation with the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM), conducted a Bells Across America for Fallen Service Members ceremony. The event, held at the NNAM, was conducted simultaneously across the nation and the names
CS2 D’Angelo Harkins kneels with a folded flag as Taps is played during a ceremony Sept. 22 at the National Naval Aviation Museum. Others on stage, from left, are AN Garrett Smith; NASP Commanding Officer Christopher Martin; Jill Hubbs, the guest speaker and a Navy Gold Star Family Member; Lt. Cmdr. David Rozanek, a chaplain at NASP; and NASP Public Affairs Officer Patrick Nichols. The NASP Bells Across America ceremony, which was one of several being conducted simultaneously across the nation in association with Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day. Photo by Janet Thomas For more photos, see page A4
of 74 fallen heroes were read aloud. Filmmaker Jill Hubbs was guest speaker. Hubbs recently produced the documentary “They Were Our Fathers”
which tells the story of losing her father and those of others whose fathers died in Vietnam. “It’s amazing to see how our installations are coming together
to remember our fallen,” said Lisa Bauch, Navy Gold Star Program analyst. “Many of our Navy bases from coast to coast are taking the time to pay tribute
to these heroes and their families.” Since 1936, the last Sunday in See Gold Star on page 2
NASP shows appreciation for its Navy ombudsmen By Janet Thomas Gosport Staff Writer
There was a big turnout for the Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) ombudsman appreciation luncheon Sept. 21 at the Mustin Beach Club. The assemblage included 70 guests representing 14 commands. Rear Adm. Mike White, commander, Naval Education and Training Command, and his wife, Marietta, were seated
at the head table with NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin and his wife, Catherine. After calling for a round of applause for the 16 ombudsmen in attendance, Martin introduced White, who was the guest speaker. White recognized the command ombudsmen as the “unsung heroes” of the military team. “I have been blessed throughout my
career to have benefited from the hard work and dedication of many of these outstanding volunteers,” he said. “As a commanding officer, I relied on those professionals to keep our families informed and to help keep me up to speed on their issues and concerns.” White said he developed a deep appreciation for ombudsmen after witnessing them in action. As an example, he
told a story about the challenging circumstances that evolved when the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks took place as his strike fighter squadron was returning from an extended deployment. “Never have I witnessed such strength and resilience from my wife and our ombudsman as they selflessly dedicated themselves to the families despite their own internal turmoil,” he said. See Ombudsman on page 2
Air component commander graduates newest CSOs Capt. Meghan O’Rourke 479th FTG/PAO
Sept. 21 at the Navy Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI) in Pensacola. Lt. William Grisham now reports to NAMI as a staff member, seeing naval aviators and aviation flight
The 479th Flying Training Group (FTG) graduated 16 officers at a ceremony Sept. 16. Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Force Central Command, was the Combat Systems Officer (CSO) Class 16-15 graduation’s guest speaker and offered his perspective on today’s war and the skills required to succeed in war and in life. As the Air Component Commander for U.S. Central Command, Harrigian is responsible for creating contingency plans and conducting air operations over a 20nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia. Since August 2014, the air coalition has continued to shape the battlefield in Iraq and Syria by conducting more than 45,500 sorties and employing more than 55,300 weapons against Da’esh in support of Operational Inherent Resolve. Col. John Edwards, commander of the 479th FTG,
See PA on page 2
See CSOs on page 2
Lt. William Grisham, the Navy’s first aviation physician assistant, receives his wings from his wife, Sarah Grisham, during a graduation ceremony.
Navy’s first aviation PA earns ‘Wings of Gold’ Story, photo by HM2 Matthew Clutter NMOTC Public Affairs
A family medicine physician’s assistant (PA) became the Navy’s first aviation PA in a historic winging ceremony held
Capt. Sarah Martin, commanding officer at Naval Hospital Pensacola, receives her flu shot Sept. 19.
Flu vaccines available at NHP By Jason Bortz Public Affairs Officer, Naval Hospital Pensacola
Flu vaccines are now available at Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP) for all TRICARE beneficiaries older than age 3. NHP currently does not have flu vaccines for children younger than 3, but expect it to arrive shortly. Benefi-
ciaries enrolled to one of the hospital’s Medical Home Port Teams (Family Medicine or Internal Medicine) should visit their team to receive a flu vaccination without an appointment Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Beneficiaries not enrolled to a Medical Home See Flu on page 2
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.