Vol. 61, no. 21 May 30, 2014
Pentagram
Published for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Flags-in
Old Guard Soldiers honor fallen with flags at Arlington graves By Army News Service
Across Arlington National Cemetery May 22, adjacent to each of the often stark white, simple grave stones, a tiny American flag was placed into the ground as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of the nation’s fallen servicemembers who rest there. In advance of Memorial Day, Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) carefully placed the flags by hand, one by one, in front of each of the gravestones at the cemetery. This year more than 400,000 flags were placed in the ground. “Every Soldier will bring his or her rucksack with them, and the rucksack will be filled with see FLAGS-IN, page 4
PHOTO
News Notes Old Amphitheater to be renamed at ANC Arlington National Cemetery is renaming the Old Amphitheater May 30 to honor Cpl. James R. Tanner in conjunction with the annual Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Decoration Day observance. The Sons of Union Veterans observance provides a glimpse of how Memorial Day was conducted after the Civil War, including participants in period uniforms. The event will conclude with a wreath ceremony at the Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns. The event is part of the cemetery’s 150th commemoration and starts at 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
Sold out: 2014 Army birthday ball celebration The Army 239th birthday ball, sponsored by the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army, June 21, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, Md., is sold out. All active duty, Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiers, Army family members, Department of the Army civilians, government contractors, Army retirees and veterans can still register online to be added to a waiting list via the Army Knowledge Online (AKO) page at www.us.army.mil/suite/page/692317. This year’s entertainment features combined performances of the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” the U.S. Army Field Band and the U.S. Army Soldier Show, featuring a variety of dining and dancing music. The ball will be held 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. For more information, contact the Army birthday ball help desk via usarmy.pentagon.hqda-oaa.mbx.abbhelpdesk@mail.mil, or call 703-6929575.
Charter boat fishing JBM-HH community center at Bldg. 405 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base has a Chesapeake Bay charter boat fishing (seasonal bay fishing) trip scheduled May 31. The trip departs at 5 a.m. For more information, call 703-696-3470/3471.
Return ice melt buckets This is a reminder for every activity across Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall to return the ice melt buckets used last winter. If necessary, the buckets can be returned with any ice melt remaining. Do not use the buckets as trash cans, and if they currently contain trash, remove the see NEWS NOTES, page 4
Index Community Spotlight Community News Notes
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BY
KLINTON SMITH
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) place flags in front of gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery May 22, during Flags-in.
Commentary Memorial Day Around DoD
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Military family members get employment help By Rhonda Apple Pentagram Staff Writer
The Career Resource Management Center staff on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall offers a variety of career resources, not only to transitioning servicemembers but to their families as well. Part of Marine Corps Community Services at Headquarters and Services Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps Henderson Hall, the center houses specialists and program assistants who oversee the Transition Assistance Management Program and the Family Member Employment Assistance Program. “Our programs range in topics
to benefit not only Marines, but Marine family members as well,” said Stephanie Hechtkopf, TAMPFMEAP program manager. Overseeing both the transition assistance and family member employment programs, Hechtkopf said the employment readiness workshops are offered monthly at the center, located at Bldg. 29, 1555 Southgate Road. Twice a year, the center hosts education and career fairs for both servicemembers and their families. The latest happened this week and included a networking session for military family members with potential employers. see FAMILY, page 4
Soldier for Life website connects vets, businesses By Rhonda Apple Pentagram Staff Writer
There’s an expression in the Army “You can take the Soldier out of the Army, but you can’t take the Army out of the Soldier.” Whether a Soldier completes his or her service obligation for a few years or makes the Army a career, they are a Soldier for life. The Army Soldier for Life program launched a new website May 1, designed to be a
valuable resource for veteran Soldiers and retirees. It improves Solider, veteran and family access to employment, education and health care. Until now, retirees used Army Knowledge Online (AKO) as their primary web tool to receive and manage Army-related information. The Soldier for Life site will replace AKO as the primary communication tool between the Army and retirees. The program has
grown rapidly over the past two years and includes a plethora of information Soldiers can access such as health, communications, employment, education and a liaison with the Surgeon General’s office, said Master Sgt. Bryon Mulligan with the Office of the Chief of Staff, Army Soldier for Life program. “Soldiers leave military service careerready, and with the see WEBSITE, page 7
It’s back! Twilight Tattoo on JBM-HH
Twilight Tattoo is an hour-long military pageant featuring Soldiers from The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army
Band “Pershing’s Own.” The next tattoo is scheduled for June 4 at 7 p.m. For more information, see TUSAB’s schedule on page 3.