Sabre Now - February 2, 2016

V olu me I, Is su e 2

F e b r u a ry 01 2016

Interact’s Project Levi supporting special needs boy & his family

RADM Burhoe on Class Rings Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe— continues to page 4

Micah Giszack— continues to page 3

Former Fork Union post-

chronic lung disease, per-

his spinal cord and two

On February 4th we will present Fork Union

graduate Tyler Schuster

manent hearing and vi-

open-heart surgeries.

Military Academy class rings to juniors and

volunteers his time at an

sion loss. Due to these

Although the odds have

seniors for the fifth year in a row. We can

been against him, Levi

now consider the ring ceremony a Fork Union

elementary school near

conditions, he had, until

him where he spends

has persevered and flour-

time with ‘exceptional

“[Levi] is the happiest

ished, contrary to medi-

needs’ students. In partic-

little guy in the world…

cal prognoses. Through

ular, Tyler has grown close to a 6 year old: Levi.

[he] would put a smile on your face in seconds” Tyler Schuster

Levi has grown up with

extensive medical care and an abundance of God’s grace, Levi sur-

tradition. It was important for me to have this special event become a celebration. After all, it is a once in a lifetime event.

Alumni tell me that they wear their Fork Union rings well into college and even instead of their college rings, because they value not only the quality of the rings provided by Jos-

over five serious medical

recently, been unable to

vived infancy, has learned tens, which rival most college rings, but also

impairments, including: a

eat food orally, but is

to walk and is beginning

because they know they “earned” their FUMA

painful, debilitating con-

slowly learning. Levi has

to eat on his own.

class rings.

dition known as spinal

undergone ten surgeries,

One of my favorite expressions, a saying used

bifida, Down syndrome,

including an operation on

by a former Coast Guard Academy Superin-

It’s okay to be salty

tendent, RADM Frank Leamy, is that “Character reveals itself in adversity.” While there is much joy and happiness in the Fork

Captain Jason Biette— continues to page 3

Union experience, it is challenging, and peo-

Many in my generation

are the salt of the earth,

affect the culture that they

ple appreciate the things they had to work

have no recognition of the

but if salt has lost its taste,

were a part of.

hardest for…thus the Fork Union ring is

new slang that is associat-

how shall its saltiness be

ed with the word salty.

restored”? (Matthew 5:13a

Cadets who read this title

ESV) Salt, due to its pre-

might question, “Exactly

servative properties, was

what is Captain Biette get-

so valuable in the ancient

ting at”? While I am per-

world that many cultures

fectly content with the

actually used it as curren-

slang, I am also sure that

cy. It seems, then, that

we can all appreciate this

Jesus had a good handle on

word on a fuller and deep- what he was talking about, er level.

In the Gospel of Matthew, as part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You

especially in using salt as a component in a lesson to teach his followers how they were supposed to

I find salt fascinating on a

cherished.

scientific level as well.

At each ceremony, I take in two rings to show

Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is

all the cadets. One ring was worn by a cadet

a profoundly simple com-

who graduated in 1912, and the other was

pound. Table salt, what

worn by a cadet who graduated in 1962.

most people know sodium

The cadet who wore this 1962 ring sat in the

chloride as, is generally

same seats the cadets sit in today, but in 1912

considered benign. The

Wicker Chapel was not yet built. The rings

medical establishment

represent the thousands of cadets who have

does not even consider

graduated over the last hundred years. One of

salt to be the health hazard

the many reasons I came to work at Fork

that they once thought it

Union after retiring from United States Coast

was. One atom of sodium

Guard...

(Na) chemically bonded to

V ol um e I , Is s ue 2

Page 2

Yankees’ Chaplain George McGovern visits Fork Union Dalton Fowler and Micah Giszack

On Thursday, January 21, Fork Union said, “I’ve been very fortunate… all the received a unique visitor. The chaplain coaches have been supportive of chapfor the New York Yankees, Mr. George el…about half of the players are inMcGovern spoke in a FUMA chapel ser- volved somehow”. Mr. McGovern talked vice, providing cadets with autobioabout Dennis Byrd’s career-ending injugraphical information in combination ries, and said that he recognized that with some of the people he works with. even with his entire life crumbling, he He explained that he’s said, “I know I still been involved in profeshave Jesus Christ”.

“Some of the [professionals] sional sport chaplaincy feel that they’re invincible, Mr. McGovern’s NY Giants Super bowl Rings for a long time; he worked for the New York that they do not need God…” Giants and Jets simultaMr. George McGovern neously before moving into Major League Baseball.

Mr. McGovern agreed to an interview by The Sabre. He said, “I happened to be in the area when the Jets and Mets were looking for a chaplain”. When asked if the team members seemed to be responsive to hearing God’s word, McGovern

Mr. McGovern said that some of the biggest challenges that face new NFL players is a multimillion dollar salary at that age.

Left to right: Samer Khalil, Denzel Opoku, Mr. George McGovern, Logan Justice

Fork Union received 18 inches of snow, but the heat is on Micah Giszack

of course) by romping around in the ing. Though forecasts taper in accuracy powder. Cadets were not only having a with added time, trends dictate that good time, but many took the time to through the next two weeks, Fork Union shovel out sidewalks and roadways in will see temperatures more suitable to addition to the concerted efforts by our March than early February. dedicated maintenance teams, who used plows throughout Friday evening to remove the still-falling snow. Though the campus was beautiful under the white blanket, some are glad to see melting, welcoming it as a harbinger of the coming spring season and spring break, which is now roughly one Photo Cr. COL Al Williamson. Friday, January 22– Fork Union blizzard begins. Wicker Chapel month away as of today. This week, Between Friday, January 22, and the our campus will see temperatures nearfollowing Sunday, Fork Union’s campus ing or exceeding seventy degrees. Rain, saw 18 inches (gusting winds made not snow, can be expected on Wednesabsolute measurements a nearday , and each day of this next week Cadets enjoyed sledding over the January 22 weekend impossibility) of snow. Over the week- will see air over 46 degrees. Black ice end, cadets took plenty of time to enjoy will be less of an issue this week as temthe chilly weather (with thick coats on, peratures hover at or well above freez-

V ol um e I , Is s ue 2

Page 3

Continued: Project Levi In order for Levi to fulfill his quest an intimidating cost, which ap-

FUMA Cadets Volunteer at Special Olympics Tennis Tourney

of eating on his own, he needs to

proaches $1,000 per day. Levi’s

receive intense, individualized

family is elated with his progress

On February 14th and 15th, a crew of our FUMA ca-

thus far, but knows the needed

dets, mostly members of the Academy’s PIER Club,

therapy poses immense financial

volunteered their time to assist with the National

burden. In order to help Levi, our

Special Olympics Tennis Tournament, held annually

Interact Club will donate all proceeds from various events over the next weeks, but Levi’s family needs as much help as possible, and further donations can be Tyler Schuster, left; Levi, right

accepted here, in addition to

physical therapy. This therapy is

supporting Fork Union’s Interact

available at a specialized camp in

Club.

Richmond, VA; however, there is

Continued: Salty Captain Jason Biette

COL Rob Feathers

at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville. This is the fifth year our cadets have been involved in this event. The opening ceremony for the event was held that Thursday evening, with 14 of our cadets carrying state banners, leading each participating state’s contingent. On Friday afternoon, 14 of our cadets served as ball boys for 3 hours, chasing down errant tennis balls at the net and throwing them back to the servers. These two events gave our cadets the opportunity to be of service to the community and provided them insight into the Spe-

...that explodes when it comes in contact with water. Moreover, chlorine,

cial Olympics program, which provides so many the

by itself , is a highly noxious and poisonous gas. Table salt is a wonderful

opportunity to take part in activities that we might

example of what God can do to completely change the nature (of some-

take for granted. We look forward to the continu-

thing or someone) from harsh, volatile, caustic and poisonous to pleas-

ing relationship between this great program and

ant, valuable, needful and even life giving and sustaining. So, the challenge before each and every one of us today is to do as Jesus says, go out and bring life and preservation to the world we are a part of by enacting

FUMA. Pictures from the tournament are available on Fork Union's website.

Christ’s Word. Put off that old, volatile and caustic self and embrace the new creature that we are in Christ.

Be salty!

Cadet volunteers prior to the ceremony’s initiation Photo Cr. BristolPreaching

Page 4

New self-heating battery could minimize a common struggle among winter drivers Grayson Williams

A self-heating battery developed by temperature performance of lithiumresearchers at Penn State could have a ion batteries have focused on developdramatic impact on many Americans ing additives to improve the lowduring the winter months, especially temperature behavior of electrolytes, those who drive electric vehicles. The and on externally heating and insulatconcept is a lithium-ion car battery that ing the cells With concepts for these will automatically heat itself if the tem- innovative batteries, some personages perature drops to or below 32 degrees have expressed concerns about price Fahrenheit. This battery has been nick- and weight, while some have remained named the “all-climate battery”, or altogether apathetic. The developers of ACB . Here is how it works: The ACB the all-climate battery have responded uses a 50-micrometer thick nickel foil to and disbanded some of the primary with one end attached to the negative concerns, as they've developed the ACB terminal and the other extending outto weigh only 1.5 percent more and side the cell to create a third terminal. A cost only a fraction of a percent higher temperature sensor attached to a than conventional batteries for hybrid switch begins electron flow through the and all-electric vehicles. Engineers have foil to complete also devised the the circuit. This battery to shoot process rapidly from -4 degrees heats up the Fahrenheit to nickel foil 32 degrees through rewithin 20 secsistance heating onds and from and warms the 22 degrees inside of the Fahrenheit to battery. Once 32 degrees the battery is at Fahrenheit in Concept ACB graphic. Photo Cr. Gizmag.com 33 degrees Fahr30 seconds, enheit or above, the switch turns off while consuming merely 3.8 percent and the electric current flows in its and 5.5 percent of the cell's capacity, conventional manner. While other marespectively. When asked about the terials could also serve as good refuture of this research, Professor Chaosistance-heating elements, nickel is low Yang Wang (among the foremost re-cost and works well. This is tremensearchers and developers of the alldous for not only owners of electric climate battery) said that he and his cars but also for drones and outdoor team "Think [they] can use similar robots or automated equipment. The structures or principles to actively regdevelopment is also greatly beneficial ulate the battery's ultimate safety, perto some space equipment, as the batteries that power them do not function efficiently at sub-freezing temperatures, where outer space can reach temperatures as frigid as -455 degrees Fahrenheit when far enough from planetary systems. Conventional car batteries exposed to sub-freezing temperatures suffer critical power loss, which leads to sluggish charging in chilly weather, restricted regenerative braking and reduction of vehicle cruise 2016 Fork Union Class Rings range by up to 40 percent. Previous attempts to improve the lowformance, and lifespan.”

V ol um e I , Is s ue 2

Continued: Rings Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe

...was because I knew that southern military schools had such a rich and storied history in Virginia. I want there to be more opportunities and occasions to take pride in Fork Union and restore the many traditions associated with these very special schools, so we brought back the ring ceremony.

Of course it is easy to love and appreciate this school when you lead it. From interacting so often with alumni, I also have the advantage of knowing that cadets will love this school in time, even if they don’t always love it now. My dream is that ceremonies like this will help cadets appreciate the Fork Union experience while they are going through it, not years later.

I have met many alumni who tell me that their experience at Fork Union was the key to their success…and many are successful beyond measure. I need all cadets to help maintain the greatness Fork Union Military Academy is known for.

The Fork Union Military Academy class ring is just one symbol of school pride, and I’m told that the class ring, as we know it today, originated at West Point, The United States Military Academy, in 1835.

West Point was the first American school to use rings as a sign of common recognition. The ring symbolized unity, togetherness, a band of brothers, and lifelong friends bound by common experience.

I know that cadet life at Fork Union is not easy. This ring is earned, just as the honor of graduating from FUMA is earned. The class ring symbolizes the achievement that results from hard work and sacrifice.

I ask all junior and senior who wear class rings to wear them with pride in themselves, pride in all those who went before, and all those who will follow.

Go Rings! Go FUMA!

V ol um e I , Is s ue 2

Page 5

Fork Union Military Academy Phone: 434-848-3212 Address: 4744 James Madison Hwy Fork Union, VA 23055 Comments for Sabre Now: Sabre@fuma.org All back issues can be found here

Editor’s Note Sabre Now is in its infancy, but since the last issuance, the Sabre team has received positive commentary without number. This second edition, as with the first, was a joint effort between the dedicated Sabre team and faculty, staff and cadets. As the promontory cadet editor of both the print publication and this one, my job is to review each submission. I’ve found that apart from a gifted base of writers, cadets at FUMA are exceedingly willing to contribute, some utilizing free time in a volunteer effort. Many events happen around campus every day, but we would not be able to push this newsletter out there without the support we have received from select cadets and various faculty members: this issue and last. A publication every two weeks certainly is ambitious, and I am confident thaton we can such a We’re theuphold Web! timeframe because of those who assist us,example.com of course not forgetting the permanent Sabre team and their contributions. Do not forget that we’re accepting criticisms and compliments alike at sabre@fuma.org. If there is a story that you feel should be published, please send your ideas our way at that e-mail address! Thanks for reading Sabre Now; if it were not for the readers, we would have no reason to publish. Until next time.

As oil prices drop, airline fare remains steady Chase Ray

In the recent months U.S. crude oil prices have plummeted, managing to stay around $30 a barrel; the cheapest it’s been in years. Despite this, airlines, the biggest consumers of crude oil in America, haven’t lowered their ticket prices accordingly. Normally, there would be a discount in oil prices due to a practice known as hedging. Hedging is a practice in which a corporation pays a premium to buy oil at a flat rate regardless of the market price. This has worked for years, with airlines being able to slash their oil costs, but recent price drops have caused this practice to backfire.

Alternatively, companies such as American Airlines, who stayed away from hedging, have been reaping the benefits. With ticket prices dropping in the recent weeks, they’ve seen a spike in both financial and commercial success. “It’s certainly a blessing,” says CFO Paul Jacobson, “and we hope to milk it for all it’s worth.” When Chris Woodard of USA Today asked exactly what he meant by “milking” this blessing, Jacobson explained that the airline planned to buy up as much oil as it could in reserve before the prices jumped again.

American’s practices are serving as a guiding light for fellow airlines such as Southwest and Alaska. "We’re still committed to hedging over the longer term, but feel this is the right time to just kind of sit on the sidelines and wait it out," Southwest’s vice president of finance Mark Jackson said in a call with analysts. Taking somewhat of a middle road, the airline is cutting the amount of fuel that it purchases through hedging in half and buying the rest at market price. Alaska airlines is following the same model with the hopes that fuel prices will say low.

Hopefully more corporations will start to stray away from hedging so that those frequent flyers committed to a specific airline can reap the benefits of these decreasing fuel prices as well.

Forewarned is Forearmed February’s Calendar of Events February 5th: Winter Leave Weekend begins at 1230 February 8th: Winter Leave Weekend ends— all cadets will be back on campus on Monday at 1830

February 15th: Term 3 Final Exam. New Cadets will report. This day also marks the beginning of the fourth term.

February 19th: Leave weekend begins after class

A full 2015-2016 Academic Calendar may be found on our website. A PDF is available for all parents to download here.

Note: Due to the final exams for term 3 taking place on Monday, February 15th, the third Sabre Now publication will be scheduled for Tuesday, February 16th.

All information hereto has been verified. Modifications to preserve accuracy were taken when necessary.