Flagship September 18, 2014

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AWARD WINNING

JOURNALISM 2013 Russell Egnor Navy Media Awards has recognized in Civilian Enterprise News Publications: First Place:The Flagship

More than 20 years of Vol. 22, No. 37 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 09.18-09.24.14

serving the Hampton Roads Navy family

One year later

Washington Navy Yard remembers shooting on anniversary Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communication WASHINGTON

U.S. Navy photo

newCPOs

Navy’s newest chief petty officers pinned at Naval Station Norfolk MC1 Ernest R. Scott Capt. Todd Flannery, commander of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic, addresses the public regarding the results of the Judge Advocate General Manual investigation.

CNAL releases investigation results of MH53E crash By MC1 Ernest R. Scott Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK

Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAL) released the results today of the Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) investigation in to the crash of an MH-53E off the coast of Virginia Jan. 8, that resulted in the deaths of three Sailors. The MH-53E, assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Fourteen (HM-14) and based at Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field, was conducting a routine training exercise when the accident happened. “Lt. Sean Snyder, Lt. Wes Van Dorn, and Petty Officer Brian Collins were outstanding Sailors, sons, brothers, and fathers,” said Capt. Todd Flannery, Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic (HSCWL). “We continue to keep their families in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers.”

» see CRASH | A11

CFC AND HEATHY LIVING SPECIAL SECTION INSERTS Don’t forget to check out the inserts in this week’s Flagship! CFC contains stories with military ties from local charities and Healthy Living is your guide to staying fit this fall and winter!

MC2 Jeffrey Atherton A Sailor is piped aboard as a chief petty officer at a pinning ceremony held at Naval Station Norfolk. Thirty-six Sailors from various commands on Naval Station Norfolk were promoted to the rank of chief petty officer at the ceremony held Sept. 16.

Gravely Sailors go back to school with namesake students By Lt. j.g. Bobby Dixon USS Gravely Public Affairs

NORFOLK

Thirteen Sailors from USS Gravely (DDG 107) went back to school Sept. 2, visiting with students at their namesake elementary in Haymarket, Va. The crewmembers spent the day at the Samuel L. Gravely Elementary, welcoming

back the 880 teachers, staff and students as part of an ongoing partnership between the crew and the school. “We just love when our Sailors come visit us,” said first-grade teacher Laura Moose. The Sailors arrived early for the busy, first day back to school. They divided themselves into two teams: one team met students

» see COMREL | A11

9/11 ATTACKS REMEMEBERED LOCALLY AND ABROAD See how commands in Hampton Roads and around the world commemorated the Sept. 11 attacks.

INVICTUS GAMES An aviation boatswain’s mate won the U.S. team’s first gold medal during track and field competitions Sept. 11 at the Invictus Games in London.

» see A8-A10

» see B5

It was a day no one who worked on the Washington Navy Yard will ever forget. Shortly after 8:00 a.m., on Sept. 16, 2013, Navy contractor Aaron Alexis entered the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) headquarters building and killed 12 people while wounding four more - including two police officers. A year later, though much of the NAVSEA workforce is still displaced and many struggle to make sense of the tragic events, Washington Navy Yard employees met to remember the lives of co-workers, friends and loved ones during a short, 8:00 a.m. ceremony on the base. Attended by more than 2,000 Navy Yard employees, the purposely low-key ceremony featured remarks from both Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert. “We know now that, although we have healed, our Navy and Marine Corps family will never feel completely whole...that even though we remind ourselves it is impossible, we will never quit thinking, if only for an instant, that those we lost will come to work again and that it will be as if nothing has happened,” said Mabus. “But in the midst of these hard, awful truths, we also know that bright, wonderful memories will be with us and sustain us always. We know that their lives are defined, not for how they died, but for how they lived and will be remembered always.” Though the event was designed to memorialize the tragedy, each of the speakers highlighted how much the command has achieved in the wake of the shooting. NAVSEA, responsible for designing, building and maintaining the Navy fleet, was able to almost immediately reconstitute the majority of its workforce in satellite offices around the metro area - many were back to work the day after the shooting. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the command awarded $1.6 billion worth of contracts, delivered a littoral combat ship, christened a submarine and aircraft carrier, and provided oversight to all of the Navy’s new ship construction and maintenance programs. “As we come together during events like this, we remember our lost shipmates and their families. We also rededicate ourselves to our mission, a mission they fully supported, and do our best for our nation,” said Vice Adm. Willy Hilarides, NAVSEA Commander. “We mark today as a day of remembrance and a day of inspiration. Remember the shipmates we lost,they’re with us every day as we continue to move forward.” The command continues to conduct its mission despite being displaced from its headquarters. The building - now officially renamed the Joshua Humphreys Building in honor of the Navy’s first naval architect - is undergoing a 16-month, $44 million renovation designed to repair damage and give returning employees a new sense of place. The renovation will also allow the Navy to incorporate an area memorializing the fallen. Employees will begin returning to the building in February.

OCEANA AIR SHOW The Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show is back! Performers will again take to the skies above Virginia Beach Sept. 20 - 21.

THE FLAGSHIP’S FREE HOME DELIVERY South Hampton Roads: Get the convenience of your Navy newspaper delivered right to your door for free!

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