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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Butler Executive Officer Cmdr. Eric Vosler Command Master Chief CMDCM David Graham
EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Tim Page
timothy.page@eu.navy.mil Communtiy Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil Editor Jackie Trembath jackie.trembath@eu.navy.mil Staff Writers/Photographers MR1 Gary Spence gary.spence@eu.navy.mil MC3 Cameron Bramham cameron.bramham@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 3020, FPO, AE 09627
MAY 10, 2013
Direct Line NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer, Capt. Scott Butler I want to start off this Direct Line by wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms in our community!! On Sunday, May 12, we should all take time to celebrate Mother’s Day and honor the incredible, everyday contributions moms make to enrich all of our lives. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our wives and mothers for what you do, every day. Last week we aired our final edition of Feedback Live on AFN. Feedback Live was the longest running show on AFN Europe and I really enjoyed being a part of it. The show was really a great venue for you all to ask questions, and I know that AFN will work with the incoming Commanding Officer, Capt. Chris Dennis, to ensure that there is still a format to get your concerns addressed. If you weren’t able to tune in to the last edition, you can watch the show online at AFN Sigonella’s Facebook page. Until AFN comes up with the right format to replace Feedback Live, I’d encourage you all to visit the site and post your questions: www. facebook.com/nassigonella. As summer is quickly approaching, it’s a good time to remind everyone to focus on reducing risks. Typically in April and May, accidents within the community tend to pick up as more people take to the streets and this year is no exception. All of us here in
Sicily know that extra vigilance is required – driving here is most certainly a change from that which all of us have been accustomed. Remember to be a defensive driver and always be aware of your surroundings while you drive. Bike safety is equally important. Last weekend, the American Red Cross partnered with MWR and Navy Federal Credit Union to teach bike safety at the Bike Rodeo event in Marinai. Hopefully you were able to take advantage of the opportunity to learn bike safety skills. May is also Motorcycle Safety Month and our volunteer motorcycle coaches have put together a great program for riders that includes a day of safety briefings followed by a group ride. The weather during the spring and summer in Sicily is amazing – which means there are more people out on all kinds of vehicles. The most important thing is to be attentive, whether you are driving a car or riding a motorcycle or bike. Finally, I want to remind everyone of two events going on next weekend. The first is Relay For Life and it will kick-off on Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m. and continue for 24 straight hours. Relay For Life is a fantastic event that celebrates the lives of those who have survived cancer, remembers those who have lost that fight and encourages all of us to fight
back against this terrible disease. The event here is similar to those held in communities around the world and its impact will truly be worldwide. On Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. the Filipino-American Association and Diveristy Committee of Sigonella will host its Annual Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) Celebration in the Sigonella Middle/High School's Knights Hall. The event will feature cultural performances and a sampling of Asian-inspired cuisine. Admission to the event is free and I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy some of the great food and unique performances. Whether you are supporting events like Relay For Life and APAH, or volunteering for events like the Bike Rodeo on base, I encourage everyone to get involved in this community. Find an organization that you believe in and make a difference by leaving a lasting impression for generations of Sigonellans to come.
DRIVE SAFELY
This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertisingin this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD orStampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publications hall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex,national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policyby an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violationis corrected.
Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers. The Signature will not publish anyanonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consent of the publisher.
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NASSIG WORSHIP SERVICES ROMAN CATHOLIC
OTHER SERVICES/ACTIVITIES
■ 8:30 a.m. Catholic Mass (NAS I Chapel) ■ 11:30 a.m. Catholic Mass (NAS II Chapel) Sacraments of Reconciliation/Penance precede each Mass
LATTER-DAY SAINTS
PROTESTANT
CHURCH OF CHRIST LAY SERVICE
Sunday
Sunday at 3 p.m. (NAS I Chapel) Contact: sigonellalds@gmail.com or 624-9049
■ 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Worship Services
Noon Bible Study (NAS 1) 12:30 p.m. Worship Service Contact Virgil Strobridge at 624-4779 or Reginald McNeil at 335-578-8519
■ 10 a.m. Traditional Worship
■ AA Meetings: Monday, NAS I at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, NAS II at 11:30 a.m. Contact: 346-840-7745
NAS I Chapel
Saturday Sunday
Chapel Offices: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, DSN: 624-3975, CHAPLAIN DUTY: 335-831-4493 RP DUTY: 335-786-1950
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What’s Happening Around NAS Sigonella
Take advantage of safety through Mark your calendars: Relay For Life May 18 American Red Cross
The American Red Cross Sigonella offers a variety of items for purchase including first aid kits. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Cameron Bramham/Released)
PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887
The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy. Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887. E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it.
MAY 10, 2013
On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton and a group of associates founded the American Red Cross (ARC) organization. She wanted to create the ARC after witnessing a similar organization while visiting Europe following the Civil War. When she returned home, she pushed for an ARC campaign to be ratified under the Geneva Convention, protecting
the war-injured and becoming ratified in the United States in 1882. Today the ARC is one of the nation’s leading humanitarian organizations devoted to aiding people in the United States, and in association with other Red Cross organizations around the globe. The ARC Sigonella, among supporting military families, health and safety trainings, and international services, also offers something most Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella service and community members are not aware of. “We have first aid kits for sale,” said ARC Sigonella Field Office Assistant Anna CalleraFaber. “Big, medium, and small kits are available but vary in price. The people who operate CDH’s [Child Development Home’s] in Marinai buy a lot of their kits from us.” There are also kits specialized for smaller children, babies, emergency preparedness and guides as well. Callera-Faber thinks it’s very important for NAS Sigonella service and community members to know what ARC Sigonella can offer because being ready for an emergency can make all the difference when the emergency does occur. “You always need to be ready for anything,” Callera-Faber said. “We have these items available for people so they can have it in their homes, cars, and workplaces.” Purchasing any kind of first aid kit offered by ARC Sigonella is a very simple process. “Anyone can just drop by while we’re open and purchase it from us,” Callera-Faber said. “It’s theirs to keep after that.” For more information on available first aid kits and other services ARC Sigonella can offer to NAS Sigonella service and community members call 624-4900 or email at Sigonella@redcross.org.
NAS I Chapel hosts National Day of Prayer
Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella commanding officer, Capt. Scott Butler gives opening remarks during the NAS Sigonella Religious Ministries Department celebration of National Day of Prayer, May 1 at the NAS I Chapel. National Day of Prayer was established as an annual event in 1952, when President Harry S. Truman signed it into law. According to the official website, nationaldayofprayer.org, the observance is founded on the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and religion, being celebrated by all Americans. The theme for this year’s celebration was, “Investing in Hope … Transforming our Nation through Prayer.” (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Cameron Bramham/Released)
During the Luminaria Ceremony, luminarias are lit to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones lost to cancer. (U.S. Navy photo by MR1 Gary Spence/Released)
The Sigonella Relay For Life will be held on the DoDDS middle/ high school track on May 18. Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s largest event, where teams rotate their members in shifts to walk constantly around the track for a 24-hour period, representing a day in the life, and symbolically walking in the shoes, of a cancer patient. The 24-hour event will kick-off at 10 a.m. with a celebration of the accomplishments and progress of cancer survivors in the Sigonella community. The Luminaria Ceremony will begin at 9 p.m. The Luminaria ceremony is a chance to remember and honor those lost to cancer. It's not too late to get involved! If you're interested in forming a team, participating as a survivor or caregiver in the opening ceremony, dedicating/decorating a luminaria bag for the Luminaria Ceremony and/or helping set up/clean up, email Sigrelay4life@gmail.com, visit Relayforlife.org, or Facebook page/Sigonella Relay For Life.
SAWS helps animals find forever homes
The Sigonella Animal Welfare Society (SAWS) hosted an adopt-athon in front of the commissary on NAS I, May 4. This event happens on the first Sunday of every month to raise funds and find homes for the homeless animals of Sigonella. If you missed out, but would like to find our more about adoption you can email sawsanimals@ hotmail. com to arrange for a meeting or a trial run with a special pet. Stay current with news and volunteer opportunities via www.facebook.com/Sigonella.Animals. (Photo by Chelsea Humphrey) THIS IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS.