THE
SIGNATURE SIGONELLA, SICILY
VOL. 29 NO. 17
MAY
4, 2012
cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
Sigonella Sailors support local Cub Scouts
Sigonella, Sicily (April 28, 2012) Sailors and Airmen stand with Cub Scouts from Pack 53 while watching the annual Pinewood Derby at the Midtown complex on Naval Air Station Sigonella. The Pinewood Derby is an annual event every Cub Scout Troop around the world hosts, and is a great volunteer opportunity for service members to give back to the local community. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Gary Prill/Released)
BY MC2 GARY PRILL NPASE - East Detachment Europe
S
IGONELLA, Italy – Cubs from Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s Cub Scout Pack 53 hosted an annual Pinewood Derby in the Midtown Complex on NAS I to race their homemade cars down a 15-foot aluminum track April 28. The Pinewood Derby is held worldwide for Cub Scouts, each boy receiving a seven-inch pine block, four nails and four wheels. Cubs then design, craft and perfect their cars to fit in weight and height restrictions in order to participate in the event. “The cars are from scratch. It’s up to the imagination and creativity to turn the car into whatever shape or form they can imagine,” said Boy Scout Troop leader Blaine Peet. “It’s about following the Boy Scout motto, ‘do your best’. It’s not about winning but about enjoyment in the event.” Volunteers for the event included parents of local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts
along with civilians and junior Sailors who were also Boy Scouts while growing up. “It’s awesome that we can get the volunteers out here today for this event. The volunteers are good role models for the boys,” said Peet. “The boys will relate better to someone who looks like their older brother vice someone who looks more like dad. They also look at the Sailors who have been successful in life, and this gives them a goal to shoot for.” One volunteer, Hospital Corpsman James Ewen, a phlebotomist from NAS Sigonella Hospital, says he donates his time to give back to an association that provided positive influences on him as a child. “I was a Scout growing up,” said Ewen. “Scouting was a huge influence in my life and I wanted to pay it forward to help influence the Scouts of today.” Ewen recalled the memory of his derby races. “It’s different being an adult wat-
ching these races. I know how much work goes into the cars, so being able to watch someone else carry on the tradition is really cool.” Troop Leader Peet explained what vital roles the volunteer Eagle Scouts offer to the group. “The Sailors who were Scouts themselves, and remember all the fun they had, really help out when the Scouts’ father is deployed. They can help as that craftsperson or that male role model,” said Peet. The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest and most prominent value based youth development organizations, providing necessary character building, and team work opportunities for today’s youths. “These kinds of events are great for the kids,” said Peet. “They help build the necessary characteristics of leadership and team work skills that are a necessity for later in life.”
Boy Scouts from Naval Air Station Sigonella volunteer to officiate Cub Scout Pack 53's annual Pinewood Derby at the Midtown complex on Naval Air Station Sigonella Support Base. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Gary Prill/Released)
QUOTE
“It requires less character to discover the faults of others than to tolerate them.” - J. Petit-Senn
Ancient Greek Drama Festival
FAST training conducted at NASSIG
Are you ready for some rugby?
Starts May 11 at the Siracusa Greek Theater
NAS Sigonella Sailors 41st Stormo personnel and local Italian law enforcement conduct training
Introducing the Hoplites
Page 6
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OF THE WEEK
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Scan for direct links to NAS Sigonella