SIGNATURE THE
SIGONELLA, SICILY
February 1, 2013
Vol. 30. No. 4
cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
Eighth grade students from Sigonella Middle/High School lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of the "Kids' Inaugural: Our Children. Our Future" concert, January 19, 2013, in Washington, D.C. The children's event was in advance of the second inauguration of United States President Barack Obama. (Photo by Ed Lucio)
Sigonella 8th grade students visit Washington D.C. by jackie trembath NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
T
wenty 8th grade students from Sigonella Middle/High school at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella spent seven days in Washington D.C., from January 17 - 23. The trip to the United States capital began with a simple student inquiry during Shawn McCarthy's U.S. history class. "We were watching news coverage on Election Day," McCarthy said. "I had the TV paused on a shot of the White House and students were asking questions about the White House and Washington D.C. The students began to ask questions. 'Can we go?' said a student. 'I want to go to the White House so that one day I can tell my kids about it,' another said.
"Here are military kids that love their country, love history and were asking to visit their capital, not asking to go to an amusement park," McCarthy said. "I wanted to make it happen." After researching regulations, the Internet for contacts, he began to make calls and coordinate with the Presidential Inaugural Committee, the Supreme Court, the Military Child Education Coalition, the vice president’s office and many others laying the ground work that would turn his student's dreams into a reality, seeking and gaining approval from Department of Defense Dependents Schools and garnering interest from the students and teachers. "There was no template for doing something like this," said McCarthy. "but it needed to be done. For two months
I basically worked in a void. It took a lot of networking, but I simply followed the guidance of Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden by joining forces with others. " Accompanying the twenty students able to sign on for the trip, were five parent chaperons; among one, an active duty service member. Fundraising events were held to help offset the costs that each student incurred with the trip. The Sigonella community showed their supported during the student's 700 hours of fundraising, while donations received were divided evenly among the students; no government funds were used for the trip. A major highlight of their week-long experience was attending the Kids’ Inaugural Concert featuring Katy Perry and Usher upon invitation from the President See Sigonella Students Page 8
QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Never let life impede on your ability to manifest your dreams. Dig deeper into your dreams and deeper into yourself and believe that anything is possible, and make it happen." - Corin Nemec
Sigonellans get in Step
Sicily celebrates
Miami Dolphins visit Sigonella
Dance company Step Afrika! visits.
St. Agata Festival in Catania.
Former Miami Dolphin football players pay special visit.
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