In this week's edition: Remembering Ponte Dirillo 72 years later; Corpsman up: Answering the call for 117 years, and finally Venice with kids? It ain't for sissies!
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GELA, Sicily — July 10 marked 72 years since the Allies invaded Sicily and launched Operation Husky - the Italian campaign during WWII. To mark the anniversary, NAS Sigonella Com- manding Officer, Capt. Christopher Dennis, Lt. Cmdr. Robert Matthias, Naval Computer and Tel- ecommunications Station Sicily executive officer, and a small group of civilians and members of the U.S. and Italian armed services joined to honor the fallen during a ceremony at Ponte Dirillo. Lt. Matthew Brassart, officer-in-charge of Na- val Radio Transmitter Facility in nearby Niscemi, served as master-of-ceremonies. “is year, on May 8th, we took time to re- member that it’s been 70 years since Germany signed the act of military surrender to the Allies in Berlin. VE Day marked the end of World War II in Europe,” said Brassart. “None of that could have happened without the events that took place here during Operation Husky in Sicily." During his remarks, Brassart noted the opera- tion success, then turned his attention to the trag- ic-yet-heroic efforts of the Americans who fought and fell at Ponte Dirillo July 10 and 11. Brassart explained how a group from the 1st Battalion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Air- borne Division, took off from Tunisia only to miss their drop zones east of Gela village. "ere was a strong western wind and these paratroopers landed miles beyond their actual drop zones," Brassart said. "Men of the 82nd Air- borne Division found themselves amidst three German pillboxes in Ponte Dirillo." Despite their precarious position, the small detachment of para- troopers made the best of it, forming little groups of men who wreaked havoc on Italian and Ger- man positions during heavy nighttime fighting. By the early hours of July 11, 39 paratroopers from the 1st Battalion unit had perished. e bat- tlefield today sits near a farmhouse adjacent to a highway. In front of the farmhouse is a marker that lists the 39 dead. What the plaque does not mention are the several instances of awe-inspiring bravery carried out by 1st Battalion's young men, starting at the top of their chain-of-command. ey were led into action by Lt. Col. Arthur Gor- ham, a 28-year-old Brooklyn native whose unit took fire from German Tiger tanks and infantry. On the early morning of July 11, about 10 Tigers with a battalion of men following began an assault on the American position. While his men stayed low, Gorham kept moving, avoiding incoming fire while maneuvering around the enemy, bucking Lt. Matthew Brassart, officer-in-charge of Naval Radio Transmitter Facility in nearby Niscemi, leads a small group of civilians and members of the U.S. and Italian armed services to honor the fallen during a ceremony at Ponte Dirillo. July 10 marked 72 years since the Allies invaded Sicily and launched the Italian Campaign during World War II. is major effort was named Operation Husky. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released) FFSC: N A S SIG O N E L L A Tips to manage stress! PAGE 15 Vol. 32 No. 28 Energy Biggest Loser : Where does Sig' stand? PAGE 5 Venice with kids: IT AIN'T FOR SISSIES! PAGE 3 July 17, 2015 NAS SIGONELLA – e Navy’s largest and most decorated rating cel- ebrated 117 years of steadfast service. Here in Sicily, Naval Hospital Sigonella proudly hosted the occasion with the Hospital Corpsman Ball at the Hotel Valle Degli Ulivi June 20. e rating has come a long way since President Wil- liam McKinley signed an Act of Con- gress in 1898 establishing the Hospital Corps: the HM rate has grown from 25 senior “apothecaries” to today’s fleet of 30,000 active duty and reserve corps- men. Since 1898, those who have worn the Caduceus and their predecessors have responded to the call “Corpsman up!” wherever the Navy and Marine Corps took them. Navy Hospital Corpsmen are at the frontlines of combat zones treating the wounded, delivering hu- manitarian assistance in hospital ships, providing crisis response in areas of dire need and caring for the sick at military treatment facilities. ey are present across all theaters of operations at land, sea and air. To ensure our fighting force is medically ready for the mission while delivering high quality, family-centered patient care. “It is impossible to imagine Navy Medicine without our corpsmen,” said Naval Hospital Sigonella Com- manding Officer Capt. William David- son. “We are proud of our corpsmen and everything that they do for us to be able to deliver world class care anytime, anywhere.” he adds. e Medal of Honor has been awarded to 22 corpsmen, many of them posthumously. Additionally, 174 Navy Cross Recipients, 946 Silver Stars, 1,582 Bronze Stars and so much more. ese honors come at a price; recent statistics count more than 2,000 corpsmen who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Every Corpsman Ball is right- fully theirs as well: their lives celebrated and their legacy carried on proudly. Coming close to 30 years of faithful and dedicated Naval service, this will be Command Master Chief Jill Eas- tin’s last Corpsman Ball on active duty. “e past 30 years have been charac- terized by great changes not only in the Navy but in the world around us”, Eastin observes. In her address, she ardently emphasized the importance of embracing change in today’s Navy. “Change is good, do not run away from it,” she highlights. “e Military and Navy Medicine is changing quickly and as these changes come from the top, I challenge each and every one of you to bring them to fruition to the grassroots. Become leaders of change.” e Hospital Corpsman Pledge holds the care of the sick and injured to be a privilege and a sacred trust. is is a tradition that has been kept for 117 years. With a heroic heritage and a decorated history, much is expected of the Hospital Corps in the years to come and this ball is just another reminder of the great task at hand –to respond to the call “Corpsman Up!” for the genera- tions to come. Corpsman up: Answering the call for 117 years BY HM1 CHRISTOPHER AQUINO AND HM2 JOSEPH CASTRO U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Public Affairs Remembering Ponte Dirillo 72 years later BY MC1 TONY D. CURTIS NAS Sigonella Public Affairs True to tradition, the Hospital Corpsman Pledge was recited during the celebration of the Hospital Corps' 117th birthday held at the Hotel Valle Degli Ulivi, June 20. (Photo courtesy of Ed Lucio) "PONTE DIRILLO" continued on Page 12
Transcript
GELA, Sicily — July 10 marked 72 years since the Allies invaded Sicily and launched Operation Husky - the Italian campaign during WWII.
To mark the anniversary, NAS Sigonella Com-manding Officer, Capt. Christopher Dennis, Lt. Cmdr. Robert Matthias, Naval Computer and Tel-ecommunications Station Sicily executive officer, and a small group of civilians and members of the U.S. and Italian armed services joined to honor the fallen during a ceremony at Ponte Dirillo.
Lt. Matthew Brassart, officer-in-charge of Na-val Radio Transmitter Facility in nearby Niscemi, served as master-of-ceremonies.
“This year, on May 8th, we took time to re-member that it’s been 70 years since Germany signed the act of military surrender to the Allies in Berlin. VE Day marked the end of World War II in Europe,” said Brassart. “None of that could have happened without the events that took place here during Operation Husky in Sicily."
During his remarks, Brassart noted the opera-tion success, then turned his attention to the trag-ic-yet-heroic efforts of the Americans who fought and fell at Ponte Dirillo July 10 and 11. Brassart explained how a group from the 1st Battalion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Air-borne Division, took off from Tunisia only to miss their drop zones east of Gela village.
"There was a strong western wind and these paratroopers landed miles beyond their actual drop zones," Brassart said. "Men of the 82nd Air-borne Division found themselves amidst three German pillboxes in Ponte Dirillo." Despite their precarious position, the small detachment of para-troopers made the best of it, forming little groups of men who wreaked havoc on Italian and Ger-man positions during heavy nighttime fighting.
By the early hours of July 11, 39 paratroopers from the 1st Battalion unit had perished. The bat-
tlefield today sits near a farmhouse adjacent to a highway. In front of the farmhouse is a marker that lists the 39 dead. What the plaque does not mention are the several instances of awe-inspiring bravery carried out by 1st Battalion's young men, starting at the top of their chain-of-command. They were led into action by Lt. Col. Arthur Gor-ham, a 28-year-old Brooklyn native whose unit
took fire from German Tiger tanks and infantry. On the early morning of July 11, about 10 Tigers with a battalion of men following began an assault on the American position. While his men stayed low, Gorham kept moving, avoiding incoming fire while maneuvering around the enemy, bucking
Lt. Matthew Brassart, officer-in-charge of Naval Radio Transmitter Facility in nearby Niscemi, leads a small group of civilians and members of the U.S. and Italian armed services to honor the fallen during a ceremony at Ponte Dirillo. July 10 marked 72 years since the Allies invaded Sicily and launched the Italian Campaign during World War II. This major effort was named Operation Husky. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
FFSC: NAS SIGONELLA
Tips to manage stress!
PAGE 15
Vol. 32 No. 28
Energy Biggest Loser :Where does Sig' stand?
PAGE 5
Venice with kids:IT AIN'T FOR SISSIES!
PAGE 3
July 17, 2015
NAS SIGONELLA – The Navy’s largest and most decorated rating cel-ebrated 117 years of steadfast service. Here in Sicily, Naval Hospital Sigonella proudly hosted the occasion with the
Hospital Corpsman Ball at the Hotel Valle Degli Ulivi June 20. The rating has come a long way since President Wil-liam McKinley signed an Act of Con-gress in 1898 establishing the Hospital
Corps: the HM rate has grown from 25 senior “apothecaries” to today’s fleet of 30,000 active duty and reserve corps-men.
Since 1898, those who have worn the Caduceus and their predecessors have responded to the call “Corpsman up!” wherever the Navy and Marine Corps took them. Navy Hospital Corpsmen are at the frontlines of combat zones treating the wounded, delivering hu-manitarian assistance in hospital ships, providing crisis response in areas of dire need and caring for the sick at military treatment facilities. They are present across all theaters of operations at land, sea and air. To ensure our fighting force is medically ready for the mission while delivering high quality, family-centered patient care. “It is impossible to imagine Navy Medicine without our corpsmen,” said Naval Hospital Sigonella Com-manding Officer Capt. William David-son. “We are proud of our corpsmen and everything that they do for us to be able to deliver world class care anytime, anywhere.” he adds.
The Medal of Honor has been awarded to 22 corpsmen, many of them posthumously. Additionally, 174 Navy Cross Recipients, 946 Silver Stars, 1,582 Bronze Stars and so much more. These honors come at a price; recent statistics
count more than 2,000 corpsmen who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Every Corpsman Ball is right-fully theirs as well: their lives celebrated and their legacy carried on proudly.
Coming close to 30 years of faithful and dedicated Naval service, this will be Command Master Chief Jill Eas-tin’s last Corpsman Ball on active duty. “The past 30 years have been charac-terized by great changes not only in the Navy but in the world around us”, Eastin observes. In her address, she ardently emphasized the importance of embracing change in today’s Navy. “Change is good, do not run away from it,” she highlights. “The Military and Navy Medicine is changing quickly and as these changes come from the top, I challenge each and every one of you to bring them to fruition to the grassroots. Become leaders of change.”
The Hospital Corpsman Pledge holds the care of the sick and injured to be a privilege and a sacred trust. This is a tradition that has been kept for 117 years. With a heroic heritage and a decorated history, much is expected of the Hospital Corps in the years to come and this ball is just another reminder of the great task at hand –to respond to the call “Corpsman Up!” for the genera-tions to come.
Corpsman up: Answering the call for 117 years
By HM1 CHristopHer Aquino And HM2 JosepH CAstro U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Public Affairs
Remembering Ponte Dirillo 72 years laterBy MC1 tony d. CurtisNAS Sigonella Public Affairs
True to tradition, the Hospital Corpsman Pledge was recited during the celebration of the Hospital Corps' 117th birthday held at the Hotel Valle Degli Ulivi, June 20. (Photo courtesy of Ed Lucio)
"PONTE DIRILLO" continued on Page 12
tHe siGnAturepAGe 2 July 17, 2015 tHe siGnAture pAGe 3July 17, 2015
Some of you may be aware while others may not. For the last three weeks I have been filling in for Command Master Chief Kaszubowski while he has been temporarily assigned to Millington, TN. While this is not my first time filling in, it’s by far my long-est stretch, and though I’ve been stationed here over three years, being allowed a month as your CMC has reinforced in my mind the amazing community that is Sigonella.
As acting CMDCM, I’ve had the opportunity to see things from a different perspective. Normally, I work at Security, so I tend to see and hear about things that don’t always portray the best side of peo-ple or situations, but I will tell you, we are AWE-SOME! Now let me explain.
We’re part of a community in which MWR and its partners host a 4th of July event that was quite hon-estly second-to-none. Attendees who joined in this celebration openly praised those efforts. It’s a com-munity with a rare spirit; one embodying a character that made us the most generous of all participants during this year’s Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Active Duty Fund Drive, and right now the stingiest during the Energy Biggest Loser competition. That’s having your priorities in order.
And it gets even more personal. I have been hum-bled by the kindness of our community’s passion for each other and how we help one another in times of need. Just the other day I witnessed departments, friends, and neighbors step in when a Sailor needed
it most. It was a sight to see, but it’s honestly the very definition of who we are.
Our awesomeness is exampled through leading service programs – Fleet and Family Support Center, Region-best OMBUDSMAN sup-port, tenant commands as much of the Sigonella family as NASSIG, and de-partment leaders who make our base the best. Leaders like Lt. Scott Jack-son, who in a moment’s notice, with-out complaint stepped in to fill the Training Officer position just before Wednesday’s highly-successful Reliant Giant drill was executed and on top of all the other things he does within an already frenzied work day. We get things done on all levels with profes-sionals who both portray themselves well on the outside and then live out the heart they have for others within. It’s easy to care about you; it’s rare to also want others to look and feel good. But that’s really who we are – a military and civilian team with some of the finest human be-ings I have had the opportunity to work beside and we just keep getting better.
As CMC Kaszubowski returns and I go back to Security, I hope you’ll take the words above as a
long-winded way of me telling you how honored I am to serve the best people on the best base in the greatest Navy in the world. We have something spe-cial here, and it truly makes me proud to be part of the Naval Air Station Sigonella team.
Comment regarding "Timeliness of Routing Request Chits":Request chits take way too long. Many in the enlisted community across the base have experienced this frustration, specifically once approved at the division level paperwork gets stuck at higher levels of the chain of command. Since we are required to submit paperwork in a timely manner, shouldn't the chain of command comply similarly?
Response: Good question. Handling of request chits is a shared responsibility between the service member and the entire chain of command. NASSIGINST 1336.1M gives guidance on the routing of chits and states that once submitted a request should not remain with a department longer than two working days. If the request must be delayed, an explanation must be attached. Since you did not provide a command, I cannot speak to the efficacy of your command's routing. From the NASSIG Admin Office standpoint, all incoming items (request chits and letters) are logged upon arrival and are tracked until completion. Please keep in mind final approval/disapproval can take substantial time as many requests require numerous on-base and in some cases off-base reviews and approval. Anyone desiring the status of a chit should start with the immediate (departmental) chain of command first. Upon research and if request was submitted from department to NASSIG CO, Base Admin Office can easily find the chit and provide an expected time of disposition. You can contact Base Admin by phone Monday through
Friday 0730-1630 at 624-5550/5311/1820. Additionally, NC1 Coumbe is our Customer Service Representative and may be reached at 624-5924.
Comment regarding "Mold Growth in Housing":I know mold in base housing can be an issue, but it seems especially problematic my household. Though we do everything we can to prevent home mold growth, it continues to reemerge. Since living here my family has never been so sick, or had so many respiratory issues. The mold is a health issue and needs to be addressed.
Response: Thanks for submitting your concerns, and I'm VERY concerned about your situation. First, go to Naval Hospital Sigonella for your health issues and be sure to mention the mold in your home. Our Housing Director asks all mold issues be reported to the Marinai Satellite Housing Office at 624-1731. Mold issues are immediately passed to Pizzarotti for remediation. If the remediation is ineffective please follow-up again with Housing and without delay. NO ONE should be suffering. Anyone experiencing issues in Marinai should contact Marinai Housing Facilities Manager, John Sammarco, at 624-4072, or by e-mail at: [email protected].
PS: For serious issues like this one, it is most helpful to provide me your contact information so I can personally follow your situation. Thank you.
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 [email protected], guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Fri-
day 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.cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Suggestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks.
* If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publically recognize employees or organizations.
** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program!
There are two ways to submit; go to:1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu. – or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".
Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box
Acting Command Master Chief Mark WojtalDirect Line
Interactive Customer Evaluation
The History Before evolving into a city widely celebrated for its irresistible
allure, the area Venice now inhabits was a chain of 118 small islands intersected by canals inside a large lagoon. Hunted down by continual waves of Germanic and Hun invaders, Roman refugees fled to the marshy area where survival depended on fishing. Within a few centuries, however, bountiful silk, grain, and spice commerce and an impregnable strategic position at the head of the Adriatic Sea helped shape Venice into a thriving city-state. While its political influence started to wane in the 15th Century, the power of the city's striking splendor has remained. To this day "The Queen of the Adriatic" beckons tourists, artists, and romance-seeking couples to experience its unique charms.
The ChallengePerhaps you noticed the aforementioned list didn’t go: artists,
romance-seeking couples, and families with small kids who will be tempted to bathe in the canal, did you? The question is why wouldn’t a young family fare well in Venice? We never asked ourselves the question; we were rudely heaved into it. I’d been here in 2000 and 2002 while a young buck aboard USS George Washington and remembered it as my favorite port visit, so there was no pause made to think about skipping this cultural jewel because of a few rug rats or three. After a grueling 20-hour van ride from Sicily, unbeknownst to us we were primed to take the challenge and see how fare thee family of five.
The Parking and the “Unthinkable”Despite our festive spirits entering the city, our Venetian
adventure started pretty rough. Pulling into the Piazzale Roma and looking like professional tourists for at least 30 minutes we finally found parking atop a public garage. At €12 a day parking seemed reasonable. I found out later there is private parking further away but for twice the price. For now Option A was the only option and looked dicey…at best. As countless vehicles and pedestrians streamed past us, presenting a questionable choice for our mini-van's resting spot the next two days, I closely studied the face of each passerby, wondering if he or she were the type of slime ball to make note of an obvious disadvantage, with three boys and all our accompanying gear the last thing we would be doing is making regular tabs on our vehicle. A concerned call to our hotel concierge sought an educated opinion. The reply was vague: "They should have some security there...I think?," but not knowing of an Option B we half-heartedly unpacked our two suitcases, locked the door, fervently prayed, and toted the ensemble toward the water as we said a wistful goodbye to our four-wheeled baby. Later on we chuckled. As a young couple we detested mini-vans. Ten years and three kids later we’d become pitifully attached to the most uncouth vehicle of ‘em all, and in no small part due to formerly unthinkable comforts like retractable cup holders, space enough for groceries plus the double stroller, and unending hiding spots for fumbled Cheez-its and decaying fruit slices.
The Grand Canal Fortunately the inspiring panoramas that line the Grand Canal
laid to rest our parking anxieties. The water taxi ride played out as if sitting in front of a giant coffee table book with somebody’s unseen hand turning each page of stunning image after the next. In this case the water taxi put-put-put-putted by gigantic gothic palaces; each one more attractive then the previous. The majority of these 15th-Century constructs were inspired by Byzantine and Moor architecture and were once the dwellings of Venice's most affluent. Our fixed gaze was interrupted only when passing beneath an ornately detailed bridge or Mama begging our 6- and 4-year old boys to stash the Nintendo 3DS and enjoy the exceptional scenery. After the boys dismissed the idea a third time I calmly put over a half-decade of sage parenting experience to use. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you're going to enjoy it," I reasoned. Still no reaction. Recalling Dr. Spock’s advice how every situation calls for a nuanced approach, I decisively changed tactics. "Put the games away or there will be no gelato!" The ingenuity immediately paid off and soon the whole family was soaking it all in. A couple routine stops, and passage under the iconic Ponte Rialto and we were again landlubbers ready to unwind in our awaiting waterside guesthouse.
The ShameFinding our hotel turned out to be a problem, and ultimately
we got “fetched up” by the bellboy who led us down a series of
dark alleys that passed unmarked walls. The 45 minutes preceding the bellboy rescue mission (BRM) was a bad parody full of dude clichés, but this lampoon really happened. Two things I really wish we were in possession of while searching for our hotel were a Baby Bjorn and no luggage. To get the family and accompanying baggage across each bridge I had to lug two full suitcases to one side of the bridge, position my boys to stand a smart watch over them, then quickly dart to the other side so I could help my wife carry the stroller that seated our 18-month-old, Nicholas. This literally happened 20 times, and all the while I confidently assured my wife that we had to be close to our destination. After all, I had rough directions from the concierge and my internal GPS. But I knew we weren’t close. Actually, we could have been close, but I really had no way of referencing between a “could be,” a “should be,” and a “definitely are not” nearby. The only thing guiding me was quickly receding ‘fake it ‘til we make it’ confidence. After 12 bridges we were tired and sweaty, myself so in need of a shower that as I glanced over the rail on Bridge 16 my mind made sense of a quick dip in the canal. This was ridiculous thinking of course, so I made the disgraceful call to the bellboy who insisted we meet him at the biggest nearby landmark in five minutes “so you can get fetched up” he said with an obvious grin behind his cell phone and in a manner that poorly disguised his attempt to play off bad English as an opportunity to be condescending. No he didn’t. Oh yes he did, and it irritated me to no end. I knew exactly where the landmark was and told my wife we’d been on the right track all along. But it was too late for topographical glory. I’d been exposed and felt so very vulnerable. The only way to save some face now was to make it to the landmark in the five minutes allotted by the bellboy. Like an Iditarod sled dog musher the team was pushed hard – little legs pumping fiercely to scale each bridge step. I knew how to handle those little boys to get a move on; my wife, on the other hand, had been slowing noticeably since Bridge 10 and could not be so easily coerced. Even in a tense moment like this, 11 years of marriage taught me to avoid the ‘C’mon, pick it up!’ encouragement I was tempted to shout her way. I needed a new strategy, so to expedite my cause instead of setting my lads on
Bringing the kiddos to Venice ain’t for sissies story And pHotos By Lt pAuL neWeLLNAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer
Alexander Newell, 6, makes sure his younger brother Jack, 4, is enjoying himself in San Marcos Square, Venice. (Photo by Lt. Paul Newell)
"VENICE" continued on Page 4
tHe siGnAturepAGe 4 July 17, 2015 tHe siGnAture pAGe 5July 17, 2015
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – It seems the month-long EURAF-SWA Energy Biggest Loser contest just got underway, yet today we’re already past the half-way point. Af-ter the competition’s first two weeks Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella is leading all other Region instal-lations by way of an energy usage reducation 10 percent greater than July 2014’s overall consumption, which itself followed a reduction from the July 2013. The trend is en-couraging, but in addition to hop-ing for the $70,000 grand prize at month’s end, the real question is whether this effort can continue into habits.
Some Sigonella energy managers are convinced it already has, believing the base trend is not only sustainable, it's an outlier underlying a cultural shift here the U.S. government would like to permeate and endure throughout Department of Defense military communities.
“I think the reason we are leading the contest is not due to changes made by staff just so we can do well in this contest; I believe it's the overall changes our population has made over the last year,” said JP Thomasseau, Public Works Deputy Director. “Culturally we are slowly changing the way our Sig’ Citizens use their resources.”
If Thomasseau’s assesment is accurate, it’s much welcome news; especially for a grandfather who worries about the condition of the planet his grandkids will inherit.
“Transforming the ideologies of a culture is very hard, but absolutely essential,” Thomasseau said. “I’d like for there to be enough clean air, clean water, and clean food for my grandson. Besides I'm cheap. I don't want to pay for items that I don't use. That includes fuels, water, energy that I pay for
but don't actually use. So I turn off lights when I leave the room and don't leave electricity on when no one is watching or listen-ing.”
This year’s six competing Region installations have reduced consumption 2.9 percent overall. Simple ways to save energy in-clude switching off lights, turning off unused office equipment like speakers, closing doors and windows, and adjusting the thermo-stat temperature to 25°C or higher during the summer months. These tips can be used by our Sigonella community to drive us to victory long after Energy Biggest Loser wraps up.
Master Chief Petty Officer Master-at-Arms Mark Wojtal, NAS Sigonella’s acting CMC, would agree with Thomasseau’s statement about the difficulties of changing an organization’s culture. “It’s easy in theory, but the shift takes time and effort to turn around” said Wojtal, a 25-year veteran who remembers the days when the Navy threw everything off the sides of its ships and disposed of plastics by simply burning them. “It’s amazing to see how we man-age our resources compared to when I joined the Navy. This is one of those good cultural changes that’s taken place during my service.”
Wojtal, Thomasseau, and other Sigonella leaders continue to ask base employees – uniformed and civilian alike – to spread the word about energy savings first through actions, then through words.
“Leaders are first doers,” Wojtal said. “Let’s not forget we are saving money, resources, and trying to make our base a better place to live and work. We take care of us first and it will begin to effect our civilian communities.”
If you have any questions about the competition, or would like to place a building trouble call, please contact Installation Energy Manager, Antonio Piluso, at DSN 624-2901 or by e-mail at: [email protected].
the now standard protocol luggage watch, I called an audible and barked out a new set of orders to Alex. “Go back and help Mama with the stroller. I’ll meet you at the next bridge with Jack. Hurry up!” Oh boy. Half way to the next connection I craned my neck backward to monitor the progress. It wasn’t pretty and I knew I was going to pay when I saw my wife and son struggling to make it atop the bridge. Did I mention she was 15 weeks pregnant? Scalawag! Yes, I know. We then locked eyes as she stood panting while a sea of pedestrian traffic wisely made their way around her. The look required no rapid-arm summons. Her swarthy stare said it all. I wasted little time backtracking and for the remaining bridges it was I carrying luggage and stroller. We approached the landmark near the 10-minute mark and the uniformed troll was there, all 5-foot 2-inches of him wearing a brimless pillbox hat cocked to the right and secured by a chinstrap that sawed through an ample double chin. He also sported a ridiculous crimson velvet jacket with wide gold stripes running horizontally across his chest, and of course, a stupid grin. I couldn’t believe it had come to this. Shuffling pathetically just 50 feet from him he looked up and tapped his watch as if to say, ‘I thought I said five minutes?’ The humiliation was complete. Like a Beta male whose place was in back of the pack I sloped toward the hotel when my annoyed wife mustered words just kind enough to give a man in my position a glimmer of hope. “There’s no way we would have found this place, even if you had an idea where we were.” She then chuckled. The comment oozed in sarcasm, but my deflated ego gladly clung to a sliver of hope that perhaps the “20 bridges too far” debacle was not entirely avoidable, even though I knew a five-minute glance on Google Maps would have kept us from this epic conundrum.
The HotelThe hotel room was incredible and a great place to
lick my wounds. Everyone’s travel budget differs, but if you go to Venice my recommendation is not to skimp on your room. For $500 booking.com set us up for two nights in a suite overlooking the Grand Canal and boy was it worth it. All the hotels there are centuries old, and ours had bare amenities and a floor with a 10-degree decline. No Wi-Fi, no gougy mini-bar, no worries. That stuff doesn’t matter in Venice. It was all easily ignored when your room overlooks a backdrop of palatial beauty with the buzz of motorboats and gondolas going up and down the canal. It was easily the coolest lodging experience I’ve had. The boys really liked it as well.
The RestaurantWhen 8 o’clock rolled around we were hungry.
My friend told me about a great restaurant just a quick 15-minute walk away, but we were beat and my navigator credit was still at zero. A nearby eatery was targeted. The restaurant was perfect and we ended up eating there two more times during our stay. The food was okay enough; the main attraction was how it was set within a piazza so our kids could play while giving us a much-needed opportunity to sit and talk. That is until the whimper of a nearby voice abruptly reminded us be had another child to care for. Fortunately we harkened back to the age-old parenting adage: not a problem in the world exists in which you can’t throw bread at. Two-and-a-half buttered rolls later and the romantic sparks flew until the boys returned to eat their meal.
The ShoppingThe next day we decided to make our way toward
the famous San Marcos Square and hit some shops en route. Venice has all the exclusive name brand stores like Gucci and Prada, I didn’t dare enter. Instead I stepped into a men’s boutique not found on Rodeo Drive in search for some comfortable linen pants. Less than 90 seconds after entering I was told by two attendants they didn’t carry a “U.S. fit,” while pointing toward the guy mannequin with slacks on that looked like yoga pants. Yikes. “We only only carry European styles,” said the elder gent who looked like Woody Allen but with an
"VENICE continued on Page 8
"VENICE continued from Page 3
Lured by the cool, wet sensation of water against his skin, Jack Newell, 4, struggled to keep his hands inside the gondola during a family trip to Venice. (Photo by Lt. Paul Newell)
Sigonella leading Energy Biggest Loser with two weeks to goBy Lt pAuL neWeLLNAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer
Need an appointment at the hospital? Call DSN
624-CARE (2273) or commercial 095-56-2273,
M-F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. For non-emergent
medical questions that arise over the weekend, holidays, or after office
hours, please call 335-578-8077 if you are normally seen
at the hospital or 335-578-8150
if you are normally seen at the Flight Line Clinic.
tHe siGnAturepAGe 6 July 17, 2015 tHe siGnAture pAGe 7July 17, 2015
PALERMO, Sicily - When we met Capuchin friar Silvestro da Gubbio, he was propped up, wearing a name tag, the brown robe and rope belt of the Capuchin order, and a shocked expression — looking every bit his 400 years. We met him in the flesh — or what remained of the flesh — in Palermo, in Sicily, where he died in 1599, when Queen Elizabeth I still had four more years to live.
Fra Silvestro was among the first of 8,000 dead Sicilians — some friars but also many of the elite men, women and children of Palermo, even as late as the early 1900s — who have been residents of that city’s famous Capuchin Crypt at different times in its history. Today, visitors see about 1,800 fully dressed, standing corpses, double-decker, aisle after aisle. It’s been a morbid tourist attraction for decades.
The Palermo crypt is unlike the catacombs in Rome or Paris, where visitors see thousands of bones heaped in pits or layered on dirt shelves. It is said that the Capuchin friars (Frati Cappuccini) had a special regard for the dead, one factor in their 16th-century split from the Franciscans; the Cap-puccini wanted to more strictly follow the asceti-cism of Saint Francis. So in Rome, the Cappuccini founded a crypt (which you can visit, near Piazza Barberini) with a special display of bones arranged decoratively on the walls of several rooms, each devoted to a body part.
And in Palermo, the Cappuccini outdid them-selves. Some say the inspiration for the practice of preserving entire bodies was the Christian belief that at the Second Coming of Christ, they will be resurrected. But it is more than that, at least in modern times. There is a sign posted, a message to visitors: “What you are now, we used to be. What we are now, you will become.”
The Capuchin method in Palermo was to dry corpses for a year in sealed rooms on top of terra-cotta grids, while their fluids drained. Then the desiccated bodies would be washed with vinegar and dressed in friars’ robes, or, for laypeople, in their own clothing. Sometimes, a bit of stuffing, wool or straw, would be used to fill soft-tissue cavities. When the dressed bodies were set in the crypt’s rooms and aisles, the exceptionally dry con-ditions there helped preserve them.
By 1700, the Palermo Cappucini expanded from just including their own brothers to accept-ing paying customers; the steep fees funded the friars’ charities. So there is the aisle called the Professionals, populated by lawyers and doctors
suited up with coats and ties. And there is a room reserved for virgins, dressed in white gowns (Cap-pella delle Vergini).
There are extremely moving rooms with young children and infants all arranged along the walls, the babies lying in cradles on the floor, facing you (Cappella dei Bambini). Among the most interest-ing: the last addition, in 1920. Two-year old Ro-salia Lombardo lies in a glass coffin like Sleeping Beauty, embalmed with a mix of formaldehyde, alcohol, glycerin and zinc. Many visitors say she does look like she is just sleeping, although we thought that that was a bit of an exaggeration.
According to Jacqueline Alio, Palermo guide and expert on the city’s history, the cream of soci-ety were eager to be seen here. “It was a local vogue and a show of power. The nobility wanted to prove
their power in life and in death.” She said that even today, their descendants visit them occasionally.
But what you see are bodies flaking and peel-ing, and clothes — no surprise — extremely faded and torn. What is so arresting is that the residents of this crypt are upright! And there is nothing between you and them. What is most unpleasant — and likely to stick with you — are the shocked looks on their drawn, skeletal faces. But even with all that literally decrepit stuff to see and absorb, Alio says, this is not just a museum for curious travelers. Most Palermitans, and even many from other parts of Sicily, want to see it at least once in their lives.
But why include a stop at this famous crypt
A morbid tourist attraction in Sicily? Of corpse!
The conservation status of the countless corpses exposed make the cemetery of the Convent of the Capuchin Friars, known as the Capuchin Catacombs (Catacombe dei Cappuccini) of Palermo, one of the most impressive places to visit in the world. A macabre spectacle that brings out the uses, customs and traditions of the Palermo society from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. (Photo by https://commons.wikimedia.org)
On hallowed ground: CG 64 Sailors honor their ship's namesake
"CATACOMB" continued on Page 12
"We cannot escape history."Although these words were uttered by President Abraham Lincoln during his
annual message to Congress on December 1, 1862, this message rang true for Sailors from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) during their trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the 152nd Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.
The group of 18 Sailors drove more than 11 hours from their homeport in Mayport, Florida, to Gettysburg for what would become more than a history lesson.
Prior to the USS Gettysburg's commissioning in 1991, the captain and the crew were loaned Civil War artifacts from the Battle of Gettysburg for display onboard the ship. These artifacts were to serve as a physical connection from the Sailors to the ship's history and namesake.
Twenty-four years later, as the ship prepares to undergo major moderniza-tion, the Sailors returned the artifacts to Gettysburg for safe-keeping and proper maintenance.
"There is some care required for the artifacts," said Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Strick-land, executive officer for Gettysburg. "The best idea is to return it to the master preservationists at the Gettysburg Memorial Foundation."
A Sailor stands on a rock overlooking Little Round Top at Gettysburg Na-tional Military Park.
Decked out in their dress whites, the Sailors presented the items back to the Foundation. Despite giving back their little pieces of history, the ship's connec-tion to the town would not be lost. By the end of the week, nearly all of the visit-ing Sailors would feel a stronger connection to the heritage of their namesake. Over the next few days, these Sailors would spend hours touring the battlefields with a licensed Gettysburg National Military Park tour guide, as well as partici-pating in clean-up projects for community improvement around the town.
Among these projects was clearing the front of Little Round Top of excess shrubbery and brush. As the Gettysburg Sailors trimmed and cleaned their way through the overgrown brush, the significance of their place in history started to sink in.
"When we were at Little Round Top clearing shrubs away, we were actually finding different rock formations that were made for barriers during the battle," said Personnel Specialist 1st Class Noah Dubin, "It was weird to think- what would they do if they went up this hill? What did they do at this cliff?"
Thousands of soldiers perished during the Battle of Gettysburg, hundreds of them during the Battle of Little Round Top.
Our Chief said something interesting when we were up there clearing the brush," Dubin said. "Chief said, 'Just think: the land that we're pulling right now, the trees we're pulling were fertilized by the blood of those who gave their lives.'"
The significance of these battles - of what happened on this hallowed ground - resonated with each of the Sailors.
"You think about what those soldiers were thinking as they charged: cannons firing behind them, cannons firing in front of them - that kind of sense of mor-tality and deep sense of fear," Strickland said. "It's definitely humbling to think about."
One of the initial motivations for this trip was to establish a connection be-tween the USS Gettysburg Sailors and their heritage of the battle and those who participated in it. Civil War soldiers and Sailors were dedicated, hard-working individuals not unlike the service members of today. Ready to follow orders and prepared to go into harm's way at any time, the heart of military service is not too different from what it was in the 1860's.
Gettysburg reenactors"Honestly, being right here, knowing that 152 years ago they were doing what
they were doing - it's a little eerie," said Electronics Technician 1st Class Chris-topher Eckert. "I can't imagine how difficult it was for them. I'm glad I'm here, 152 years later.
Most of the Gettysburg Sailors had never been to the town before, and many had never given a second thought about the significance of their ship's namesake.
"I never truly understood the full history and sacrifice Americans gave in this town," said Electrician's Mate Fireman Patrick Morrissey. "Now I'm more honored to represent the USS Gettysburg."
This resonance was precisely what Strickland was hoping for as a result of their journey to Gettysburg.
"I hope they walk away with profound respect for the soldiers that marched across this battlefield to their deaths," Strickland said. "And what that really
means as a namesake to Get-tysburg."
During his famous Getty-sburg Address, Lincoln pro-claimed, "The world will lit-tle note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here."
After spending four days among the battlefields of Get-tysburg, Lincoln's words have never been more true than they were now for these Sail-ors of USS Gettysburg.
Story by Washingtonpost.com/Palermocatacombs.com
By MC3 rACHeL e. rAkoffALLHANDS Magazine
U.S. NAVY HEADLINES
tHe siGnAturepAGe 8 July 17, 2015 tHe siGnAture pAGe 9July 17, 2015
ascot and popped collar. My quick translation into American quickly translated his words to “Does it really look like we’re outfitted to serve big guys?” We didn’t see lots of great bargains but my wife was able to purchase some really nice Italian leather purses at a reasonable price.
The San Marcos SquareSan Marcos square is huge and jammed packed with people
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you arrive later on we were told it’s lovely and peaceful as most tours have departed. Our morning arrival from the narrow streets into the famous open court made for an even more impressive effect, but also a crowded one and it didn’t take a watch to tell us we were part of the 10 to 3 horde. The throng made it necessary to scour about for a safe haven. Soon as we wiggled our way out of the group we heard lovely music, a stringed arrangement that led us like a siren to the Caffé Florian. The café is the oldest in the world (1720), so old in fact that apparently when it started café was spelled with two effs and also looks like a museum inside. Later I found out it actually was a museum. Old as it is, the café is known for being one of only gathering places of its time to admit women patrons back in the day. Having the privilege to say you’ve sipped coffee at Florian takes getting over some sticker shock. If you stand at the bar it’s €6 for an espresso, and more if seated. They also charge €10 for a sitting/music fee while beer, coffee, and deserts are all quite expensive. I dropped €65 on three desserts, a beer, and three soft drinks. Sure the food was pricey, but sitting in San Marcos Square with a string quartet at your back and the magnificent San Marcos Basilica facing you is more than worth it. This was vacation and while we weren’t eager to get ripped off, we were sure to going to enjoy it much as possible. Once finished we headed toward the basilica, which gave the boys a lot of space to chase pigeons. The basilica is simply a marvel of antiquity, and by far the largest structure in the square and unquestionably the finest looking. I would have loved to have gone inside for a tour but I remembered perfectly how torturously boring I found this kind of stuff as a kid. The boys had already consumed €24 worth of sugar and we were no longer in prime pigeon-chasing territory. It was time to find something else. It was gondola time.
The Gondola There are lots of places to pick up a gondola in Venice. We
chose one not far from the basilica. For €120 the five of us were carefully oared for an enjoyable 45-minutes. Jack kept sticking his hand in the water at first, and looked up when we told him to stop as if to say, “What’s the issue? I’m not drinking the filth.” After the gondolier warned him a second time he ended it, even if he looked tempted every minute the rest of the way. We saw plenty of incredible sights: The Bridge of Sighs; famous composer Antonio
Vivaldi’s home; the Casanova crib, and more. Just travelling snug canal pathways inaccessible by foot was memorable. All this while the operator skillfully sculling us around tight corners in the flat-bottomed Venetian boat. We loved it.
The Getaway from the GetawayThe rest of the day we meandered Venice’s endless maze of
cozy alleys and streets. We’d ditched the stroller the previous day so my wife was now carrying Nicholas in the Bjorn while I herded the two eldest. We were all rather exhausted after a late seafood pasta lunch and decided to schlep back to the hotel, using gelato as our carrot. After relaxing at the hotel a spell a late-night feast would be consumed at the posh hotel restaurant. The two oldest picked at their pasta while Nicholas moved restlessly at the table. The waiter, probably comparing our reality to all the smiling attractive couples whispering intimately to one another, remarked how surprised he was that we’d brought children to such a place as this. I didn’t know how to translate, “That’s just how we roll,” and quite frankly at 10 p.m. I had little incentive to even try. After checking out of our hotel the next morning we crossed one more big bridge with all our possessions, hopped onto the water taxi, and made our way toward the Honda. After stashing our luggage we chatted up two couples from Australia who seemed genuinely impressed at our gaggle. One lady even called us “brave,” which made me chortle long enough to make it a tad awkward. Before I could gather myself and reply, my wife earnestly chimed in with my exact sentiments. “It was a challenge, but we had a great time and we’re glad we came.” Spot on. We’d had a wonderful experience, the boys loved it, and to top it all off our parking lot reunion with the mini-van proved there was actually nothing to fear after all. The whole experience brought to mind great advice I received from a wonderful Venezuelan man – Jose Salvador Briceño – during an Inter-American Defense College academic trip to West Point Military Academy in 2003. I was Journalist 2nd Class Newell back then, providing photojournalist support. Just after eating breakfast at the historic Thayer Hotel, I saw Briceño outside taking in one last look of the spectacular Hudson Valley vista – a full array of orange-yellow-red foliage on a gorgeous crisp New York morning just before our bus was to depart. We chatted for a bit as we looked out and it was mentioned that some of the students were complaining that their beds weren’t adequately-sized, which was precisely when my 50-something year-old friend turned to me and said “Pablito, look at this place. If I’ve learned one thing about traveling, it’s that if you don’t go with the flow you’re going to get caught up in meaningless distractions. Try to enjoy every moment of something you may very well never see again. Go with the flow. That’s the golden rule of travel.”
Nope, Venice with kiddos ain’t for sissies; just make sure to go anyway.
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"VENICE " Continued from Page 4
tHe siGnAturepAGe 10 July 17, 2015 tHe siGnAture pAGe 11July 17, 2015
Breakfast: $3.45 Lunch: $5.55 Dinner: $4.85
As a reminder to everyone:
Reminder - there are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.
Friday, July 17Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Minced Beef on ToastLunch: Pepper Steak, Hand Breaded CatfishSpeed Line: PizzaDinner: Meat Loaf, Fishwich
Saturday, July 18Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef HashBrunch: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef Hash, Roast Turkey WrapsDinner: Spaghetti Carbonara, Oven Fried Chicken Fillet
Sunday, July 19Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links, Oven Fried BaconBrunch: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links, Oven Fried Bacon, Roast BeefDinner: Savory Baked Chicken, Chef Melo’s Carbonara
Monday, July 20Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Minced Beef, Oven Fried BaconLunch: Roast Turkey, Beef Yakisoba Speed Line: Chef Mauricio’s Freshly Made PizzaDinner: Grilled Italian Sausage, Chef Franco’s Chicken & Italian Vegetable Pasta
Tuesday, July 21Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links, Oven Fried BaconLunch: Home Made Meatloaf, Oven Roasted PorkSpeed Line: Chicken/Fish Fajitas, Bean and Rice Dinner: Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets, Lasagna
Wednesday, July 22Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Creamed Ground Beef on Toast, Grilled Sausage PattiesLunch: Beef Pot Pie, Baked Fish w/Cherry Tomatoes Speed Line: All American Grilled BurgersDinner: Spicy Chicken Wings, Chef Melo’s Pasta al Forno
Thursday, July 23Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Corned Beef Hash, Oven Fried BaconLunch: BBQ Chicken, Roast Beef, Speed Line: Pasta Bar with choice of Freshly Made Pasta Sauce Dinner: Chili Con Carne, Oven Baked Sea Scallops
Friday, July 24Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Grilled Turkey Sausage LinksLunch: Chicken Fiesta, Salisbury Steak w/ Gravy Speed Line: Chef Gigi’s Freshly Made PizzaDinner: Baked Chicken Nuggets, Chef Melo’s Penne Alfredo
BREAKFASTMon-Fri
6:30-8 a.m.Weekend/Holiday
7 -9 a.m.
LUNCHMon-Fri
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.Weekend/Holiday
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
DINNERMon-Fri
4:30 - 6 p.m.Weekend/Holiday
4:30 - 6 p.m.
DRIVE SAFELY SIGONELLA
All Hands News BulletinTo request publication of your message, please send it to [email protected]
ROMAN CATHOLIC• Sunday - 9 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel• TuESday, WEdnESday & FRIday 11:30 a.m. - Catholic Mass at NAS 2 ChapelSacraments of Reconciliation / Penance precedeeach Mass• FRIday - 11:30 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel
LATTER-DAY SAINTS • Sunday - 1:30 p.m. at NAS 1 ChapelContact: [email protected] or 624-9049
JEWISH SHABBAT LAY SERVICE• FRIday - 5:30 p.m. at NAS 1 ChapelPROTESTANT - NAS 1 CHAPEL
NIGHT STUDY• MOnday - AA Meetings - 5:30 p.m., seconddeck at NAS 1 Chapel; ThuRSday - 7 p.m. at NAS 2 Chapel• TuESday - Italian Class - 7 p.m. at Classroom at NAS 1 Chapel • TuESday - Glee Club - 12 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel • TuESday - Awana Club - 4:45 p.m at NAS 1 Chapel
NASSIG Worship Services
Religious Ministries Department will conduct an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) class on July 28-29, beginning each morning 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the NAS 1 Chapel. This is a great opportunity to learn suicide prevention skills for yourself and your department. You can make a difference and help save lives. At the end of the class, you will receive a certificate upon successful completion. If you attend, you must block out your entire day's schedule for this training. For more information and registration, you may contact the Chapel at 624-3975 or [email protected].
OPM Breach: The SECNAV website is live. Information can be found at http://www.secnav.navy.mil/OPMBreachDON/Pages/default.aspx
Youth Sports will be offering a Youth Basketball camp from July 20-24 in the NAS 1 Midtown Gym. For more information, contact Eric Barge at 624-1750 or at [email protected]
Civilian Human Resources (CHR) Vacancy Announcements: Vacancy announcements for L.N. and U.S. appropriated fund positions may be viewed/downloaded from http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/nas_sigonella/about/jobs.html.
In July, a local national contractor was cited for speeding in Marinai; Pizzarotti suspended driving privileges for 2 months.
An E-6 had NEX shopping privileges and fuel coupon ration suspended for 12 months for knowingly violating the guest sponsorship policy and abuse of privileges.
Three third country national citizens were indefinitely barred from the installation for wrongful access to the NEX and abuse of privileges.
An E5 suspected of DUI had driving privileges revoked for 12 months.
An E4 had NEX shopping privileges and fuel coupon ration suspended for 3months for knowingly violating the guest sponsorship policy and abuse of privileges.
The Signature has established the "That's NOT - What Right Looks Like" section in order to make the NAS Sigonella community aware of how the command is prosecuting improper behavior, along with the hope of deterring future bad decisions.
Ristorante Bel la EtnaRistorante Bel la EtnaRistorante Bel la Etna
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 NAS Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel
tHe siGnAturepAGe 12 July 17, 2015 tHe siGnAture pAGe 13July 17, 2015
when visiting Sicily? Why add it to the spectacular Greek temples, Roman villas, glittering Norman cathedrals with their gold mosaics installed by Arab artists?
“This crypt is a unique historical site, not only for the huge number of preserved human remains placed there over a span of more than three centuries, but also because it contains evidence of utmost importance on the development of mummification,” says renowned ex-pert in that field, Dario Piombino-Mascali, the scientific curator of the crypt and director of the Sicily Mummy Project. Piombino is working to draw more attention to the effects of ur-banization around the crypt, which lay beyond the city walls when it was founded 450 years ago. He says development has raised humidity levels, caused water infiltration and acidic formations, and dangerously degraded the mummified bodies, requiring urgent attention.
The history of Sicily is of invasion and defeat, from the days of the Phoenicians all the way to the Spanish Bourbons, then Garibaldi’s invasion on his march north to unify Italy, and the Allied invasion of World War II. Some argue that a result of that turbulent history, and the Mafia’s reign of violence, has been an unusual familiarity — even a comfort level — with death.
Piombino says visiting the Capuchin crypt is a cultural experience. “In Sicily, there has always been a close relationship between the living and the dead, and that is expressed by the worship of the remains preserved there.”
MUMMIFICATION PROCESSMost of the bodies found in the Catacombs of Palermo were preserved naturally. The
natural mummification is a process of transformation of the body which is based on dehy-dration: removing the fluids present in the tissues it stops the growth of bacteria and conse-quently also the process of decay of the body.
And this is the mummification process that the Capuchins perfected after the miraculous discovery of forty-five corpses intact.
Shortly after death, the bodies were placed in a preparation room called the "colatoio", where were removed the internal organs; in their place were added straw or bay leaves, in order to facilitate the process of dehydration. The bodies were placed in a supine position on grids made of terracotta tubes, so their bodily fluids could drain away and their flesh dessi-cate. The colatoio, which rappresented the optimal environment for mummification, with drier air and very low humidity, were then shut off for close to a year. After the corpses were exposed to the air, washed with vinegar and dressed, often in clothes of their own choosing, before being inserted in the wall niches.
At the end, the skin took on the consistency of leather and the body was characterized by a reduced weight and general stiffness.
Natural mummification, however, was not the only metod employed by Capuchins for cadaver preservation.
During periods of epidemics, they bathed the bodies in arsenic. The results were mum-mies surprisingly intact, still nowadays. Is this the method used for the body of Antonio Prestigiacomo standing in the Catacombs within a niche with rose-colored face.
The artificial mummification, also called embalming, is achieved by injection of chemi-cals.
In the Catacombs of Palermo this process of preservation of the bodies was used only occasionally.
Famous is the case of Rosalia Lombardo, a child of two years died in Palermo in 1920 and embalmed by Dr. Alfredo Salafia, which results are still visible: the serene face, the golden curls that fall on the forehead, the soft and relaxed skin give an incredible feeling of life so as to be considered the "world's most beautiful mummy".
THE SLEEPING BEAUTYAt the end of the first corridor of the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, in the chapel of
Santa Rosalia, between two coffins with the corpses of children, there is that of the little Ro-salia Lombardo, a two years old girl died in 1920, amazingly preserved and with the aspect of a sleeping angel.
Rosalia Lombardo, which is often referred to as the "Sleeping Beauty of Palermo", was one of the last people to be interred in the cemetery of the Capuchin Friars.
Daughter of a noble family, she was embalmed by a famous local taxidermist called Al-fredo Salafia, who was asked by her father to make it "live forever".
The results of the method used by Dr. Salafia on small Rosalia are still visible today: Rosalia looks as if she was plunged into an endless sleep, with long eyelashes profiling eyes closed, a yellow ribbon in her blonde flowing hair, a plump face and rosy red cheeks. Rosalia is so perfectly preserved that she is considered the "world's most beautiful mummy".
Now the child mummy rests inside a glass-covered coffin saturated with nitrogen to pre-vent any hint of decomposition.
IF YOU GOCatacombe dei Cappuccini is located in Piazza Cappuccini, Palermo (Phone 011-39-091-
212-579)Open daily 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m, except Sunday afternoons from late October to late
March. Admission € 3,00 . Rules for visiting: In order to preserve the state of conservation of the mummies and in compliance with the requirements bioethical is prohibited for visitors to take photos, shoot, touch the exhibits.
The Capuchin Catacombs are inserted in religious context. It is therefore recommended to have care to take the elementary norms of behavior, avoiding the use of the mobile phone and the consumption of food or drink. You also may not keep the voice high and leave waste.
With public transport: From Central Station with bus: Bus 109 o 318 up to Piazza Indip-endenza.
From Piazza Indipendenza take bus 327 or walk along Via Cappuccini (15 minutes). At the first intersection, turn right on Via Pindemonte and straight on up to Piazza Cappuccini where are located the Church of Santa Maria della Pace and the Catacombs.
From Central Station with metro: Get off at Palazzo Reale-Orleans. Walk to the Norman Palace (or Royal Palace) and cross Independence Square. Take, finally, via Cappuccini and take the first right, Corso Calatafimi. Straight on up to Piazza Cappuccini where are located the Church of Santa Maria della Pace and the Catacombs.
From outside Palermo: Exit the motorway at Corso Catalafimi. Drive along the entire road and, having reached the first traffic light, turn left on Via Pindemonte. Drive until Pi-azza Cappuccini where are located the Church of Santa Maria della Pace and the Catacombs.
The square also serves as a parking lot. For more information visit, www.palermocata-combs.com
DIF
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Find and circle all of the Science Fiction movies that are hidden in the grid.The remaining letters spell the title of an additional Science Fiction movie.
up his outnumbered men. After one of his bazooka teams was wiped out, Gorham seized an incendiary weapon, load-ed it and fired, setting a Tiger ablaze. For his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second high-est Army medal awarded. Later that morning Gorham was killed alongside his men. Despite being largely outnumbered, their tenacity would not waiver. As the Germans retreated, a U.S. paratrooper picked up a discarded bazooka and took out another German tank.
During this year’s ceremony at Ponte Dirillo, the small group of civilians and service members silently stood side-by-side as Chief Justin De Leon-Horton, a graduate of U.S. Army Airborne Training, read aloud the names of those brave souls. For each name, a bell was rung until all 39 were accounted for. A wreath was placed by Dennis and Matthias to honor the fallen. Taps followed, and then De Leon-Horton shouted the traditional "Airborne!" cry before the chaplain prayed the benediction. The ceremony had concluded, but the fighting spirit of those who gave all at Ponte Dirillo and during Operation Husky will live on.
"PONTE DIRILLO" continued from Page 1
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Matthias, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily executive officer , left, and Capt. Christopher Dennis, NAS Sigonella commanding officer, lay a ceremonial wreath at the memorial site in Ponte Dirillo. July 10 marked 72 years since the Allies invaded Sicily and launched the Italian Campaign during World War II. This major effort was named Operation Husky. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
tHe siGnAturepAGe 14 July 17, 2015 tHe siGnAture pAGe 15July 17, 2015
By fLeet & fAMiLy support Center siGoneLLAAdapted from Military One Source
Tips for managing stress together as a family
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Most families are faced with stressful situations and events on a daily basis. There are many big issues that can cause stress for families, such as balancing work and life, workplace change, raising children, caring for an older relative, living with a chronic illness, or financial pressure. Families may also have to deal with smaller, everyday stresses, such as finding time to enjoy each other, getting organized, or keeping up with each family member's busy schedule.
No matter what causes stress for your family, there are steps you can take to manage it together.
• Realize that when one person is stressed it can affect the entire family. A family member's emotions and moods can have strong effects on the people they love. For example, a teenager struggling to fit in at a new school may withdraw from her family. A parent who is going through a stressful period at work may be more likely to snap at family members at home. That's why it's so important for families to learn to recognize each other's stress warning signs and find healthy ways to help each other cope with stress.
• Think of stress management skills as important life skills your child needs to grow into an independent adult. Try to think of managing stress as a skill that's just as im-portant as learning how to tie your shoes or how to drive. And the best way to teach your child these skills is to model them and practice together.
• Communicate as a family. Provide opportunities for family members to talk about the things that are causing them stress. For example, "I noticed you couldn't fall asleep last night. Is everything going OK at work (or school)?" Talking about stress as a family keeps the lines of communication open and helps family members to remember that they don't have to cope with stress alone.
• Remember that it's your responsibility as a parent to learn and model healthy ways
of managing stress. Pay atten-tion to how you behave when you're under stress. Are you irritable? Do you overreact to small things? Do you seek relief in alcohol or other un-healthy habits? Or do you go for a walk or practice yoga to unwind? Remember that your actions can serve as powerful lessons for your child.
• Learn to rely on each other for extra support during stressful times. Remind your child that there are things he can do to feel less stressed, including talking about whatever is troubling him. Help him brainstorm specific problem-solving steps to resolve a stressful situation.
• Make a commitment to slowing down as a family and enjoying each other's com-pany. The fast-paced life that most working families lead often results in increased stress. Commit to eating a meal together several nights a week. Schedule these family meals ahead of time if it's hard to get everyone together. Play board games together or go for a walk.
• Think about your family priorities and how they play out in your lives. Sometimes we get so involved in the day-to-day business of working and being a family that we begin to lose track of our priorities. What's most important to your family, and how is that reflected in your everyday lives? Do you make time to do the things that make you happy individually and alone? Think about how you can fit some of those activities into your busy schedule to help everyone feel more balanced.
Seven ways to start managing stress as a family right now
• Have a family meeting to talk about how you can deal with stress together. Ask each person to talk about how stress affects your family and offer some ideas for dealing with it. Acknowledge differ-ent preferences among family members for healthy ways to reduce stress.
• Use humor as a way to manage stress in your family. Rent a fun-ny movie, or tell funny stories when you're eating together -- laugh as often as you can. Humor is one of the best stress relievers available.
• Teach your child problem solving techniques. Help your child develop the ability to recognize stressful feelings and talk about problems and solutions.
• Give yourself and your family permission to say "no" to some ac-tivities. An overloaded schedule can easily lead to family stress. Learn to say "no" to activities that will overextend your child or family.
• Exercise together. Go for a walk or a bike ride. Take a hike in a nearby park or outdoor area. Exercise is a great way to deal with stress and spend time together as a family.
• Get organized at home. Disorganization can make a hectic life feel very stressful. Get rid of things you don't need or use anymore. Designate a spot for your car keys and for backpacks or briefcases. File old paperwork. Note appointments and events in a single family calendar.
• Make an effort to eat healthful foods as a family. Good nutrition goes a long way to reducing physical and emotional stress. Make sure that your child has easy access to healthy snacks for the after-school hours and that the entire family eats a good balance of fruits, vegeta-bles, and whole grains.
The Fleet and Family Support Center offers a wide variety of support services to help your family manage stress. To learn more about our classes, workshops and counseling services, contact the Fleet and Family Support Center at DSN: 624-4291, Commercial: 095-56-4291.
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Identity theft, when a person wrongfully uses your Social Security number or other per-sonally identifiable information (PII) to commit fraud, can happen to anyone. But it doesn't have to happen to you.
Taking the proper precautions beforehand can help reduce your chances of being at risk.
Once thieves have your personal information they can drain your bank account, run up charges on your credit cards, open new utility accounts, or get medical treatment on your health insurance. An identity thief can file a tax refund in your name and get your refund and, in some cases, give your name to the police during an arrest. And the road to recovery can be a long one.
Here are some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim:• Keep your documents in a safe place at home, and lock
your wallet or purse in a safe place at work.• Limit what you carry with you, when you go out take
only the identification, credit and debit cards you need.• Opt out of prescreened offers of credit and insurance
by mail by calling 1-888-567-8688 or go to ouptout-prescreen.com
• Make sure you know who is getting your personal or financial information. Don't give out personal infor-mation on the phone, through the mail or over the In-ternet unless you've initiated the contact or know who you're dealing with.
• Monitor your account statements and immediately re-port any unusual activity to your financial institution
If you are a victim of identity theft, the time to act is now. Go to www.idenitytheft.gov to find out what steps you need to take.
For the latest news and FAQs regarding the OPM data breach visit http://www.secnav.navy.mil/OPMBreachDON/Pages/default.aspx.
You can also find additional information and download graphics on Navy.mil at http://www.navy.mil/search/ggpho-tolist.asp.
Identity theft: It CAN happen to youBy ApriL GrAntNavy Office of the Chief of Information
