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NNS080917-12. Deputy Secretary of Defense Visits 9/11 Tribute WTC Visitor Center
By Lt. Lesley Lykins, Navy Office of Information, East
NEW YORK (NNS) -- The Honorable Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense and his wife Dotty paid a visit to the Tribute World Trade Center September 11th Visitor Center Sept. 12 in New York.
The England's have developed a strong relationship with the founders of the Tribute Center as they have a shared compassion for PCU New York (LPD 21), the amphibious transport dock ship built with seven and a half tons of steel from the World Trade Centers in the bow stem.
Dotty England is the ship's sponsor for PCU New York and her husband was Secretary of the Navy when it was determined that LPD 21 would carry the name New York.
"I think they (Tribute Center) have gathered together so many things that point to what we don't want to forget," said Dotty England. "The New York will sail under the motto 'Never Forget.' We never want to forget that this happened, but we also never want to forget the spirit of New York and the strong response of the first responders."
The Tribute Center begins with a Gallery One depicting the World Trade Center community prior to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Gallery Two is a timeline of the events on Sept. 11, 2001 followed by Gallery Three focusing on the rescue and recovery. The Tribute Gallery is fourth and is a room filled with photographs of people that were killed on Sept. 11, 2001. The downstairs level of the center is Gallery Five and is dedicated to the future, titled "Voice of Promise." Visitors are able to their own personal messages.
The secretary addressed a gathering of New York's top counter terrorism leaders following the tour and reinforced the importance of their roles in the fight against terror.
"Thank you for what you do," said England. "What you do is so important for our country. Our military is engaged everyday to win the fight against terrorism. We are convinced that we must bring the fight to them or they will bring the fight to us."
He then wrote his own message, "Never Forget. Never Again." in the "Voices of Promise" gallery.
Lauren Lombardo, marketing coordinator for the Tribute Center, took photos as the group moved through the gallery and described how it felt to work in a setting filled with so many emotional memories.
"Not one of us can say that we are used to it," said Lombardo. "But when the families come here, like yesterday (Sept. 11), how can you not do it. Some days are harder then others. But we need to have this center where we can remember and find strength."
The Englands followed their visit to the Tribute Center with a luncheon hosted by the New York Council of the Navy League. The secretary served as the guest speaker for an audience gathered in the interest of PCU New York.
"Secretary England has been at the center of all of the activities at the Pentagon that surround the War on Terror," said Dr. Daniel Thys, president of the New York Council of the Navy League. "We are very glad to have him here to inform us as citizens as to what the Department of Defense is doing on our behalf to maintain our freedoms."
"Having the Deputy Secretary of Defense here today to speak to members of the Navy League and visit the Tribute World Trade Center September 11th Visitor Center was significant as we try to build awareness and recruit sponsors for the commissioning events, and USS New York foundation" said retired Navy Capt. Sally McElwreath, director of the USS New York Commissioning Committee. "In his previous role as Secretary of the Navy, he named the ship after the State of New York and agreed to use the World Trade Center steel in the ship and it was a pleasure having him here to further encourage support from the New York community."
PCU New York is scheduled to be commissioned in New York City in 2009 with a week long series of events to welcome the ship. The New York Council of the Navy League and the USS New York Commissioning Committee are currently working to plan the event and are seeking the support of the New York community. The official website for the USS New York Commissioning Committee is
www.ussny.org.
For more news from Navy Office of Information, East, visit
www.navy.mil/local/navinfoeast/.
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NNS080917-11. Rota's School Opens New Multipurpose Building
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Paul Cage, Naval Station Rota Public Affairs
ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- David Glasgow Farragut School at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota opened their new $8 million multi-purpose room (MPR) building during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 16.
Department of Defense Dependent School (DoDDS) teachers, staff and students used the new 18,850-square foot building since the start of the new school. The new space provides daily food service to more than 500 students and can be converted into a large theater that can be used for musical productions, plays and school assemblies.
"What a great facility this is. This multipurpose building was very well thought out," said NAVSTA Rota Commanding Officer Capt. Bill Mosk. "A building like this doesn't just happen. Credit is due to the hundreds of men and women who put months of meticulous planning and two years of collaboration across several commands, agencies and contractors. In the end, it's all worth it."
In addition to the kitchen, theater and dining areas, the facility contains music classrooms for both elementary and high school music students, two music practice rooms, a theater control room and several supporting storage rooms. The new facility also has an exterior plaza connected to the elementary school that can be utilized for outdoor assemblies.
"I know that you [students] will thoroughly enjoy this wonderful new building," said Dr. Elizabeth Walker, superintendent of DoDDS Schools for the Mediterranean region. "My first visit to Rota couldn't be better. It really gives me great pleasure to be here on this special occasion."
This project has been six years in the making, has been well received and is considered an improvement over the older dining facility, which was recently demolished to make way for a new high school. DGF Elementary received a new building in 2004, and the new DGF High School, currently under construction, is scheduled to open in 2010.
"This building is a classy act for DoDDS Europe and is truly a dream come true," said Diana Ohman, director of DoDDS in Europe. "All the participants in this, from public works, the Spanish contractors to the educators who started it all, and even after its completion are still working together for this truly wonderful project."
For more news from Naval Station Rota, Spain, visit
www.navy.mil/local/rota/.
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NNS080917-10. Sigonella Sailors Honor Italian 9/11 Victims
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jonathan P. Idle, Naval Air Station Sigonella Public Affairs
NISSORIA, Sicily (NNS) -- Sailors from Naval Air Station Sigonella gathered with local nationals in Nissoria, to honor two locals who died in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001.
The memorial began in the Catholic church on the main street of the town with a special mass to honor Vincenzo Di Fazio and Salvatore Lopes, Nissoria natives who lost their lives.
Following the service, a precession walked down the main street to a memorial park outside of the local museum.
Nissoria Mayor Filippo Buscemi addressed the attendees.
"It's important because we know every day that the terrorist threat is still out there," Buscemi said. "We invite all the Italian and U.S. military and police forces because we must remain diligent and to fight for peace, which means achieving peace through strength."
For more news from Naval Air Station Sigonella, visit
www.navy.mil/local/nassig/.
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NNS080917-06. CNO Announces Flag Officer Assignments
From the Department of Defense
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced Sept. 17 the following assignments:
Rear Adm. John R. Hines, Jr. is being assigned as deputy chief of staff for operations, Allied Air Component Command Headquarters, Izmir, Turkey. Hines is currently serving as deputy commander, 3rd Fleet, San Diego.
Rear Adm. Michael J. Lyden is being assigned as commander, Naval Supply Systems Command/chief of Supply Corps, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Lyden is currently serving as director, Supply, Ordnance and Logistics Operations Division, N41, Officer of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Lothrop S. Little is being assigned as deputy commander, Task Force 134, Multi-National Force-Iraq. Little is currently serving as commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, New Orleans, La.
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NNS080917-03. Sailor Meets Family for Surprise Reunion in Times Square
By Lt. Brenda Garcia, Navy Office of Information, East
NEW YORK (NNS) -- Having just returned from Iraq, a Sailor surprised her family in Times Square Sept. 15 with a heartfelt reunion that was simultaneously projected with a special "welcome home" greeting on the giant News Astrovision by Panasonic.
The Soldiers', Sailors', Marine's Coast Guard and Airmen's Club, known as 'The Club', in Manhattan, coordinated the surprise reunion with Panasonic and Legalman 1st Class Brenda Donohoe. They also hosted a special luncheon in her honor at their club.
"One more American has come back to American soil, safely," said Hazel Cathers, executive director of The Club who coordinated the homecoming. "We still have a lot of Americans there. We are grateful she is home."
Earlier this year, Donohoe was featured in a special Mother's Day video produced by the Marines in Fallujah. Her mother, daughter and grandson were all on-hand to witness the special greeting that The Club coordinated to air live on the giant Times Square Astrovision screen for Mother's Day. As part of the greeting, Donohoe wished her mother a happy birthday, which coincidentally fell on Mother's Day.
Donohoe reconnected with 'The Club' upon returning from Iraq, and they proposed a surprise reunion for the family.
Donohoe had not seen her family in more than a year. Her mother, Concetta Costanzo, a resident of Springfield, Fla., and her daughter, Jesika Hansen of Brooklyn,N.Y., were asked to come to Times Square under the guise that they would receive an award in Donohoe's absence.
"I knew it! I knew it," said Costanzo, as she saw her daughter come forward. Through hugs and tears, Donohoe jokingly asked her mother what was for dinner and then introduced her family to the spectators and media that witnessed the reunion.
Costanzo remained speechless when asked how she felt to have her daughter home. She describes her daughter as "fiercely patriotic" with a deep love for her country and a strong desire for exploration and adventure.
Though Donohoe is glad to be home safe on American soil and reunited with her family, her thoughts are with the service members still deployed overseas.
"I want to give a shout out to real heroes that are still in Iraq," Donohoe told the media. "Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army and Navy -- my heart is with all you guys. God speed, and I love you all."
She heard stories of service men and women kissing American soil when they returned from deployment. She did not understand that until she landed in Maine. She, too, dropped down and kissed American soil.
"We are the freest country in the world and have the most dedicated people to protect that freedom."
Donohoe is attached to Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa, Fla. While in Fallujah, she worked for the staff judge advocate office and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Ten days into arriving in Fallujah, she experienced a mortar attack in close vicinity. She reminisced about riding on several convoys.
"The Marines kept me safe," said Donohoe.
She has served 12 years and re-enlisted with Gen. David Howell Petraeus, Commander, U.S. Central Command., in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces.
"We play an important role," said Donohoe. "They (Iraqis) are tasting freedom for the first time in their lives. We see the people that we are fighting for.
"We have given a whole generation of people the chance to have freedom that we have always had and they have never known.
"I volunteered to go to Iraq because prior to that I had only served in the United States," said Donohoe. "People would stop me and thank me for my service, and I wanted a reason to be able to say 'You're Welcome.'"
"Service to those who serve their country" is the motto for 'The Club,' a hotel in New York City that is exclusively for members of the armed forces -- active duty, cadets, Reserves, retirees, veterans -- and Fire Department New York, New York Police Department and Emergency Management Service. The Club provides convenient, safe, affordable accommodations in mid-town Manhattan that is walking distance from Grand Central Station, the Empire State Building, Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Terminal.
For more news from Navy Office of Information, East, visit
www.navy.mil/local/navinfoeast.
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NNS080917-07. Naples Health Study Confirms Presence of Chemicals in Tap Water
From Commander, Navy Region Europe Public Affairs
NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Commander, Navy Region Europe's (CNRE) ongoing Naples Public Health Evaluation found three residences out of 166 tested in Phase I of the evaluation confirmed levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in tap water. This is a significant development, but it is not a crisis requiring immediate removal of families from their homes.
To build a better picture of the contamination, Navy contractors will now begin sampling houses within 500 feet of the three houses. Samples will be expedited through laboratory analysis, and validated results will be available within days of sampling.
Since the VOCs cannot be adequately mitigated through the use of bottled water, Rear Adm. David Mercer, CNRE, explained that vacating the residences is both prudent and required. The three families living in the contaminated houses can move either to homes on the economy that have tested clean or to available housing units on the support site.
"Because we are confident tap water on the support site is safe, that is the housing area of choice for relocation," Mercer said.
The admiral also said that all the other tap water sampling results received to date can be mitigated to an acceptable level with the recommended use of bottled water.
Earlier, CNRE advised all of its off-base personnel to use bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth. To offset the cost of extra bottled water, CNRE requested - and this week received - authorization to provide free bottled water to U.S. personnel living off-base in the Naples area.
The bottled water program is an interim measure until a long-term solution can be identified through careful coordination between U.S. and Italian officials.
U.S. Navy long-term solutions to tap water contamination will focus on using existing technology to mitigate risk such as point-of-entry water filtering systems in residences affected by contamination.
Complete results of the evaluation's Phase I sampling are expected by the end of October 2008. These results will inform the way ahead for the remainder of the health evaluation, scheduled to conclude in the fall of 2009.
For more news from Commander, Navy Region Europe, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cnre/.
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NNS080917-02. GITMO-Based Runners Take Part in Freedom Run
By Army Spc. Megan Burnham
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- More than 200 residents of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo (Gitmo) Bay spent Sept. 13 participating in the first 9.11-mile Freedom Run and 9.11-kilometer (5.6-mile) Run/Walk.
The Guantanamo Bay Freedom Run was modeled after the Freedom Run founded by Dirk Beveridge, 2008 executive committee member of the We Do Care organization. This is a non-profit organization in Chicago whose mission is to provide the public opportunities to support and thank active-duty military personnel, their families and veterans.
The event was set in motion when Beveridge visited Guantanamo Bay in April for the 75th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. When touring the base, Beveridge was impressed by the work of the all the Sailors and other members of the armed forces -- and the overall mission. He asked Army Brig. Gen. Gregory Zanetti, commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, to consider hosting the run to occur simultaneously with his race in Barrington, Ill.
The run had special meaning as it gave participants the chance to run simultaneously with family and loved ones who also participated in the Freedom Run in Illinois. Army 1st Lt. Sarah Cleveland was participating in the race here while her mom and sister ran the race in the states.
"I wish I could be there with them, but this is the next best thing," said Cleveland. "I'm actually running with them even though I'm not home, which is a rare opportunity."
The run began at 6 a.m. with the starting line at Windmill Beach, and the long and hilly route sent base residents all over the naval station.
"It was a great run and an outstanding challenge," said Derek Johnson, first male finisher. "It was great to see such support. I hope they do this again next year."
Johnson completed the run in 57:06 with Jason Snyder finishing second at 58:46. Kimberly Higdon was the first female to finish with a time of 1:09 followed by Megan Burnham at 1:16.
When each participant crossed the finish line, Zanetti presented them with a coin that commemorated the event. After participants collected their coins, they made their way to a refreshment area where water and fruit were provided.
During the award ceremony, first place male and female finishers were given a $20 Navy Exchange gift card while the second place finishers received a $10 gift certificate. A raffle followed that gave all runners the opportunity to win a two-hour ride on the Gitmo Queen, one of Morale, Welfare and Recreation's charter boats, a dinner certificate for Chateaubriand steak at the base's Bayview Restaurant, as well as a $20 and $10 gift certificate at the NEX. All runners and walkers also received a t-shirt for participating in the event.
The event wrapped up with a beach party and barbeque at Windmill Beach hosted by Jeffrey Shaw, the liberty program coordinator here.
For more news from Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit
www.navy.mil/local/jtfgtmo/.
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NNS080917-04. DoD Identifies Navy Casualty
From the Department of Defense
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of Defense announced Sept. 16 the death of a Sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Eichmann A. Strickland, 23, of Arlington, Wash., died Sept. 9 from injuries suffered when the vehicle he was driving hit an improvised explosive device in Afghanya Valley, Afghanistan.
Strickland was assigned to Combat Service Support Det. 36, Iwakuni, Japan. He was a member of a U.S. Marine embedded Training Team deployed to Afghan Regional Security Integration Command Central.
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NNS020724-15. This Day in Naval History - Sept. 18
From the Navy News Service
1926 - Navy brings relief aid to Miami after a severe hurricane.
1936 - Squadron 40-T, based in the Mediterranean, established to protect U.S. interests and citizens around Iberian peninsula throughout the Spanish Civil War.
1941 - U.S. Navy ships escort eastbound British trans-Atlantic convoy for first time (Convoy HX-150). Although the U.S. Navy ships joined HX-150, which left port escorted by British ships on 16th, the official escort duty began on 18th.
1947 - National Security Act becomes effective.
For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at
www.history.navy.mil.
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Navy News Service is the official news wire service of the U.S. Navy, containing stories recently posted to the Navy Web site at
www.navy.mil. It is a product of the Naval Media Center, 2713 Mitscher Rd. SW, Anacostia Annex, D.C., 20373-5819. Reprints should be credited to the Navy News Service (NNS).
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For the latest in Navy news from around the fleet, visit
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www.history.navy.mil.
Media queries should be directed to the Navy News Desk at (703) 697-5342.
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Marie Tillery
Navy.mil News Editor
Naval Media Center
