Andrews 070315

COMMENTARY

AIR FORCE NEWS

OPM computer attack highlights bigger issue, Page 2

JBA hosts 4th annual Operation KID Mode,

DCMILITARY.COM

HEALTH Air Force aims for healthier eating, Page 7

Page 4

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION OF COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD.

Taking the mystery out of caregiving

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015 | VOL. 4 NO. 26

COURTESY PHOTO

Tammie K. Gillums, who separated from the Army in 2012, has dedicated herself to the care and wellbeing of her husband and family.

BY LESLIE C. SMITH STAFF WRITER

Tammie K. Gillums said she became a caregiver in a nontraditional way. Her husband, Sherman, a Marine, had been injured in combat, nine years before they got married. Not having a background in nursing was a challenge.

see CARE, page 3

Eye work on eyes

Here comes the

BOOM

Hello, patriots and lovers of our great American history. There are myriad of activities available for you and your family to celebrate of our nation’s birth throughout Maryland. Here’s a list that’s sure to make your July Fourth a memorable holiday weekend. see BOOM, page 6 BOBBY JONES/ANDREWS GAZETTE

Mentors needed for Prince George’s County veterans U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ AIRMAN 1ST CLASS J.D. MAIDENS

Senior Airman Katherine Girard, 779th Aerospace Medical Service optometry technician, performs a Fields Test on Maj. Charles Jones, National Guard Bureau logistical support officer, at the Optometry Clinic on Joint Base Andrews, June 2. The Fields Test tests peripheral vision.

BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS J.D. MAIDENS 11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

You slide your chin onto the metal support, your forehead against curved metal, and enter a staring match with the machine’s coal-black eye.

see EYES, page 5

Justice for Vets will host the 2015 Vet Court Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Convention Center at National Harbor from July 2730. The conference will feature the 3rd National Veterans Mentor Corps Boot Camp.

The Section for Veterans’ Affairs and Military Law of the Maryland State Bar Association, Inc. is looking for 10 mentors.

The Justice For Vets

Mentor Corps Boot Camp is the only national program that trains volunteer veterans to serve as mentors in Veterans Treatment Court.

The Section is looking for 10 volunteer veterans to participate in the mentor training and thereafter lend their mentoring services to veterans to participate in Maryland’s Veteran’s Treatment Courts and Veterans Program. Volunteers from Baltimore City and Prince

George’s County are in high demand.

In an effort to help facilitate the mentoring process throughout our state, the MSBA Board of Governors agreed to pay for the registration for 10 mentors for the Justice For Vets Mentor Corps Boot Camp. It does not cover room and board. The training will be over the course of two days. Trainees are strongly encouraged to attend additional Conference sessions be-

fore and after Mentor Boot Camp. Ideally, mentors will become future trainers in the state.

If you are interested in becoming one of 10 mentors, please call 301-9523907 or send an email to cpnichols@co.pg.md.us.

For more information on the Conference and the Mentor Boot Camp please visit: www.justiceforvets. org.

—Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs

Andrews Gazette

2

Hot tickets Around town July 5 tet

Arts on the Waterfront: The Kim Reynolds Quar-

6-7:30 p.m.

Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg Come experience the smooth instrumental jazz of the Kim Reynolds Quartet. FREE, Call 301-7790371 or visit www.pgparks.com.

July 5

Sunday Sunset Concerts: The Big Band Theory Baltimore 7-8 p.m.

Allen Pond Park, 3330 Northview Drive, Bowie Enjoy a variety of concerts at Allen Pond Park.

Concert goers should bring a blanket or chair. Concerts are canceled in case of inclement weather.

Free. Call 301-809-3011 or visit www.cityofbowie. org.

July 7-8

The United States Air Force Band-Max Impact 8 p.m. July 7 at the U.S. Capitol, West Side, First St. SE, Washington, D.C.; 8 p.m. July 8 at National Sylvan Theater, 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. Join the members of Max Impact as they celebrate “Freedom!” This free concert is offered as a public service. Please view the Facebook page or Twitter feed for concert cancellation status. For more information call The United States Air Force Band’s Concert Line at 202-767-5658 or visit www. usafband.af.mil.

July 7-28

Movies in the Park 8:50 p.m.

Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy an outdoor movie Tuesdays in July. Call 301-218-6700 or visit www.pgparks.com.

July 8

Sunset Music Series in the Parks: Skip Mahoney and The Casuals 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Cosca Regional Park, 1100 Thrift Road, Clinton Bring your blanket and lawn chair and join us for concerts in the park. Free. Call 301-203-6000 or visit www.pgparks.com.

COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military.

The appearance of advertising in these publications, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.

Maxine Minar, president mminar@dcmilitary.com John Rives, publisher

jrives@dcmilitary.com

Tiffany Arnold, page design tarnold@gazette.net Leslie Smith, editor lsmith@dcmilitary.com Bobby Jones, photographer bjones@dcmilitary.com

Friday, July 3, 2015

Commentary

OPM computer attack highlights bigger issue

BY JIM GARAMONE

DOD NEWS, DEFENSE MEDIA ACTIVITY

The attack on the Office of Personnel Management’s computer system illuminates a larger issue of deterrence, said the Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper June 25.

Clapper, speaking at the annual GEOINT Symposium, said of the challenge such a hack presents, “until such time as we can create both the substance and psychology of deterrence,

this is going to go on.”

As director of national intelligence, Clapper leads the 17 agencies of the intelligence community — including seven Defense Department intelligence-gathering entities.

Millions of records

He said China is the “leading suspect” in the hack that compromised millions of government records.

The director said the question of a possible response is a struggle for the U.S. government

because of the concerns about unintended consequences.

But such hacking attacks will likely continue until there is some sort of penalty for practitioners of such acts, he said.

“What we must do in the meantime is pay more attention to defense,” Clapper added.

G e n e r a t i n g d e t e rrence in the cyber world is a problem, Clapper said. Deterrence means essentially that performing an action would mean sure and swift

punishment for doing the deed. Nuclear deterrence and the principle of mutually assured destruction is the most famous manifestation of this. This is not happening in the cyber domain, yet.

“Until such time as we can figure out a way to generate that deterrence we are left with paying a lot more attention to defense,” Clapper said. “I feel really bad for OPM, but there (but) for the grace of God go a lot of us.”

tunity to achieve nearly equivalent or better retirement benefits when they reach retirement age.

New Rx Website

Retiree Corner Retirement Proposal

Thrift Savings Plan for service members; DOD A Defense Department automatically contribproposal to Congress cre- uting an amount equal ates what Pentagon of- to 1 percent of a service ficials called a “blended member’s basic pay to defined benefit and de- the Thrift Savings Plan fined contribution” mili- account from entry into tary retirement system. service through separaThe proposal includes tion or retirement, with elements DOD believes vesting after compleare necessary to promote tion of two years’ service retention, maintain the and additional matching all-volunteer force, and contributions of up to 5 protect service members percent of basic pay afwho retire due to disabil- ter completion of four years’ service and conity.

Officials believe the tinuing through separaproposal will help to give tion or retirement; and the department the flex- each service offering a ibility it needs to manage b o n u s — C o n t i n u a t i o n the force into the future, Pay— to members with 8 while helping to ensure to 16 years’ service, with that 85 percent of service each service setting the members will start long- rate of Continuation Pay. term retirement savings. Future service members Highlights of the pro- would receive 80 percent posal include: Creating of the current benefit if a defined contribution they serve 20 years, and element through the would have the oppor-

Records Updated

Records for airmen separated or retired under the fiscal 2014 Voluntary Separation Pay program have been updated to reflect eligibility for transitional medical benefits. Those separating under the fiscal 2014/15 VSP program are authorized transition benefits, including 180 days of premiumfree Tricare coverage for the separatee and eligible family members.

Affected airmen have been advised of these changes. For additional information, contact the Air Force Total Force Service Center at 800525-0102.

Express Scripts’ new website contains enhanced features for Tricare’s pharmacy provider.

Beneficiaries can check their current and backorder prescriptions; turn on or off automatic refills and order refills of home delivery prescriptions.

The formulary search tool is available on the Tricare Formulary Search Tool webpage at www.expresss c r i p t s. c o m / t r i c a r e f o r mulary.

The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call 301 981-2726. Call before your visit to ensure a volunteer is on duty.

The RAO has a website at www.andrews.af.mil.

Nominations sought for 2015 Sijan award have demonstrated the highest quality of leadership in the performance of their duties and their personal lives.

Nominations for the Nominees will be 2015 Lance P. Sijan U.S. rated on their scope of Air Force Leadership responsibility, profesAward are being accept- sional leadership, leaded through Aug. 31. ership image and comThe Sijan award rec- munity involvement beognizes the accomplish- tween July 1, 2014, and ments of officers and June 30, 2015. enlisted members who The award categoBY JANIS EL SHABAZZ AIR FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS

ries are senior officer, junior officer, senior enlisted and junior enlisted. Individuals will compete in the category that corresponds to the grade held for the majority of the award period.

Each major command, forward operating agency or direct reporting unit may submit one nomination in each of

the four award categories.

For more information about Air Force personnel programs go to the myPers https://mypers. af.mil/ website. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following the instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website, www.re tirees.af.mil.

Andrews Gazette

3

JBA hosts 4th annual Operation KID Mode

BY SENIOR AIRMAN PRESTON WEBB

11 WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Team Andrews hosted Operation KID Mode on June 25 at Spokane Lane.

The event offered military children the chance to step into their parents’ shoes to understand what they might experience while preparing for deployment.

“Deployments can be an extremely stressful time for [military] members and their families,” said Master Sgt. Jodi Jefferson, 11th Force Support Squadron readiness NCO. “It’s important that kids understand just what their parents are going through.”

Jefferson said the previous program, Operation Kids Understanding Deployment Operations, let children meet support services but only if U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN PRESTON WEBB their parents were slated to deploy. Operation KID mode Team Andrews children are shown medical dummies and equipment by Airmen durreplaces that program, wel- ing Operation KID Mode June 25 at Joint Base Andrews. The event allowed children see KID, page 5 and families of military members to see the tools they might use while deployed.

CARE, from page 1 “When I met my husband I was in the military active duty and trying to juggle that, getting up in the morning for PT, trying to help him get dressed,” said Gillums. “It was so hard in the beginning. I said I want to do this, the Army, to make a change make a difference for someone, but I wanted to dedicate my life 100 percent to my husband because I love him that much.”

Gillums, a resident of Gainesville, Va., was named as a 2015 Caregiver Fellow, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced. She’s one of three to represent the Maryland, Viriginia, and Washington, D.C. region. The other local fellows are Nodira Murodkhujaeva-Hughes of Washington, D.C.; and Rebecca Porges of Olney, Md. These representatives will serve as advocates and spokespeople for the 5.5 million parents, spouses, children and other loved ones caring for wounded, ill and injured warriors.

Each has a personal journey, each with its own unique challenges and lessons, but there is a unifying message of strength, encouragement and hope for others in the same situation.

“When I first met my husband, he was very in-

dependent from the outside looking in, but not knowing what goes on at night when the lights go off,” Gillums said. “You just see him with fulltime job. It seemed to be pretty easy, but at night there are a lot of things spinal cord injury people go through that I didn’t know. That was a challenge for me. Not having a nursing background, I had to learn about spinal cord injury and learn about what it is like to take care of someone 24 hours a day.”

Gillums separated from the Army in 2012. She has since dedicated herself to the care and well-being of her husband and family.

She said she had to learn to reach out to support systems and urged

others to use them whenever they need to do so.

“I’m not 100 percent all the time. I get sick, so if you can have another family member help or use the VA respite care centers provided. We also have older children — teenagers. They help out if I need them to help out, but we also have a 2-year-old. You have to have someone. You can’t do it by yourself. It’s hard work. You have to have someone, where if you ever get down, be able to say, ‘Hey, I need your help.’”

With her opportunity as a Dole Fellowship recipient, Gillums said she hopes to take the mystery out of caregiving. “I want caregivers to know they are appreciated, even though sometimes it may feel like

you’re not, because when you have service member the light is always on the wounded warrior. You are appreciated. Continue to support your loved one because even though they may not say it all the time, just know they do appreciate everything you do for them,” Gillums said. “Keep going and keep fighting.

Whatever you need to do.

Just love them.”

Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series profiling local 2015 Elizabeth Dole Foundation Caregiver Fellows. Next week’s story will feature Nodira MurodkhujaevaHughes, a caregiver in Washington, D.C., who hopes to raise awareness about the unseen injuries of war.

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CAC change aids color impaired security officers

BY TERRI MOON CRONK DOD NEWS, DEFENSE MEDIA ACTIVITY

The Defense Department’s Common Access Card is changing to make it easier for visually colorimpaired security officials to identify bearers who are military, government or contractor civilians, or foreign nationals, a Defense Human Resources Activity official said.

The changes are federally mandated, said Sam Yousef, the DHRA identification card and benefits policy program manager.

Beginning in July, only new CACs will be issued with the changes -- encircled letters “W” for military and civilian employees, “G” for contractors and “B” for foreign nationals, Yousef said. The encircled letter will appear under the card’s expiration date.

The letters will accompany white, green or blue bands across the cards, so security officials who cannot discern color can rely on the letter instead,Yousef said. Security officials will recognize the new format as valid DOD cards on military installations both stateside and overseas.

Another change on the CAC will be varied type size to accommodate the

COURTESY IMAGE

length of employees’ names, he said. Standard type size is 10 point, but 7-point type will be used for longer names, he explained.

Yousef emphasized that DOD employees with upto-date CACs do not need to get new cards. The new format will only be issued for new and expiring cards.

“The change is going to be implemented through the natural life cycle of the cards, so people don’t need to have their cards replaced for this purpose,” he said.

New CAC holders and those whose cards are about to expire can update them at their Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System ID card office, Yousef said.

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Andrews Gazette

4

Air Force aims for healthier eating

BY STAFF SGT. NICHELLE ANDERSON

11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The Health Promotion office teamed up with Air Force District of Washington enlisted aides to host a Healthy Cooking Made Easy demonstration in the Liberty Park Welcome Center on June 25.

Health and wellness are among the installations top priorities and a memorandum promoting healthy workplace eating, signed by Col. Bradley Hoagland, 11th Wing/ Joint Base Andrews commander encourages personnel to make healthy meal choices.

“This healthy cooking demo is a perfect opportunity to show folks how to prepare easy, nutritious meals and to encourage Airmen and their families to eat healthy both on and off base,” said Sylvia Goff, 779th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion coordinator.

More than 30 service members and their families learned how to prepare broiled salmon

Friday, July 3, 2015

Dentistry students set for graduation The program offers advanced study in topics such 11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS as dental infection control, logistics, ethics and orthNine Advanced Educa- odontic biology and mechantion in General Dentistry ics, taught by specialists. residents will graduate “Since many dentists from the program on Joint graduate from different Base Andrews, July 24. dental schools, this proThe one-year program gram establishes a comexposes residents to a mon standard of practice wide variety of special- ensuring the Air Force ized, postgraduate train- has top quality dentists,” ing from veteran dentists Krivitzky said. “It’s a and gives the students the force multiplier to have opportunity to work side- dentists with experience by-side with board-certi- in multiple fields of spefied dental specialists. cialized dentistry.”

“The residents receive This program, one of clinical and didactic expe- 10 in the U.S., is based rience above and beyond in Joint Base Anacostiawhat they learned in den- Bolling with JBA serving tal school,” said Lt. Col. as a training site. This (Dr.) Nathan Krivitzky, year’s residents were split 779th Dental Squadron between the bases. dentist. “Although these “One of the overlooked new dentists have greater aspects of this program is exposure to specialty den- how it benefits the gental procedures, the core eral public,” Krivitzky theme of the curriculum said. “After our residents is the provision of com- separate from the miliprehensive care. As far tary, they still have this as dentistry goes, they in amazing training. In a essence become a “jack-of- way, we’re really impacting dentistry as a whole.” all-trades”.

BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS J.D. MAIDENS

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ STAFF SGT. NICHELLE ANDERSON

Enlisted Aides Staff Sgt. Tasha Goodrich (left) and Chief Master Sgt. Laura Kelly (right) prepare food for the Healthy Cooking Made Easy demonstration at Liberty Park Welcome Center on Joint Base Andrews, June 25.

dressed with mango-kiwi salsa, rosemary-asiago quinoa, summer zucchini baton saute, grilled chicken with zesty Italian marinade, grilled mangos and peaches topped with vanilla frozen yogurt, and a whole-wheat pizza.

Then everyone was afforded the opportunity to sample the food.

“What you put in your body impacts what you

get out of your body; better foods, better bodies” said Goff. “Good nutrition enhances your ability to train and perform, it improves concentration, and it increases endurance and energy levels.”

In line with the Comprehensive Airmen Fitness Framework and Five Pillars of Wellness, the event aimed to help build a culture of health

across the installation while enhancing resilience and performance.

“If there’s one thing I want people to take away from this demonstration, it’s that there are ways to make delicious, healthy meals at an affordable price,” said Chief Master Sgt. Laura Kelly, Enlisted Aide and Healthy Cooking Made Easy culinary specialist.

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Andrews Gazette

Friday, July 3, 2015

Free seminars for military community

CHAPEL 1 CELEBRATES LAST GOSPEL SERVICE

Blue Water will host a series of free educational seminars, titled BOOTCAMP, for service members, veterans, wounded warriors, military spouses and military retirees.

The first BOOTCAMP seminar, “CYBERSECURITY: Fortify your home. Strengthen your future,” will be held on July 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Blue Water headquarters in Greenbelt, Md. The seminar will focus on ensuring home cyber protection with social media, the fundamentals

LESLIE C. SMITH/ANDREWS GAZETTE

On June 28, Chapel 1 held a celebration to commemorate the last gospel service.

Chaplain Aaron Reynolds presided over the service. The inspirational gospel choir, shown here, led the congregation in praise and worship during the service.

Founded in 1992, the service was the vision of Chaplain George R. Washington.

The first service was held at Chapel 2 and had more than 300 worshipers. The service grew quickly and was later moved to Chapel 3. On July 5 at 10:30 a.m. there will be a special combined service at Freedom Park with a picnic following the service. The gospel service and the contemporary service will combine for one service starting on July 12 at the Community Commons at 10:30 a.m.

EYES, from page 1 From the darkness, a circular projection appears, a hot air balloon hanging in the background at the end of a straight road on a dullgreen plain.The image blurs out of focus, returns to clarity, and blurs again. The machine switches to the right eye, the ritual is the same.

The machine has approximated your eye prescription.

The balloon disappears and is replaced with a green light. The machine hums.

A burst of air is puffed into your eye to check eye pressure.

The machine, an autorefractor, measures vital data about your eyes, catching a variety of serious diseases and irregularities and keep-

KID, from page 3

to fly by issuing contacts and performing physicals.

“My favorite part is puffing people in the eye,” Girard said. “You never know how people will react.”

The clinic offers care to DOD members, their families and retirees.

“I love the interactions with patients,” said Staff Sgt. Marquita Moore, 779th AMDS Optometry NCO incharge. “I get to meet people from all over the base.”

From flight status to a child’s check-up, the JBA Optometry clinic screens and serves America’s fighting force and keeps JBA flying safely.

“The eyes are the window to the soul,” Moore said.

“A dentist can replace your teeth, but nobody can replace your eyes.”

during their tour.

While traveling through a simulated pre-deployment line, kids followed a checklist ensuring they received candy cups representing medications, toys in place of tools and were shown static displays of equipment used in the field.

Volunteers also setup games for the children to play throughout the day and handed out various prizes and gifts to help the kids relax.

“It’s a great opportunity for our NCOs and airmen to give back and learn about the services that may be available to them whenever

they deploy,” Mocanu said.

The day concluded with a presentation by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, a costume contest featuring the child in most accurate military uniform and a visit

by Col. Brad Hoagland, 11th Wing/Joint Base Andrews commander.

“I want to thank everybody that makes sure we, as Airmen, can deploy and reintegrate with all the support we need to become a strong family again,” Hoagland said.

For more information, contact the Military and Family Support Center at 301-981-7087.

necessary for a career in cyber security, and cyber security career opportunities.

The seminar will be led by Fazlul Kabir, PhD. Kabir is the director of technology at Blue Water and is an adjunct professor in cyber security at University of Maryland.

Proof of military status will be required for admittance. Eligible participants may register at www.bwm.com/ bootcamp.

Blue Water is a 360-degree digital agen-

cy delivering mobile and digital initiatives to include websites, web and mobile applications, content management solutions, ad campaigns, marketing strategies, and social engagement.

Blue Water developed the Military Spouse Employment Partnership website where more than 75,000 military spouses have found employment with corporate partners committed to hiring military spouses.

—Blue Water

Education enrollment notifications begins program still includes three levels of PME, but now incorporates distance learning course completion as a prereqLast week, the Air uisite for in-resident Force Personnel Center NCO and senior NCO initiated a phased apacademy attendance. proach to notify approxiAirmen should commately 83,000 Airmen of the requirement to plete their distance enroll in the applicable learning course within enlisted professional 12 months of the AFPC military education dis- notification message. tance learning course. Airmen who are already AFPC will notify 20,000 enrolled in a distance Airmen at the beginning learning course with a of each month until all completion date agreemembers have been no- ment with Air University should complete tified. their course by the origiIn July 2014, the Air Force announced the nal agreement date. Of new EPME model, which note, the AFPC notificaintroduces Airmen to ap- tion does not extend the propriate institutional 12-month completion competencies at specific window for Airmen almilestones throughout ready enrolled in Course their career. The new 15, NCO Academy DisBY DEBBIE GILDEA AIR FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS

tance Learning Course or Course 14 Version 6, Senior NCO Academy Distance Learning Course.

When circumstances, such as deployment, prevent Airmen from completing the course within 12 months, they may request an exception to policy. Requests must include wing commander or equivalent concurrence.

For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to the myPers website, https:// mypers.af.mil/. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following the instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website, www. retirees.af.mil.

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coming all service members, their children and their families, so they can be ready before they’re ever tasked with a deployment.

“The program has certainly expanded,” said Master Sgt.Amanda Mocanu, 11 FSS readiness NCO. “We’ve moved to Spokane Lane because there were so many people who wanted to participate in the events scheduled today.”

Several base agencies volunteered to show services they offer deploying service members before, after and

ing the Air Force fit-to-fight.

Optometry technicians use the autorefractor and a variety of other tests to screen for eye problems.

“We have to make sure everyone who comes through our office is mission ready,” said Senior Airman Katherine Girard, 779th Aerospace Medical Squadron optometry technician.“If the Airman can’t see, they can’t shoot.”

The Joint Base Andrews Optometry Clinic sees more than 15,000 patients per year and issues approximately 8,000 pairs of glasses.

Technicians screen patients before they see the doctor, dilate eyes, do peripheral vision tests, ship glasses, perform flightline drivers tests and make sure to Airmen on flight status are safe

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BOOM, from page 1

Guests encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.

Six Flags America July Fourth Celebration

4th of July Fireworks in Historic Annapolis

Six Flags America, 13710 Central Ave., Upper Marlboro Celebrate The Fourth of July with live music, games, prizes and much more. Live fireworks display at dusk. Free with park admission. Call 301-249-1500 or visit www. sixflags.com/america.

Laurel Fourth of July Celebration

9 p.m.

Gude Park, 4th St., Laurel Celebrate The 4th of July with a parade, horseshoe contest, food and craft vendors, car show, live music and fireworks (9:15 p.m.). Free. Call 301-725-5306 or visit www. laurel4th.org.

4th of July Celebration at UMD

7 p.m.

University of Maryland, Campus Drive and Adelphi Road, College Park The University of Maryland and the City of College Park host a Fourth of July celebration with fireworks and Rock and Roll tunes. Grass seating is limited, so bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Concessions will offer hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, ice cream, snow cones, soda and bottled water. Personal coolers are allowed. Alcohol and personal fireworks are prohibited on campus. Free. Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov.

July 4 Fanfare

5:30-10:30 p.m.

Buddy Attick Park, 555 Crescent Road, Greenbelt Celebrate Independence Day with friends and neighbors at Buddy Attick Park.

Bring a picnic, walk the lake trail, enjoy the playground, community drum circle.

Greenbelt Concert Band and fireworks, approx. 9 p.m. Free. Call 301-397-2200 or visit www.greenbeltmd.gov.

Celebrate Charles: A Fun Filled Fourth 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Regency Furniture Stadium, 11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf Enjoy live music from Sam Grow and The British Invasion Tribute. Local businesses, eating establishments, artisans, and crafters will be showcased. There will also be activities for children. All-You-Can-Play Wristbands will be available for purchase for $5 each (cash only, exact change preferred). Fireworks display starts at 9:30 p.m.

Admission and parking, free. Limited seating outside of Regency Furniture Stadium.

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Friday, July 3, 2015

9:15 p.m.

Annapolis launches its fireworks from a barge in Annapolis Harbor. The best viewing areas include public spaces Northeast of the Severn River, along the Naval Academy Bridge (limited parking area), any of the street-end parks facing Spa Creek, and aboard a boat in the Annapolis harbor. The Spa Creek Bridge will be closed to traffic beginning at 9 p.m.

National Mall Fourth of July Celebration

9:09 p.m.

National Mall, Washington, D.C. Fireworks will be launched from the Reflecting Pool area, and will be visible from many locations in Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Duration is about 18 minutes. Viewing areas on the National Mall near the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool will be accessible only through secure access points. For additional information on transportation options, parking, road closures, and cautions, visit www.nps.gov.

The United States Air Force Band-Ceremonial Brass Quintet

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, 600 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. (20-minute shows) This free concert is offered as a public service. For more information call The United States Air Force Band’s Concert Line at 202-767-5658 or visit www.usafband.af.mil.

The United States Air Force Band-Airmen of Note, Public Concert-Patriotic Fireworks Spectacular!

8 p.m.

The Air Force Memorial, 1 Air Force Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA This free concert is offered as a public service. For more information, call 202-7675658 or visit www.usafband.af.mil.

The United States Air Force Band-Max Impact

6-9:10 p.m.

National Sylvan Theater, 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC This free concert is offered as a public service. For more information, call The United States Air Force Band’s Concert Line at 202-767-5658 or visit www.usaf band.af.mil.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Andrews Gazette

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Andrews Gazette

Friday, July 3, 2015