Vol. 61, No. 49 December 18, 2014
Pentagram
Published For Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Wreaths Across America makes history at ANC
Goal of wreaths at 230,000 veterans gravesites achieved
By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer
PHOTOS
BY
RACHEL LARUE
ABOVE - Volunteers place wreaths on headstones Dec. 13 in Arlington National Cemetery. Wreaths Across America provides the holiday wreaths, and this year was the first year each eligible headstone received a wreath. ABOVE RIGHT - Volunteers attend the opening ceremony of Wreaths Across America near McClellan Gate in Arlington National Cemetery while others start getting in line to receive wreaths Dec. 13.
The beat goes on as Holtan takes command of TUSAB By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer The men and women of “Pershing’s Own” have a new commander as of Dec. 12. Following a 16-year absence from The United States Army Band, Col. Timothy J. Holtan took command from Col. Thomas H. Palmatier inside Brucker Hall’s Col. Samuel R. Loboda Studio on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Presiding over the ceremony and Palmatier’s subsequent retirement ceremony was Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan. Following the passing of the flag of command, Buchanan called Holtan “a well-respected leader,” who in the past has served as executive officer of The U.S. Army Band and director of the Ceremonial Band, Herald Trumpets, Brass Band, Chorale and
see HOLTAN, page 4
Tax season is right around the corner, and come January, service members, retirees and their families will be able to use the services of the installation’s new consolidated joint tax center on Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall. Located in Bldg. 205 at 101 Bloxon Street on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base, the 2015 tax center will combine the Fort Myer and Henderson Hall tax centers into one
Index Holiday menu . . . . . . . . . page 2 Community . . . . . . . . . . page 3 News Notes . . . . . . . . . . page 4 In photos: Army-Navy game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 6 In photos: Wreaths Across America . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . page 9
see WREATH, page 4
News Notes Attention!
This is the last issue of the Pentagram for 2014. The next issue will be published Jan. 8, 2015.
Cody CDC, FMWR offices closed Dec. 26
Since President Barack Obama declared Dec. 26 a federal holiday, all Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Cody Child Development Center (CDC) and Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) facilities will be closed. See page two for a full list of JBM-HH organization and facility holiday operating hours.
Pay it forward opportunity – CFC extended to Dec. 31
During this holiday season and time of giving, we are asked to remember those less fortunate and pay it forward to help others. There are a number of ways to participate in this year’s Combined Federal Campaign, which runs through Dec. 31: contact your CFC keyworker; login at www.cfcnca.org; or contact JBM-HH Campaign Manager Barbara Edmondson at barbara.c.edmondson.naf@mail. mil or 703-696-3110. PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
Outgoing Leader and Commander of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Col. Thomas H. Palmatier gives remarks during a change of command and retirement ceremony in Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Dec. 12. Palmatier relinquished command to Col. Timothy J. Holtan and retired from the Army after 37-anda-half years of service.
JBM-HH readies joint tax center for 2015 By Guv Callahan Pentagram Staff Writer
The headstones of 230,000 veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery were adorned with wreaths Dec. 13 as 50,000 volunteers participated in the annual Wreaths Across America event. “I’ve always felt strongly that each and every one of the brave men and women laid to rest here must be honored,” said Morrill Worcester, a wreath maker from Maine and founder of WAA. “It seems fitting that we reached our goal on the cemetery’s 150th anniversary.” Worcester donated 5,000 wreaths to the cemetery back in 1992 and arranged for trucks to carry them from Maine to Arlington. Since then, the nonprofit has expanded to include more than 1,000 fundraising groups in all 50 states, who place wreaths at more than 900 cemeteries, military memorials and other sites. Congress officially designated Dec. 13 as Wreaths Across America Day in 2008.
convenient location for customers. First Lt. Lynmarie Rivera, a legal assistance attorney and officer-incharge for the tax center, said the idea of combining tax centers had been in the works for a couple of years. “Of course, one of the biggest concerns with the Armed Forces is the budget issue,” Rivera said. “It makes no sense that we were opening two tax centers on such a small base.” Although the setup is different, the tax center’s clientele will remain unchanged. “Basically, our clients are the same
– we still going to serve Army, Air Force, Marines – so we’re still going to serve the same population, the same clients,” Rivera said. “Instead of opening two, we should open one and consolidate all of the resources.” The facility will provide cost-free federal and state income tax return preparation and e-filing for military personnel, their families and other eligible clients throughout the 2015 tax season. Tax center staffers will also help with itemized deductions
ADPAAS activated for Army personnel with family in the Philippines
An Army Disaster Accountability Assessment Personnel System (ADPAAS) website has been activated to provide Army personnel who have family members in the Philippines the ability to request assistance in the wake of Super Typhoon Hagupit. ADPAAS provides a tool to report individual status, current location and emergency contact information. It also allows users to ask for assistance. This system helps Army leadership account for personnel and make decisions that support service and family members. Anyone with family members affected by the typhoon that hit the Philippines Dec. 6, go to https:// ADPAAS.army.mil. In the menu bar across the top (Home, My Info - Assessment - Reference - Help), click on assessment. Chances are, the message received will be our records currently indicate that you are not affected by any event. Users can verify their information at my info. Surveys can be filled out online or by hand and submitted to Army Community Service’s Carla Moss, information and referral officer and ADPAAS case manager, in Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. For more information, call Moss at 703-696-3510.
see TAX, page 4
see NEWS NOTES, page 4
When winter weather hits, stay informed! Visit the official JBM-HH social media websites to obtain pertinent news about local-area events, traffic closures and other relevant local news.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jbmhh Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBMHH JBM-HH information hotline: 703-696-6906 JBM-HH webpage: www.army.mil/jbmhh