Need a hint? You can find the answers to many of these items in the pages of Liberty Life (current and previous). To reference back issues, head to LibertyLifeMedia.com/Archives. Happy hunting!
5. SpaceX spacecraft that carried four astronauts to the ISS via the Falcon 9 rocket in November 7. This new voluntary program seeks to connect women Veterans and ensure they have access to the resources available to them after service (abbrev.) 10. The annual Heroes Gala is hosted by and benefits this organization for transitioning Veterans (abbrev.) 11. Fort Hood soldier who was murdered and buried by a fellow soldier in April; her story has sparked a military “MeToo” movement; proposed legislation named after her would disrupt a long-standing tradition of ignoring MSA 17. This reserve component split into two branches in 1947 18. Treatment programs helping Servicemembers with a qualifying criminal charge and mental heath diagnoses get a fresh start at life after service (abbrev.) 21. National organization that coordinates wreath -laying ceremonies on the graves of our fallen U.S. Veterans 22. Originally established to eliminate food waste, this produce packing plant now also distributes fresh food free of charge throughout Florida 23. Formed during WWII, this volunteer civilian auxiliary of the Air Force celebrates its birthday on December 1 25. Local non-profit dedicated to ensuring all Servicemembers feel loved and appreciated; sends holiday cards to those deployed, each December DOWN 1. The keynote speaker for Onward to Opportunity’s Heroes Gala is a former _____
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arol and I were wed on Saturday, Feb. 13, 1971, at the US Navy Hospital Chapel in Newport, R.I., where I was stationed on a Navy warship. On Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1971, Carol came down to the pier to see the ship depart. It was very windy and cold, as winter had arrived. The ship left at 4 p.m., and we began a six-month cruise to the Mediterranean Sea. Christmas 1971 found me in Rome, Italy, on a USO-sponsored three-day tour up from Naples, Italy. I had a ticket to attend the Papal Mass. I was seated in a long pew behind the pope’s altar—about 100 feet away—but could see fine. I wondered how Carol was doing back in frosty Newport with her Siamese cat as I watched Pope Paul VI say Mass. The music was tremendous—very emotional as the pope broadly smiled and blessed the entire congregation. I had tossed some Italian lira into the Trevi Fountain in hopes of “financing” a return to Rome someday with Carol. Unbeknownst to me then, we would return many times over the next 45 years, both while I was a Navy officer and as retirees. At 2 p.m., the bus departed Rome on a four-hour trek back to the ship. I had a great mail call waiting from Carol, to include a box of her holiday cookies! Rome was incredible, but I missed my Carol so much! Little did we know we would have nine more such holiday deployments! 22 | LIBERTYLIFEMEDIA.COM | NOVEMBER 25, 2020 VOL. 1 / ISSUE 10
6. When this calendar was replaced by the Gregorian Calendar, we lost eight years. Following this calendar means Dec. 21, 2012, is technically part of this year. Can 2020 get any weirder? 8. A U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program that distributes new toys as gifts to less fortunate children each December 9. Movement and organization formed after the Army confirmed that remains found along the Leon River belonged to a missing Fort Hood soldier 12. Organization dedicated to supporting our nation’s Veterans, wounded heroes, deployed Servicemembers and their families through its programs, such as the Adopt-A-Family program 13. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving; created in 2012 as a way to encourage global generosity 14. Non-profit dedicated to honoring all Veterans; known for placing flags on Veterans’ graves and supporting other organizations in cemetery clean-ups 15. Recently retired vice admiral who relocated to The Liberty Coast after an incredible 30-year naval career; former Commander, Navy Installations Command; former commander of Naval Station Norfolk and Navy Station Southeast 16. This four-sided spinning top is typically used during Hanukkah festivities 19. A surprise Japanese military strike against this naval base led the U.S. to formally enter WWII 20. Jacksonville Historical Society’s annual display at Old St. Andrews Church is centered around this 24. Local non-profit supporting the Jacksonville community through their food pantry, baby supply center, dental and medical clinics, and more (abbrev.)
JULIAN MARINE MARYJACKSON NATIONALGUARD ONU OURSISTERSKEEPER PEARLHARBOR
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: First Married Christmas By John E. O’Neil Jr., Captain, USN (Ret.)
4. Ret. Navy captain; RDML Kevin F. Delaney Hall of Fame Award recipient; Veteran advocate
WORD LIST:
2. The NORAD Tracks Santa Christmas-themed program began in 1955 when a child called this operations center thinking it was Santa (abbrev.)
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Liberty Crossword Puzzle November 25, 2020
3. The first known gingerbread recipe came from this country in 2400 BC
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CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: Lobster Off By Bob “BB” Buehn, Captain, USN (Ret.) Lebanon
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n December 1982, USS Nimitz was operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Lebanon. This was when the Cold War was hot, and Nimitz and her battle group had back-to-back winter Mediterranean Sea (Med) cruises in ‘81 and ‘82, chasing the Soviet fleet and showing the flag. Christmas 1981 was spent in Naples, Italy, which seemed like our second home port. But for Christmas 1982, Nimitz was at sea, keeping an eye on unrest in the region. I flew a mission on Christmas Eve and missed a special meal: fresh lobster. When I got back aboard, I was disappointed to find the chow line closed and the lobster gone. Later, after the traditional midnight Mass on the fo’c’sle, some of us aviators filtered into the wardroom for “mid rats” (midnight rations). Much to our surprise and pleasure, we found an offering of cold lobster salad, made with the lobster leftovers from dinner. It was delicious, sweet and crisp! Although eaten in the stark and hardly festive wardroom, to this day it is my most memorable Christmas dish. Early the next morning, Nimitz swung in close to shore off Beirut, a ravaged and war-torn city, once known as the Paris of the Middle East. From the flight deck, we could clearly see bomb-damaged buildings. I was too junior to know what the operation was all about, but I always thought it was simply a show of force, a Christmas reminder to those on shore that there was a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier close by. As the ship eased back out to sea and over the horizon, it was a Christmas no-fly day aboard Nimitz: a day of rest for the crew. The lobster salad was gone, but not forgotten.
