Volunteers recycle trees for dune restoration

ByMichelleStewart JEBLCFS Public Affairs Officer

Volunteers from different tenant commands on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLCFS) came together from Jan. 10 11 for the annual Christmas tree recycling event. The trees are used to help restore installation sand dunes.

Thedunesareanessentialnaturalcoastline feature that provides a solid and valuable barrier against coastal erosion. They protect the coast against high waves and stormsandadaptnaturallytothewindand water in a way that disperses energy and protects the coastline

Theinstallation’sNaturalResourcesstaff monitors the ecological integrity of the dunes regularly Unhealthy dunes, resulting from human activity or storm surges are identified for restoration work.

“Trees are placed along the shorelines behindsandfencingwheretheneedleswill collect sand and rebuild the dune system,” said Mary Edmonson, Natural Resources manager “The overall goal of this resto-

USS New Hampshire from Page 1

Christman also took time to share his appreciation for the boat’s crew and their lastinglegacyonNewHampshire.

“On New Hampshire, I have been fortunate enough to serve with the best our Nationhasoffer,”saidChristman. Theyare the real story of New Hampshire’s success Long from now, we will forget the missions New Hampshire has accomplished and the

Crane operators

from Page 1 executing the life; crane riggers who safely rigging loads calculate weight of loads and safely move loads; and a crane walker who ensuresthecranehasasafetravelpath, said CraneOperatorLeaderJosephAmbrose “It takesthewholeteamtoensureanygivenlift isdonesafelyandaccurately.”

Operator James Ruffin added, ration activity is to create a more extensive and stabilized dune system. Efforts to protect and stabilize the primary dune system have produced visible improvements over the years with evidence of buildup in certain areas.”

Used trees are donated by community membersandlocalChristmastreeretailers. Many of the trees were recycled from the Holiday Tree Giveaway Program.

“This is my third time assisting with the tree recycling program,” said Carpenter’s Mate 3rd Class Trenton Ferguson Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit Two. “It is a great outreach initiative on base, and we want to show a Navy presence on Fort Story We are one team, and we want to help out.”

Approximately 1,174 trees were placed along the JEBLCFS shoreline repairs made, but we will never forget the boat’struelegacyandwhatIammostproud of, the Sailors of USS New Hampshire. In that crew are future commanding officers, chiefs of the boat, master chiefs and admirals In the end, these words will never do justice to the depths of my appreciation for all who have helped me during my tour of command.

“TheJEBLCFSEnvironmentalDivision would like to extend our gratitude to all of thevolunteersintheJEBLCFScommunity who gave their time to ensure that these trees live on with a special purpose and continue to support the military community, said Edmonson.

After assuming command, Jappert addressed the crew for the first time as commandingofficer

“To the officers and crew of New Hamp-

“crane operators are the first ones on the site We perform checks to ensure all safety measures and pre-operations procedures are performed properly, so when the other members of the team arrives, we are ready tostarttheday.”

Although riggers guide the crane operatorduringalift,itisuptothecraneoperator to fine tune the directions “We see things that the riggers might not be able to see,” saidAmbrose “Withwindbeingourbiggest enemy and the water causing the boat to

Fast-attack shift ever so slightly, trying to lower somethingintoatightspaceisachallengingtask. Weneedtobepatient,takeourtime,anduse our hand-eye coordination to complete the evolutioninasafelymanner.”

Ruffin, Ambrose and Jimison all agreed thatthepiergangisacloseknitfamily.“We have to be, said Ruffin. “We need to trust eachothertodoourpartduringaliftevolution.Ifonepersondoesn’tdotheirpartthat weakens the entire team and there is no roomforerrorinlifts.”

The Virginia-class submarine is 377 feet long and 34 feet wide, and weighs about 7,900tonswhensubmerged.Underwater,it canreachspeedsinexcessof25knots

The comaraderie isn’t the only reason NNSY’s crane operators enjoy their job For Jimison it’s something more. “I served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years Working here at the shipyard gives me the opportunity to stillsupporttheNavy’smission Iamproud thatIservedourcountrywearingauniform andevenproudersupportingthosewhostill wear the uniform. It doesn’t get any better thanthis.”