The Signature | December 4, 2020

December 4, 2020

Vol. 37 No. 21

FAREWELL, CATBIRD! pages 6 & 7

HELP FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE A SICILIAN PILGRIMAGE

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Direct Line Cmdr. Ronald Cappellini, NAS Sigonella Executive Officer

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uongiorno! I am Cmdr. Ron Cappellini, NAS Sigonella’s new Executive Officer. It’s been just four weeks since Cmdr. Moran turned over responsibility to me, and it’s been fast and furious, but at the same time it’s also been amazing and rewarding. Before I go any further I would like to express my sincere thanks for the incredible welcome my family and I have received. Your generosity and kindness have already made Sigonella feel like home. From a professional perspective, I have been absolutely impressed by the level of professionalism and dedication from the combined team of Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Soldiers, U.S. and host nation civilians, and our NATO partners that makes NAS Sigonella the recognized operational “Hub of the Med.” So, who is the new XO? Let’s start by dispensing with a bit of home town trivia. I was raised in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, which is a suburb of Scranton.

Yes, the city where the TV show “The Office” is set and where I grew up. More importantly though, I am married to Kelley, an amazing wife of 17 years, and we have a 13 year old son Ron. I would be remiss if I did not mention that we have a two year old Golden Doodle, Gus, who you will often see us wandering around NAS 1 with. We are extremely excited to be stationed here and are looking forward to being part of this great community and experiencing everything Sicily, Italy, and Europe have to offer.

From an early age, I’ve always had the dream of being in the military and specifically Naval Aviation, but was slow to commit. I spent a number of years after college working in the private sector before I decided that service to country and chasing my dream had to be a life focus. From that point on, I directed all of my efforts toward that goal, ultimately earning my commission and wings as a Naval helicopter pilot.

During my time in the Navy, I have been fortunate enough to serve in many different locations. My assignments have taken me from NAS Pensacola, NS Mayport, NAS Jacksonville, NAS North Island, Naval Post Graduate School Monterey, Bagram Airfield Afghanistan, NAS Atsugi Japan, the Pentagon, and now here to NAS Sigonella. My primary goals when leaving the Pentagon were to have opportunities to lead and make positive impacts. Being assigned here as your Executive Officer is truly and honor and a privilege, fulfilling both of those goals. My intent every day and what I expect out of others is to be positive and strive to

make today better than yesterday in order to support the Fleet, the Fighter, and the Family. At the end of the day, NAS Sigonella is an operational base, and because of that we have a profound responsibility to ensure that we are continually ready to support the warfighter’s “time on target.”

Professionally, I want to pass on a few of my thoughts. I believe that personal engagement is paramount to being a successful leader, and as such I am looking forward to getting out and meeting all of you. I challenge each of you to grow your own network of relationships as they will only enhance your and NAS Sigonella’s mission effectiveness.

Finally, I am going to pass on a simple rubric I’ve adhered to over the years which has always served me well: • First: Take hold of and embrace Commander’s intent.

• Second: Set the standard, drive toward the standard, and execute.

• Third: Demonstrate integrity, holding yourself and the person next to you accountable even when nobody is watching.

In closing, I am here to work for you!

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THE SIGNATURE

U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA G R A P H I C B Y: M C 2 J A C Q U E S - LA U R E N T J E A N - G I L L E S

In Sicily, fall/winter is the rainy season and we have a history of flooding. Register for AtHoc messages so when a flood or flash flood warning is issued, you’ll receive messages with procedures pertaining to all hazard and emergency responses. Avoid driving in puddles, and know two ways to work!

Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Pickard Executive Officer Cmdr. Ronald Cappellini Command Master Chief CMDCM Anna Wood EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Karl Schonberg karl.schonberg@eu.navy.mil

Tires will lose 1 PSI for every 10 degree (F) temperature change. Place a penny, head upside-down, in your tire tread. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tread depth is less than 2/32”, and it’s time to swap them out! Remember, you need snow tires or snow chains to drive up Mount Etna!

Assistant Public Affairs Officer Megan Mills megan.mills@eu.navy.mil Public Affairs Leading Petty Officer MC1 Kegan Kay kegan.kay@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil

Car batteries don't like the cold...or the heat really. When winter arrives, freezing temperatures slow down the chemical processes within batteries, and that reduce their ability to perform efficiently.

Batteries last four years on average, but they are notorious for failing early.

PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC2 Joshua Coté joshua.m.cote@eu.navy.mil MC2 Jacques Jean-Gilles jacques-laurent.jean@eu.navy.mil MCSA Triniti Lersch triniti.lersch@eu.navy.mil

Keep at least a quarter-tank of fuel in your car. If you let your tank run low, water condensation can form in your tank. When it’s cold enough, that condensation can cause fuel lines to freeze. Keeping your tank full could also make a difference if you’re stranded and need heat.

Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a distraction. Sending a text message, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, and eating while driving are a few examples of distracted driving. Distracted driving kills.

CONTACT US

Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001

This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas.

Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy.

Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers.

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The Signature

Name: Airman 1st Class Ethan Dudderar Command: 7th Reconnaissance Squadron Department: Avionics Maintenance

By MC2 Josh Cote, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

hough our installation name Naval Air Station (NAS) T Sigonella suggests otherwise, our community is comprised of more than just the U.S. Navy. For this issue

of In the Spotlight, we reached out to one of our U.S. Air Force tenant commands, the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS), who wanted us to highlight one of their bright up and coming new Airmen: Airman 1st Class Ethan Dudderar from Baltimore, Maryland.

While Dudderar is assigned to 7th RS, he works in the maintenance department. He falls under the avionics section of maintenance who are responsible for the upkeep on all the RQ-4 Global Hawks at the command. When it comes to maintenance on the Global Hawk, avionics technicians like Dudderar deal with the integrated systems inside the complicated aircraft.

Although he has not been here for very long, he has already shown he is a hard worker and stands out to his leadership.

“A1C Dudderar represents the future of RQ-4 Global Hawk mission generation here at NAS Sigonella,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jason Jones, superintendent, 7th RS. “He demonstrates unparalleled professionalism and motivation in executing his charge to master the skills needed to maintain our RQ-4s, which provide critical intelligence to the European command. “ Although Dudderar does not hold any official collateral duties yet, he has already found ways to help out the command.

“I try to get involved with whatever I can,” said Dudderar. “At the moment, our main focus is getting our certifications so we can do solo work on the jet.

Other than that I do anything I can. I volunteered for the

Thanksgiving that we have here, and basically anything else I can get my hands on.”

The military is not always the first career choice for everyone. Some people like to try out other careers before determining the military is something they really want, and then join later on in life, like myself.

“By the time I decided I really wanted to give the military a shot, I was 26, and I am 27 now,” said Dudderar. “I joined the Air Force for a couple of different reasons.

First I wanted to finish art school and that cost a lot of money, which is why I got into my first career—to save money for school. I enjoyed my old career, but it wasn’t really fulfilling, and the military was something I always wanted to do. I kind of had to take a look at myself and ask what I was doing exactly.”

Dudderar has been in the Air Force for about a year now, with 7th RS as his first command. Being stationed in Europe has its perks when it comes to traveling. Although Dudderar has only been to a couple of places in Sicily, he plans to see more when travel restrictions are lifted.

Overall, Dudderar has had a positive experience at his first duty station.

“I came in with and open mind and decided to tackle it however it came at me,” said Dudderar. “Here is just really unique. We are such a small squadron and we operate on minimal manning. But everyone here, from Superintendent all the way down to my supervisor and along with the Airman I am working with, everyone is just really great. A lot of the new guys came from technical school with me. The fact that we are all here working together and everyone is just super motivated, it makes it really easy to do my job.”

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Need Help for Substance Abuse?

Don’t Wait Till It’s Too Late

By MCSN Triniti Lersch NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

ubstance abuse is the leading S contributor to lives and careers lost in the military.

Fortunately, we have many available resources onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella to help you, or someone you may know, get onto the road to recovery. These resources include the Drug and Alcohol Programs Advisor (DAPA), the Chaplains, and Fleet and Family Services.

Substance abuse happens when someone develops an ongoing habit of using detrimental legal substances, such as alcohol or nicotine, too often for the wrong reasons. People may not realize that they have developed a problem with these substances, or they may be afraid to come forward and ask for help. However, recovery is possible.

Recovery is best achieved through a combination of professional care and participation in mutual support groups, followed by management of the problem over time.

“At NAS Sigonella, the Chapel sponsors Alcoholic Anonymous to provide service members with a familiar and confidential resource in addition to the military programs,” said Lieutenant Commander Steven Hervey, a Chaplain onboard NAS Sigonella.

Hervey also said that chaplains provide spiritually based counseling services which support military members in utilizing their specific faith traditions as a source of strength to overcome addiction.

If you prefer non-faith based methods, you could also reach out to one of the DAPAs. “I gave Sailors and Marines tools and suggestions on alternative methods to drinking to deal with these issues,” said former DAPA Chief Garrick Larocque. “I would refer them to counselors at Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program who specialize in drinking.”

These treatments can help you develop the skills you need to stop or reduce an over-reliance on alcohol.

Although substance use often begins as a coping mechanism, it usually causes a bad situation to get worse instead and can amplify depression and other mental illnesses.

“Men and women in the U.S. military often face challenging experiences during their service, including combat exposure, multiple deployments, physical injury, and psychological trauma,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Some turn to substance use as a way to cope with these experiences,” according to the Committee on Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Substance Use Disorders in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Unfortunately, this usually backfires and causes more problems. “Substance abuse is often a contributing factor to many other destructive behaviors that negatively impact our people,” said Hervey “It is not uncommon to see substance abuse connected with sexual assault, domestic violence, and suicide related behavior.”

Substance abuse can also cause marital issues, result in domestic violence, and require military members to go to Captain’s Mast and lose rank or be separated.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 96% of people

who are actively addicted to substances and not seeking help don’t believe they need treatment or to ask for help.

Often, people fear what recovery may mean, because it isn’t just a one-time event. It’s an ongoing journey that needs support and professional care. In other circumstances, people may feel ashamed of their problems and resist reaching out.

However, that doesn’t mean you should not ask for help. “Covering up problems with alcoholism or substance abuse can cause other problems,” said Larocque.

“Unfortunately, I have seen many times where a person chose not to ask for help and it made their situation worse,” stated Hervey. “I would remind them that talking or reaching out to a Chaplain or a Religious Program Specialist is always 100% confidential.

There will be no negative consequences for speaking to a chaplain. We’re here to help, regardless of faith background or a person’s circumstances!”

At this time, the military continues to maintain a strict zero tolerance policy for the use of any illegal substances or the abuse of prescription drugs. If you are in a position where someone offers you a federally illegal substance, remember that one decision could cost you your career and future job opportunities outside of the military.

If you or someone you know needs help, reach out. For any questions regarding substance abuse, please contact your command DAPA or the following resources: NASSIG DAPA MAC Zeise at justin. zeise@eu.navy.mil and 624-6395; Assistant DAPA MA1 Ford at laureen. ford@eu.navy.mil and 624-5988 or LS1 Stroud at makerria.stroud@ eu.navy.mil and 624-2037.

Chaplains: LCDR Hervey at 6243975; LT Albano at 335-831-4493 Fleet and Family Service Center: 624-4696.

Naval Hospital Substance Abuse Clinic: 624-6092.

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By ETD Sigonella

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A Fond Farewell

n November 29, CATBIRD 151, a C-20G Gulfstream IV assigned to Executive Transport Detachment (ETD) Sigonella, departed Sicily for the last time to be retired from Naval service.

For nearly 61 years, the name CATBIRD has been attached to the Navy’s executive transport aircraft based in Europe to fly the Navy’s top brass to key leader engagements across the continent.

Prior to 1958, Commander in Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH) was flown in a R6D-1Z (Douglas DC6). This aircraft was transferred to VR-1 in 1958 and replaced with the first CATBIRD, a R4Y-1 Convair C-131 aircraft, bureau number 141020.

When aircraft 141020 was assigned, CINC held a contest within the office to come up with a name for it. At that time, Adm. C. R. Brown was serving Commander in Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe. A much beloved officer, he acquired the nickname of “Cat” as a youngster and continued to be known by it during his long and illustrious naval career. The name CATBIRD won the contest, and the call sign was officially changed to CATBIRD 1020.

At the time, Lt. David Young, noted for his lack of artistic ability in his unit sought help from people known for their artistry. In December of 1959, he wrote to Walt Disney’s public relations director and asked if the art department could provide him with several sketches of both a “leaping” and “Halloween” type cat. In February of 1960, Hazel Garner of the Walt Disney Public Relations Department replied with two sketches of cats along with two separate licenses for each sketch. These licenses granted the U.S. government exclusive use and the right to reproduce the sketches as long as the Walt Disney Copyright notice appeared along with the design. This cost the government $1.00 for each drawing. In March of 1960, after a little arm twisting, the Admiral agreed to have the Cat insignia painted on both sides of the vertical stabilizer of the CATBIRD. In 1982, the R4Y-1 was replaced by a VP-3A aircraft (BUNO 150511), a converted P-3 ASW aircraft was outfitted with executive workspaces, communications suite, staff area, bunks, galley and head. Three VP-3A aircraft since have served as CATBIRD (BUNOS 150515, 150511, and 150496).

In 1999, there was renewed interest in the historic value of CATBIRD. With the help of a local Italian aviation enthusiast and the Walt Disney archives, the original CATBIRD design was found. The CATBIRD name and original design from Walt Disney was then presented to Adm. James O. Ellis with a request to reapply the art back onto the aircraft for the 40th year anniversary of the CATBIRD unit. Not only did Ellis agree to the reapplication, but he also sent two brand new one dollar bills as a renewal payment to the Chairman of Walt Disney, thanking him for the “act of kindness” which created the logo 40 years earlier. The reintroduction of the art on the aircraft preserved both the history of the unit and a Naval tradition.

December 4, 2020

to the CATBIRD

In 2005, VP-3A (BUNO 150496) was replaced by a C-20A aircraft (Gulfstream III). In 2015, CATBIRD was upgraded once again to a C-20G aircraft (Gulfstream IV) which has provided outstanding operational service throughout Europe, Africa and other destinations around the world. One of only a few Gulfstream aircraft with a cargo door, CATBIRD has been in service since December 17, 1994, flown 22,517.7 hours, and made 11,123 landings.

During the last 12 months, the unit has successfully supported a variety of customers across a broad range of multiple continents in addition to supporting their principal customer, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-A). These customers included Commander RESOLUTE SUPPORT (COMRS), Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), Commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Commander, Space Command (SPACECOM), as well the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. ETD Sigonella also shifted gears for a 120-day period and provided logistical support to Task Force 63, transporting COVID-19 test samples from several In December of 1959, he European bases to Ramstein AB for processing at Landstuhl wrote to Walt Disney’s public Regional Medical Center, then the only Department of Defense relations director and asked COVID-19 testing facility in Europe.

In 2021, ETD Sigonella will close its doors and its mission will if the art department could be continued by VR-1 from NAF Washington, DC. “ETD Sigonella is extremely proud to have been entrusted with provide him with several the responsibilities which come with the air transportation of our sketches of both a “leaping” nation’s senior leaders as they conduct their affairs throughout the world,” said Cdr. Tim Topping, OIC. “With the retirement of and “Halloween” type cat.

CATBIRD 151, we say farewell to an old friend on behalf of all who flew her, maintained her and served in her.”

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Blind Sicilian hiker walks 110 miles along pilgrims’ route

By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

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enedetta Spampinato, a legally blind 36-year-old woman from Ispica, Sicily, is used to overcoming life’s challenges. She has a condition called Leber congenital amaurosis, a genetic retinal disease causing severe visual impairment from infancy, but it hasn’t stopped her from excelling at competitive swimming, scuba diving, Judo and skiing. A foreign languages graduate, she is the world record holder for deepest dive by a blind diver and has won several Judo national medals, including seventh place in a world championship and fifth place in a European competition.

Recently, Spampinato decided to pack the essentials and undertake another challenge. Her objective was to walk 110 miles in 10 days along Magna via Francigena, a long-distance walk through Sicily based on the final stage of an ancient pilgrims’ route from Rome to Agrigento.

During the Middle Ages, Christians engaged in physical travel to fulfill a vow, find forgiveness for a crime, or to simply deepen their spiritual experience.

Today, these long-distance walks, like the famous El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, are growing in popularity across Italy.

However, nowadays these challenging are not “holy trails only,” but are very popular among hikers who want to explore the nature, art and history of new lands, find new perspectives on life through a walk to find themselves, or maybe simply to just enjoy a good hike with friends!

At the end of October, Spampinato chose the route from Palermo to

Santa Cristina Gela Mayor Giuseppe Cangialosi (left) places a stamp on the traveling credentials of Benedetta Spampinato (center) a blind hiker who broke barriers as she recently completed the Magna via Francigena 110-mile walk in Western Sicily, accompanied by her guide dog and her scuba diving instructor Carmelo La Rocca (right). Stamped credentials are a traditional way to prove completion of long-distance walks. (Photo by Sigonella Scuba Diving Club Press Office)

Agrigento and teamed up with two special traveling companions, her guide dog Dedalo, and her friend and diving instructor Carmelo La Rocca.

La Rocca helped her to complete this new achievement just as he did when he trained her to break the blind diving world record.

La Rocca, the 59 year old Sigonella Scuba Diving Club founder, vicepresident and instructor, is committed to creating inclusive opportunities to support people with disabilities across a diverse range of sports and leisure activities. After recovering from a debilitating motorcycle accident, he decided that he needed to do something special for people with disabilities.

Stemming from the idea that people with disabilities could, if they wanted, do exceptional things, he thought,

why not set a Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) world record?

The outcome was astounding. Two of his students managed to achieve the HSA World record with a paraplegic diver; male 51 meters (167.3 ft) and HSA World record with a blind diver; female 41 meters (134.5 ft).

Next came the creation of the world’s first underwater archaeological path for blind divers. In this unique experience, the blind act as a guide with a full mask allowing them to describe, live from underwater, the peculiarity of the archaeological artifacts to the people at the surface, thus converting the diver’s role from being assisted to assisting.

La Rocca then created the first tour operator organization in Sicily for people with disabilities in a project "Italian News" cont’d on Page 11

December 4, 2020

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Creating Calm:

Organizing and Decluttering Your Home

By Megan Mills, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

I

t happens to the best of us—you finally get your shipment of household goods, and you open up a box and think to yourself, “Wait, why did I pack this stuff?”

Or, better yet, you still have that one box that you never really unpacked from the last PCS, and when it came time to move again, you just repacked it for your future self to deal with. Maybe you’ve unpacked all of your boxes and love being surrounded by all of the things you’ve collected over the years, but you also want to be able to find those things instead of searching through jumbled drawers and precarious piles.

You are not alone.

Pamela Mathieu is a home organizer, and she knows firsthand that many people struggle with the clutter in their homes. Although some military families have become practiced in the art of decluttering while PCSing, others still need help, which is nothing to be ashamed of.

“Clutter causes anxiety,” she says. “The problem that most people face is that clutter builds up, and by the time they’ve realized that it’s out of control, the task of organizing seems insurmountable. Not only that, but the demands of daily life, whether they be work or the normal pressure of running the home, mean that people simply can’t find the time, energy or motivation to dive into organizing their homes.”

But there is hope. If you’ve reached that point, one of the first steps is to go through your clutter and get rid of items that are broken, that you don’t need anymore, or that are redundant. There are several popular methods for purging, and a brief internet search reveals many different philosophies, tips, and tricks. You might try to do ten minutes of decluttering each day, or you may opt to spend a weekend (or more) tackling your entire home. Some people prefer to attack one room, corner, or drawer at a time, while others follow the advice of Marie Kondo, author of “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” who suggests working in categories across rooms.

For example, you would start by working through all the clothing in the house at once, and then moving on to books, papers, etc.

No matter the purging process you choose, the most important thing is to actually get started, which can be daunting. If you’re having trouble, you might want to reach out for emotional support. According to Pamela, “Most people just need someone to be there to encourage them.”

If you’re like me, you hate throwing perfectly good items in the trash, which may be part of how you got into this mess. Here onboard NAS Sigonella, one place to donate your still-usable stuff is at the Navy Marine Corp Relief Society Thrift Shop, which is staffed almost completely by volunteers.

Virginia Imlah, the director of Sigonella’s NMCRS, points out that we should be careful with what we donate.

“Before donating, please take a moment to consider if the item(s) you plan to donate would be useful to a military member or military family,” she said. “Sorting the bin is very time consuming for our volunteers, and we appreciate it when people donate items that are acceptable and in good condition.”

Also, if you’re like me, you need to make sure you don’t

Pamela’s Tips for Organizing Kid Clutter • Purge often. When buying new items, be they clothes or toys, try to follow the philosophy, “When something comes in, something goes out.”

• Use clear bins to store like groups of toys. If kids can see them, they will play with them more often. It will also make it easier for them to tidy up if they know where things go.

• Less is more. Studies have shown that when children have many toys stuffed into a toy box, they will often just dig through them, tossing them around, making a mess, and not really engage properly with any particular toy. immediately start buying some of those items in good condition that others have donated, even though the money you spend goes to a good cause. One way to overcome this tendency is the one for one swap. For example, if you buy a new t-shirt, donate a t-shirt collecting dust in your closet.

After the purging comes the organizing. While the particulars will be different for every home and every person’s unique situation, the overall goal is to have the things that you need easily visible and accessible. Pamela’s solutions often involve individualized systems of shelving, containers, and labeling.

“Clutter" cont’d on Page 11

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The Signature

Patrol Squadron 46 Arrives at NAS Sigonella

By Lt. j.g. Andrew Staley, Patrol Squadron 46 Public Affairs

ithout a doubt, W “dynamic” describes how the last two years have

been for the Grey Knight family of Patrol Squadron (VP) 46.

In fewer than 24 months, the Grey Knights have been on the grind to truly embody their heritage and carry forward the title of “Oldest and the Best.”

Their dedication and hard work have enabled VP-46 to successfully arrive onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella in the U.S. Sixth Fleet for its maiden P-8 deployment.

Once checking off station in the U.S. 5th Fleet and traveling back home to NAS Whidbey Island in 2019, the Grey Knights were relieved but had a giant feat ahead: P-3 to P-8 Transition. Not long after arriving home, VP-46 hit the road once again. The destination was VP-30 at NAS) Jacksonville to transition to an entirely new platform.

This was no small venture, as VP-46 would uproot everything they had groomed for decades and plant a new tree of knowledge in the short span of just a few months.

Armed with this newly acquired knowledge, the Grey Knights headed back home for 12 months, honing these new skills while maintaining their duties in the Pacific. The Grey Knights carried themselves with strength and honor through multiple evaluations, detachments, and exercises, which included: the Advanced Readiness Program, a fleet-wide Composite Training Unit Exercise; Homeland Defense in Hawaii; Rim of the Pacific, the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise; multiple torpedo exercises; a thorough maintenance inspection; a NATOPS inspection; and standing “The Ready” to keep our waters safe. Throughout this time, VP-46 also conducted three changes of command.

This was all accomplished during the COVID-19 global pandemic, which presented its own unique challenges.

Through adaptability and flexibility, the Grey Knight family was able to endure these dynamic challenges and gear up in preparation for their inaugural P-8A Poseidon deployment to U.S. Sixth Fleet at NAS Sigonella in Sicily, Italy. The Grey Knights worked with the Italian government and other foreign country governments to ensure VP46 is meeting or exceeding all U.S. and host nation coronavirus restrictions and mitigations. This includes testing for the coronavirus, wearing masks, physical distancing, and restriction of movement as necessary to ensure the health and safety of all.

Spanning a successful 5th Fleet deployment to now operating throughout the Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR), the Grey Knights have repeatedly shown why they carry the title of “The Oldest and the Best.” As the pioneers of maritime patrol, VP-46 overcame unparalleled obstacles and accomplished them with distinction. After many months of maintaining readiness and conquering countless administrative hurdles, the Grey Knights have checked on station and are prepared to support global maritime security and maintain safe waters in this AOR in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

HOOYAH!

"Italian News" cont’d from Page 8

December 4, 2020

called “Dive Active” which specialized in incoming and outgoing trips for people with disabilities. He is currently working on getting a sponsor to develop an accessible boat, to serve as a unique platform to where people with disabilities can enjoy water activities like scuba diving, fishing trips or just a simple day on the sea with friends and family.

The nine-stage Magna via Francigena trail begins in front of the majestic Palermo Cathedral and, after crossing Western Sicily from north to south, ends at the enchanting Valley of Temples in Agrigento.

Highlights include stops at the following natural and historic sites and cities: the Monreale Cathedral, which hosts breathtaking Byzantine mosaics; the hilltop town of Santa Cristina Gela, a village of Albanian origin located about 12 miles south of Palermo, which is famous for its cannoli production (the town’s Café del Corso has been awarded the “tastiest cannolo” prize for the third consecutive year); Castronovo di Sicilia, the geographic center of the route; Corleone, the town made famous by The Godfather book and movie; the ancient hilltop town of Prizzi, one of the highest villages in Sicily, which overlooks Sciacca’s coastline; the Platani river, originating on the foothills of Sicani Monti, which surrounds the slopes of Monte Cammarata; Sutera, at the foot of Monte San Paolino; the rural villages of Campofranco, Milena, Racalmuto Grotte; and finally the towering Rupe Atenea, a majestic cliff which is part of the Archaeological Park of Agrigento where a sanctuary of Zeus and Athena once stood.

One rewarding aspect of undertaking these long-distance trails is the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and motivations, as well as enjoying the hospitality of the island’s little villages.

“This adventure is about to end, leaving me with a lot of information on my beloved Sicily and with the wonderful memories of the great people who made me feel at home during my journey cooking food and chatting with me, showing me the true meaning of hospitality,” Spampinato said. She completed her inspiring journey on November 3, 2020.

During the walk, hikers typically gather stamps from mayors, churches, monasteries, cafes, hostels, hotels etc. to “certify” their journey.

Along her journey, Spampinato, her dog, and La Rocca met the mayors of Santa Cristina Gela, Cammarata, and Joppolo Cancaxio, who praised her for breaking barriers and raising awareness of sport and physical activity for people with disabilities.

For more information on these trails, visit the website of nonprofit cultural organization Magna via Francigena (http://www.magnaviafrancigena.it/ ) where you can find useful tips on this exciting travel experience.

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“Clutter" cont’d from Page 9

Since moving to Sicily, Pamela has noticed that homes here present differences that Americans may not be used to. “The biggest challenge is the lack of storage space, particularly in kitchens and bedrooms,” said Pamela. “Cupboards are scarce and often have to be bought. Pantries have to be ‘created,’ and clever storage solutions, such as turntables, steps and cupboard stands, need to be used in kitchens as space is often very limited.”

The pandemic has also created circumstances ripe for clutter to build up, since many of us are spending more time at home than we used to. “Being at home more means that things will probably be a bit messier around the house,” Pamela said. “Try to make a habit of putting away used items at the end of the day. When you go from one room or floor to the next, take at least two items with you to return to their ‘zone’.” This habit is also something you can encourage your children to build.

As you build these habits and chip away at your clutter corners, you may find that the benefits of living in a less-messy and more-organized home encourage you to keep going. “To me an organized home is peaceful and ‘quiet’ and clutter is ‘loud’ and stressful,” Pamela said.

Nowadays, couldn’t we all use a little less stress?

A Note from Virginia Imlah: NMCRS is happy to accept donations for the Thrift Store. We have an official policy that we follow for what is acceptable to sell in the store. We kindly ask that donated items be clean with no stains or holes and in good working order with all parts intact.

We cannot accept • car seats • religious items • medical items or medicine • food • used undergarments or bathing suits • used breast pumps or baby bottles • opened or unsealed cosmetics • cribs • weapons • risque items • large items such as mattresses and couches ( we can accept small furniture items such as a nightstand or small tables) We do accept used uniform items.

Currently, the donation bin is open for self-service donations every Wednesday beginning at 14:30 until each Friday at 14:30. The bin is located in the corner of parking lot outside of School Age Care. We ask that people please fill the empty carts at the back of the bin first to allow for more people to donate items.