November 13, 2020
Vol. 37 No. 20
BACK DOWN HOME: LUMBEE ROOTS AND NAVY BOOTS A NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FEATURE
pages 6 & 7
MEET THE NEW CARABINIERI COMMANDER DON’T FEED THE STRAYS!
The Signature
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Direct Line Jaclyn Travis, NAS Sigonella MWR Marketing Director
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appy holidays, Sigonella! As we approach the holiday season, we want you to know that MWR is bringing you as many festive events as possible. We all know that 2020 has been a difficult year, and while many of our celebrations will look different than in the past, we are committed to spreading holiday cheer! Keeping our community safe is our foremost priority, so all of our events will either be virtual or involve social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand sanitization. If running prior to your delicious dinner is your Thanksgiving tradition, we invite you to join our #SigTurkeyTrot, which is a virtual 5k that you can participate in with any route you choose. Just submit a photo of yourself and your time to Fitness_ Sigonella@eu.navy.mil, and we encourage you to share your run on the MWR Sigonella Facebook page too. December kicks off our annual Sig’s the Season, and we’ve worked hard to make sure that everyone onboard NAS Sigonella can have something to look forward to. Throughout the month of December, a Holiday Selfie Station will be set up in Midtown for you to take photos at your leisure. Additionally, we’ll have Holiday Take and Make Craft Kits available for pickup at the Library all month long. These projects, which will include snow globes, key chains, coasters, decoupage, and miniature canvas art, are fun for kids and adults of any age! In addition, be on the lookout for more details on our Gingerbread Cookie Crafting Kit; supplies are limited and registration will be required. This year, the Bowling Alley wants in on the creative fun too, so you can pick up an old bowling pin and take it home to decorate however you like. All submissions will be displayed for all to see, and the public will vote to determine the winners. Our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is going virtual this year, so you can tune in on December 4th to watch the Sigonella Community Schools Choir assist in this beloved tradition. We are also excited to bring a Santa Parade to Marinai on December 11. Come see Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus, Rudolph, the Grinch and lots of elves hand out candy canes. Those aren’t our only family-friendly Christmas activities! After writing a letter to Santa, children can drop them off in a special mailbox located at Midtown from December 7-18 and Santa’s helpers will make sure they receive a letter back. Mrs. Claus will also get in on the fun, reading some holiday stories which will posted to our MWR Sigonella Facebook page on December 10, 17, and 24.
We’ve got plenty of cheer for our adults and single Sailors too! The Liberty Center will be hosting many activities, including Cocoa on the Go (December 2 and 16), Taste of Home to Go (December 3, in partnership with the USO) and a Christmas Movie Marathon (December 25). The USO, Liberty Center, and the Children and Youth Programs are also joining forces for Operation Santa Claus to deliver Christmas goody bags/stockings to all barracks residents on December 24. This year, the Liberty Center is also excited to present the Twelve Working Days of Christmas. This scavenger hunt will start on December 9 with twelve winners possible, then eleven winners on December 10, and so on for every working day until Christmas. Clues will be split between the two bases to allow active duty members to participate on both bases. But that’s not all, folks! We’ve got more prizes to give out, but you need to get moving to win them. During the Twelve Days of Christmas Virtual Fitness Challenge from December 9-24, the MWR Facebook page will post a new challenge every day, and every time you post your time or score, you’ll be entered to win a prize. You can also try to win during our Virtual Jingle Bell Jog, which will be hosted December 1820. For every mile you run, you’ll be entered to win a prize. And if you’re more of an e-sports competitor, we’ll also be hosting a PS5 Madden tournament in the Midtown Theater (date forthcoming). As we’ve seen many times this year, circumstances can change at a moment’s notice. We are excited to celebrate Sig’s the Season with you, and we look forward to bringing you high quality events no matter what happens.
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THE SIGNATURE
U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
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 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 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 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: Theresa Green Command: MWR Department: School Age Care By MCSN Triniti Lersch, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
heresa Green, a civilian working for Naval Air Station T Sigonella’s Children and Youth Services program as an operational clerk, has been a part of the military her whole life. She grew up with a father who was active duty in the Air Force for 30 years and married her husband who is also in the Air Force, Green has moved around the world and held an array of different jobs along the way. Some of her previous jobs have been as geographically and professionally diverse as working as an Operational Clerk at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska and working with a medical group as the unit safety rep in Turkey. As the ops clerk at School Age Care (SAC) with Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) since November of 2018, Green registers patrons, answers phone calls, and keeps accountability of the children enrolled at SAC, along with myriad other tasks that come up on a daily basis. SAC is an MWR program for children from kindergarten to 12 years of age, and it provides care before and after school. The goal is to introduce children to wholesome activities, like art, and to Sicily’s beautiful outdoors with field trips. Green wasn’t originally looking for a job with the CYP. “I came to sign up my kids for SAC and the woman who was working as the ops clerk before me was leaving,” she said. “We got onto the topic of me doing this job at a CDC in Alaska, and she said she was leaving soon and that I should go apply. The rest is history!” Green has made such a positive impact on the SAC working environment that her co-workers have many good things to say about her. “Theresa’s magnetic personality and passion for her job
allow her to take customer service to the next level,” said Fleet Readiness Director Courtney Silvestre. “She is an absolute pleasure to have on our team, and her tremendous spirit is recognized and appreciated by her co-workers, our parents and the children.” Green feels the same way about her colleagues at SAC. “Honestly, we have one of the best working environments ever,” she said. “I don’t want to leave. Everyone gets along and everybody enjoys being around each other.” Although 2020 presented many difficulties for child care centers, Green has helped NAS Sigonella rise to the challenge. “During this pandemic, Theresa is always making sure that our parents are up to date and have everything they need to utilize our programs and also for them to feel safe and comfortable about leaving their children with us,” said MWR Child Youth Program (CYP) Director Lee Papa. “She anticipates the needs of others and is a true asset to our program.” Although her job involves a lot of paperwork, Green doesn’t always stay behind the desk at a computer. She likes to help as much as she can, even if it’s not in the realm of her specific duties. “Theresa goes above and beyond her job duties as an operational clerk,” said MWR CYP Youth Director, Adam D’Amico. “She is a team player and assists wherever needed. Not only does she assist the parents each day, but she also has a close relationship with all the youth in the facility.” Her hobbies outside of work include traveling, reading, visiting the beach and playing animal crossing. She enjoys any genre of book and her favorite beach in Sicily is Cassibile due to it being convenient and kid friendly.
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Don’t Feed the Strays! And Other Advice for Animal Lovers
By MC2 Josh Coté, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
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hen it comes to adopting and owning pets or Branch Chief. “My best recommendation when dealing dealing with stray animals in the Sigonella with stray animals is to leave them alone initially. We area, there are some things you should know. Luckily, don’t want people getting bit because an animal isn’t we have rounded up some experts to give us advice handled very frequently. That can be a significant on how to best take care of the cats and dogs in our public health concern to the local community.” neighborhoods and our lives. If you do decide to adopt a stray animal during your We all know there is a big problem with strays in time here in Sigonella, remember that you will have our community and even here to put in the time to train and care on Naval Air Station Sigonella for the animal. Also, remember that (NAS Sigonella) as well. There owning a pet might not be cheap are a lot of people who want to when you consider the cost of help these animals with a little ownership to include food, toys, vet bit of food or maybe even take visits, and shipment of the animal off them off the streets to find a the island. forever home, but it’s not always “If you do decide to adopt an animal that simple. Make sure you know here in Sicily, that’s awesome!” said the local laws first, and consider Melissa Wenger, president of the reaching out to the local animal Sigonella Animal Welfare Society. groups to get more information However, it is your responsibility to before you do so. get them off the island when it comes Most people may think that time to transfer. “This can be pretty there is no harm in feeding the expensive, especially if you cannot stray animals here on base. It can get on a rotator flight,” Wenger said, pull at your heartstrings to see “so make sure when you adopt a pet all of the strays around, but that start saving some money to make small action may have dangerous, sure you have the funds available for unintended consequences. the possible shipping and transport “I would like to urge the Grizzly, a very good boy, seen here modeling his of your animal.” shirt, was a Sicilian stray who was adopted by community to avoid feeding the favorite If you would like to adopt an animal the author of this piece. strays at all costs,” said Army Sgt. while you are here, you can reach out Chelsea Krepps, NAS Sigonella to one of the multiple organizations Veterinary Clinic Non-Commissioned Officer in here in Sigonella to assist you with that. If you aren’t Charge. “It is kind of a slippery slope, so if you are familiar with any of the many organizations, you can feeding the strays here on base, you are creating an ask around your command and they should be able to easy buffet for them. That attracts more strays and that get you in touch with the right people. puts them at risk to be harmed by us. It can put them There are many ways you can help stray animals at high traffic areas where there are cars and injury to besides adopting them or accidentally doing something them is possible, and injury to the community through to make the problem worse. You can always get the being in more contact with strays.” animal checked to see if it is microchipped so the owner You may think that you could help by adopting an can be located. You can also donate your time, money, animal to get it off the streets. Keep in mind that if you or food and supplies to one of the local animal groups to do decide to take in a stray, you should first use caution make sure the stray animals keep getting the assistance while approaching the animal. that they need. Just remember, though owning a pet “With stray animals, unfortunately we don’t know can be extremely rewarding, please be responsible and their medical history or their behavior at all,” said consider all aspects of pet ownership when you decide Capt. John Brandsma NAS Sigonella Veterinary Clinic to adopt.
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The Signature
Back Down Home: Lumbe By Megan Mills, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
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ith his sandy hair and blue eyes, Engineman 2nd Class Jason Rogers is aware you may not recognize his Native American ancestry at first glance. In fact, he only learned of his Lumbee heritage when he was about four years old, but it has been an integral part of his life and military service ever since. “I look more like my dad. When I was a kid, I didn’t even know what a Lumbee was until my mom told me,” he said. “When we would come back down home, we wouldn’t really go out in town when I was younger. It wasn’t till I got older that I talked to strangers and realized they talked just like my Aunt Nelly, and I can’t understand a word she’s saying.” “Come back down home” is a phrase Rogers uses frequently when describing Robeson County and the town of Pembroke, North Carolina, which is where a majority of the Lumbee Tribe still reside. In fact, Lumbee members make up over 40% of Robeson County’s population. Rogers was born there, and though he moved across the state to Concord as a child, he returned frequently with his mother, who was also a member of the Lumbee Tribe. It’s also not the only phrase that stands out when you listen to Rogers speak. The Lumbee dialect includes some unique vocabulary; for example, to “make a mummuck of things” means to make a mess of things, and an “ellick” means coffee with sugar. Rogers acquired it during his frequent trips to Robeson. “The more I went down to home, I actually developed the dialect,” said Rogers. “Then I’d go back to school in Concord and my English teachers would get mad at me because I’m talking all types of medicine and they’d be like, ‘that’s not how you say things.’”
This language barrier has even occasionally caused issues during Rogers’s service in the Navy. “When I was in Japan, I was talking with a Haitian second class and a Filipino first class, and they’re yelling at me because they couldn’t understand a word I was trying to tell them, and then I had to break my own dialect,” he said. However, he has not broken his connection to his culture. Historians debate the roots of the Lumbee tribe; while some originally thought they descended from the lost tribe of Roanoke, now many believe they are related to Siouan or Cheraw tribes. Though the origins of the Lumbee remain uncertain, it is now the ninth largest tribe in the United States and the largest east of the Mississippi River. Today, its members are racially diverse, but they share both a dialect and a culture. Rogers learned about Lumbee culture mostly from his mother, Sherry Taylor Rogers, and grandfather, James Taylor, both of whom have passed away. However, it took him a while to fully embrace it. “I was proud of it, but I wasn’t really proud of it till I got the medicine wheel tattoo when I was 18,” said Rogers. “I didn’t really know what it meant until my grandfather passed away.” The medicine wheel, a circle divided into four different colored quarters, represents the cycle of life. According to Rogers, “red is birth, yellow is growth, then maturity is black, and white is obviously death.” Rogers also learned about his heritage through cultural events in Robeson County, including the play “Strike at the Wind,” which tells the story of the Lowrie War, and the annual Lumbee Homecoming. Homecoming is a large annual celebration that includes traditional dances
November 13, 2020
ee Roots and Navy Boots and clothes, arts and crafts, and a place for people to come together from far away. “People will put on family shirts. They have pride in their family, pride in what they do, and it’s an amazing experience,” Rogers remembered. Family both inspired Rogers to join the military and also led him to defer his dreams for a time. His grandfather, James Taylor, served in the Army, as did his cousin Charles Bullard. “I always wanted to go,” he said. “I always had that militant mindset. I didn’t really see myself staying in North Carolina.” He signed up for the Marines when he was 18, but when his mother became ill, he decided to stay home and take care of her. As he took care of her, he took on a few jobs and went to school for a while, but the call to service never left him. “I always thought if I don’t join the military by the time I’m 25, I’m not going to join, so when I hit 24, I joined the Navy,” he said. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, there is a long and honorable tradition of Native Americans serving in the military. In addition to serving in high numbers in nearly every major war the United States has taken part in, as of 2012, there were over 22,000 American Indians serving in the military. The Navy includes about 15,000 active duty, reservist, and civilians who declare themselves Native American. As fate would have it, Rogers’s service in the Navy would lead him to serving under a commanding officer who was also a member of the Lumbee Tribe. “His name was Cmdr. Morris Oxendine,” he said. “You can’t miss him. He looks like a Lum and talks like a Lum. Everybody thought that man sounded different, but I thought he sounded like home!”
Rogers’s pride was evident as he spoke of the nowCaptain Oxendine. “That was the first time I’d ever seen a Lum in the military,” Rogers recalled. “To see him at such a high rank was a good feeling.” The son of a sharecropper, Oxendine joined the Navy as a Seaman in 1982 and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1996. He gives credit to his Lumbee heritage for his success. “When I came into the Navy, I already knew the value of teamwork and I understood the value of working for what you believe in,” Oxendine wrote. “The Navy is a team rooted in the values of honor, courage, and commitment. I was able to be successful in the Navy because my Lumbee Indian heritage taught me these same values.” Rogers also believes that his identity as a member of the Lumbee tribe is intertwined with his military service. “Lums are hard workers,” he said. “They grow their own crops and they have their own way of living. They built that. I take that with me. Not only do I have that hardworking attitude, but everything I do, I reflect back on my family and on the race that I represent, which is my Lumbee tribe.” Oxendine recognized those traits in Rogers from their time together. “He was always working on that old [Landing Craft Utility],” he recalled. “He was a hard worker and an outstanding Sailor.” Although the Lumbee tribe has been officially recognized by the state of North Carolina, it remains unrecognized by the government of the United States. It’s a complicated process with a long and fraught history, but federal recognition could lead to grants and "Home" cont’d on page 11
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A cup of espresso recognized as Italian heritage by UNESCO? Si! By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Did you know that the Italian government has applied for traditional Italian espresso coffee to be added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list? Back in 2014, Turkish coffee was added to this list, so Giorgio Caballini, the president of the board of directors for Dersut coffee roasters in the northern Italian city of Treviso, thought it was a good idea to have Italian espresso coffee recognized by UNESCO as well. Caballini admitted that Turkish coffee has a thousand-year-old history while the Italian espresso is only about one century old, but he did noted that in order to be recognized by UNESCO, a product only needs to be 30 years old! He therefore founded, in September 2014, the Consorzio per la tutela del Caffè espresso italiano tradizionale (Consortium for the Protection of Traditional Italian Espresso Coffee) with the mission of preserving its “originality and peculiarity.”
Italy has launched a bid for espresso coffee to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Italian espresso is indeed part of the country’s culture and its blends are appreciated by consumers across the world. (Photo by https://www.italianmade.com)
Last month, the consortium celebrated the first “World Coffee Day” and, at the same time, announced the birth of the “Community for the Rite of Espresso Coffee,” an initiative aimed at encouraging people to sign a petition on the www.ritodelcaffe.it web site and with creating an e-book of photos, poems, drawings or compositions linked to the “everyday ritual of drinking espresso.” This campaign, which was presented last year in the Rome’s Parliament, hopes to advance the candidacy of espresso coffee for the prestigious UNESCO list, highlighting that this popular drink is “an integral part
of the country’s cultural heritage.” The initiative was also recently backed up by the Italo-Latin American Institute of Roma (IILA). Caballini also told media about the secrets of the perfect Italian coffee, which is unique because of its specific requirements. He explained that, first and foremost, coffee beans must be ground when each cup is prepared, otherwise one couldn’t enjoy its freshness, aroma, taste, and aftertaste. “It should be made with 7 to 9 grams of coffee and the extraction should take between 20 and 27 seconds; the aroma must be intense and full-bodied. If you feel like you have to add a lot of sugar, then your espresso has not been prepared correctly,” Caballini added. As for serving coffee, Caballini pointed out that an ideal “tazzina di caffè,” or coffee cup, should be made of porcelain with a narrow bottom, and he recommended that the amount of coffee in the cup should be between 13 and 26 grams. In addition, its temperature should be between 194 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. In regards to the most important feature of the Italian coffee, Caballini is quoted as saying the foam “must be uniform and evident for at least 120 seconds from the moment the coffee is dispensed without stirring.” It must also be “consistent, dark hazelnut, with light stripes.” As expected, such an initiative launched by a coffeeproduction company in the north of Italy sparked a firm reaction by another Italian city where coffee is king. And yes, I’m talking about Naples, which, thanks to 2 million Italians who signed the #pizzaUnesco petition, obtained a spot on that coveted UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list for “The art of Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo” in 2017. So, in July, Campania Governor Vincenzo De Luca also submitted to UNESCO an application that is expected to compete with the one from the Consortium for the Protection of Traditional Italian Espresso Coffee. According to media, Caballini said that Neapolitans did not want to join forces with him, so they decided to independently submit their own candidacy to UNESCO after the Consortium did. De Luca told media that coffee in Italy is more than just a drink and noted that “it expresses a true culture, an entirely Neapolitan ritual that has given birth to traditions spread everywhere, such as that of the caffè sospeso, which evokes a sense of hospitality, solidarity and conviviality”. A caffè sospeso, or pending coffee, is indeed an act of kindness which consists of paying a second cup of coffee
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MEET THE NEW CARABINIERI COMMANDER By MC1 Kegan E. Kay, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
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hile driving around Naval Air Station Sigonella, it is hard to miss the blue cars with the white letters spelling out “Carabinieri” across the sides. For many Americans, though, the Carabinieri may seem a little mysterious. The Carabinieri were originally the king’s guards and were established in July 13, 1814 by royal warrant from king of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuel I. What most Americans may not know is that the Carabinieri provide a dual function as both an armed force and a police force. “We are part of the four armed forces in Italy; Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri,” remarked newly appointed Commander of the Carabineri’s Sigonella Company, Maj. Corrado Nicastro. “Here, our main job is to support the Italian Air Force and provide physical security to the installations which we share with the Italian Air Force and American security.” Nicastro joined as the Carabinieri at the age of 24 as an enlisted member. Working his way through the enlisted ranks, he then commissioned as a Lieutenant 2nd Class in 2004. For the past seven years he has been handling homicide and organized crime cases. “I’ve always been fascinated by the military life and enjoyed the idea of being a policeman,” remarked Nicastro on why he decided to join the Carabinieri. Nicastro took charge on Sept. 9th of this year, and has taken the time to go
on daytime and nighttime patrols with his personnel to help familiarize himself with the bases, facilities and personnel under his command. For Nicastro it is important to take the time to learn what his personnel do on a daily basis. “Thanks to my past as enlisted, I think my leadership style is that when I give an order, it is important to know what I am ordering my people to do,” explains Nicastro. According to Nicastro, it is important to keep in mind that the Carabinieri are everywhere. Every little town has a Carabinieri station, which is not the same for the police, which are found in larger centers. The purpose of Carabinieri is crime prevention, and to that end, the Carabinieri’s primary function is to build reciprocal trust between themselves and members of the public. “I feel rewarded by the fact that I can guarantee the serenity, safety and security of people,” added Nicastro. “So when people trust me and are confident that they are protected and they tell me they feel safe, this to me is my best achievement.” When the Carabinieri pull someone over, it is important to follow all their directions. Make sure to present your Italian driver’s license, military identification, car
registration and insurance. For assistance with translating to ensure no misunderstandings, the security liaison division is available 24/7 to assist with translation needs. During normal working hours you can call 095-86-2795/624-2795, or for afterhours assistance, call +39-335-8412014. “I feel very honored to be here and am very fascinated by the military around me,” said Nicastro. “We are always available here to help. You know it happens sometimes, Americans get robbed or their cars broken into, but they can come here to report it. Our doors are always open and we are always prepared for the American community to come here and ask for help.”
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Donald Cook Completes Joint ADEX with Italian Naval Air Squadron By Lt. j.g. Sarah Claudy, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa / U.S. 6th Fleet
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he Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) successfully completed an Air Defense Exercise (ADEX) with an Italian naval air squadron, Nov. 4, 2020. In the Gulf of Taranto, Donald Cook rendezvoused with four Italian AV-8B Harrier II Plus fighter and attack aircraft based in NAS Sigonella, Italy. Air Intercept Controllers onboard the ship took tactical control of two Italian fighter aircraft and directed their employment against hostile aircraft simulated by the other two fighters. The air-to-air training exercise provided realistic training in combining maritime and air assets to achieve a common mission. “The ADEX was an excellent opportunity to train with our NATO partners,” said Ensign Frank Butler, Combat Information Center Officer of Donald Cook. “This was my first time conducting an exercise with Italian aircraft. Practicing with our international allies forces us to review our NATO procedures, learn new tactics, and sometimes think outside of the box. These are all great ways to build our combat team.” Cmdr. Kelley Jones, commanding officer, also emphasized the exercise’s contribution to joint interoperability. “It’s always a great opportunity when we get to train with other ally units in this region,” she stated. The U.S. Navy maintains an incredibly close relationship with Italy. U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with joint, allied, and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. Commander, Task Force 67, stationed at Naval Air Station, Sigonella, Italy, executes the maritime patrol and reconnaissance mission with P8-A Poseidon aircraft. The Sixth Fleet flag ship, Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC20), forward deploys from Gaeta, Italy. The U.S. Navy’s partnership with Italy enables a dynamic, flexible force posture to execute maritime missions in support Allies and partners. Donald Cook recently began its eleventh patrol of the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. The ship typically operates independently, but also regularly works alongside NATO allies and partners in the region, as in the case of today’s ADEX. Donald Cook is one of four U.S. Navy destroyers based in Rota, Spain, and assigned to Commander, Task Force 65 in support of NATO’s Integrated Air Missile Defense architecture. In support of Sixth Fleet, these ForwardDeployed Naval Forces-Europe ships have the flexibility to operate throughout the waters of Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, demonstrating their mastery of the maritime domain.
"Italian News" cont’d from Page 8
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in advance (after consuming your own one) so that a needy person would get one for free. “It’s like offering coffee for the rest of the world,” as Neapolitan writer Luciano De Crescenzo once said. Did you know that there are several ways of ordering your Italian espresso? The basic ones are: short shot or “ristretto;” regular shot (just say “un caffè per favore” and you get the regular one); long shot or “lungo;” “macchiato” or “schiumato” (with drops of milk or milk foam); “corretto” with liquor added; and “decaffeinato” or decaf. Espresso can be ordered any time of the day, but remember that cappuccino is only for breakfast! Never order it after a meal, or you will get a strange look on the bartender’s face. As reported by Italianfood.net, Italian coffee, which ranks third in the world as for exports, continues to be more and more appreciated by American consumers. U.S. imports from Italy have been constantly increasing for the last four years. The Italian Espresso Institute pointed out that coffee industry generates profits worth around five billion euros and employs over 10,000 people in Italy.
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other benefits for tribe members. Despite attempts from as early as 1888 and as recently as 2019, all efforts have thus far fallen short, and the Lumbee Act of 1956 preventing Lumbee from receiving federal benefits is still in effect. The fight for recognition has been a part of Rogers’s life since childhood. “As long as I’ve known I was a Lumbee, all I’ve ever heard is, ‘Can we get federally recognized?’ It’s been going on for over two hundred years.” Recent efforts have bipartisan backing, though, and during October of 2020, both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden pledged their full support for federal recognition during campaign stops in the Lumbee homeland. Whatever the outcome, Rogers continues to embrace both the Navy and his heritage. Rogers has no intention of leaving the Navy anytime soon, and he’s grateful for the experiences he’s had. “I always wanted to travel, see the world. I’ve been to 31 countries by now. It’s been a heck of an experience.” At the same time, he is eager to return to Robeson County for a longer visit as soon as the pandemic allows. “I definitely can’t wait to go back down home,” he said. “I would love to see another Homecoming.”
