NAVSUP FLC Celebrates 10 Years
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Reliant Giant
USNH Sigonella
More photos from the exercise
How to recognize a drinking problem
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
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July 24, 2015
Vol. 32 No. 29
Sigonella conquers the 'Reliant Giant' together By MC1 Tony D. Curtis NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Victor Martinez approaches a simulated active shooter during the Reliant Giant training exercise, June 15. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tony D. Curtis/Released)
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Sailors from around Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella and beyond trained for an active shooter and improvised explosive device (IED) exercise, July 15. Departments involved included the base Fire Department, Security, Safety, the emergency operations center, EMT personnel from U. S. Naval Hospital, and a group of Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 assigned to Naval Station Rota, Spain. During the multiple scenario exercises at the Sigonella Middle/ High School on NAS I, another training evolution involved an active shooter at Midtown. The exercise began with a simulated explosion and fire at the schools on NAS 1. NAS Fire and Emergency Services (FES) promptly responded to extinguish the fire. While FES and Security were dealing with the activities at the school, an active shooter was reported at the Midtown area of NAS 1. The simulated shooter went through the seating area and into the upstairs area of the gym. After security forces were alerted, a shelter in place notice was passed over the base-wide speaker system for NAS Sigonella personnel throughout all three bases to stay inside a designated safe place. “We do these types of drills to work out any kinks for when a real-world emergency actually happens,” said Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Victor
"RELIANT GIANT" continued on Page 8
Troina hosts "Robert Capa in Italy" photography exhibition By LT Paul Newell NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer
TROINA, Sicily - On the day United States citizens celebrated the 239th year of their nation’s independence, members of a small Sicilian city gathered to celebrate the opening of an exhibit which in part pays tribute to a chapter of history intimately entwining the American and Italian experience from the lens of a nomadic luminary who felt most at home on the front lines. Now through September 30, Robert Capa in Italy. 1943-1944 is featuring 70 black and white framed photographs hung neatly inside a gallery in Troina – a mountaintop municipality due west of Mt. Etna, which from July 31 to Aug. 6, 1943 was the setting for a horrific World War II battle fought between U.S. units and their German-Italian opposition. Each image is a compelling historical perspective of the war in Italy captured through the lens of the Hungarian-born photojournalist who covered five conflicts in his lifetime. Throughout his life those photographs were featured in prominent magazines Collier’s Weekly, Life, and other prominent magazines. Already well-known before the onset of World War II, Capa was believed to be a good luck charm by the countless American G.I.s he shared foxholes with and is attributed for speaking the famous line: “If your photos aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.” This was at a time when most fighting was photographed at a distance. Also distinguishing his photos from his contemporaries was his focus on civilians victimized by the war in addition to those directly engaged in combat; a now common “all-of-war” method used by today’s photojournalists Capa significantly helped pioneer. “I’m very honored by the presence of the U.S. Navy delegation at this ribboncutting ceremony celebrating the exhibition of the world-renowned photographer Robert Capa which has been made possible thanks to my staff who worked tirelessly and to the sponsors who supported us financially,” said Fabio Venezia, Troina’s mayor. “For the Troina community this is a dream come true and an opportunity to generate tourism in our area. We would like to share this unique event with the whole Sigonella community and their friends.” Many of the Capa exhibit photos depict OPERATION HUSKY, the six-week long Allied invasion of Sicily campaign launched July 10, 1943 with its strategic goal of opening Mediterranean sea lanes in addition to a base of operations for the inevitable fight against German and Italian Axis forces in mainland Italy. To defeat the Axis in Sicily, separate movements of predominately American,
"CAPA" continued on Page 4
Exhibit info for Robert Capa in Italy. 1943-1944: What: A photo exhibit chronicling famous wartime photographer Robert Capa’s imagery captured in Italy during World War II. When: Now through Sept. 30 Where: Troina, Sicily. Cost: €4 per person. How to get there: Take Autostrada A19 (Palermo-Catania), exit Agira and follow the signs for Gagliano Castelferrato and then Troina.
THE SIGNATURE
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July 24, 2015
Direct Line
July 24, 2015
THE SIGNATURE
"ICE" continued from Page 3
Comment regarding "removal of Mississippi flag at NAS 1 gym":
I’m not interested in starting a political debate, but I recently noticed Mississippi’s state flag is no longer on display in the NAS 1 gym. As a resident of the State of Mississippi I am upset the state in which I raised my right hand to join the military has been removed. If we cannot display the Mississippi state flag, I respectfully request that no other state or territory flag be displayed.
Lt. Cmdr. Edward Erwin
Summer is a unique time of transitions at NASSIG. Many friends and colleagues are leaving to new duty assignments, and they leave behind a legacy of excellence and special memories. At the same time, many newcomers are arriving with a fresh perspective and a contagious enthusiasm. In the midst of the PCS season, many are taking advantage of the opportunity to travel around Sicily and Europe. My family and I just returned from a wonderful month of travel and leisure right here in Sicily. In the vernacular, I believe it is called a “stay vacation.” To say the least, my family and I had an incredible time that was both relaxing and productive. I want to encourage you to make the most of your summer vacation to re-connect with family, renew hobbies, and pursue travel goals. Vacations are not simply thrilling, but necessary. Without leave time, we debilitate our capacity for resilience. The ability to stretch and rebound from crises is proportional to the time we rest and play. For instance, for those of you who are familiar with archery, you will recall that a strung bow which is always taut and never relaxed between shooting sessions will eventually lose its capability to snap back and release strength in order to reach its target. The same is true of human beings. We need time to relax, unwind, and celebrate time away in order to reach our targeted goals in life. Let me give you one example of how you can have a great time right here at home, teach your children wholesome values, and get a few hours of adult alone time. The Religious Ministries Department will offer two summer camps this August for our children. Right now with school out and kids at home, I know many parents and children could use a change in routine. For many stay-at-home parents, it would be a vacation to have three hours off during the morning for a whole week. So treat yourselves to some alone time and give your children a tremendous adventure in learning through RMD summer camps. The Catholic community will offer Kid’s Camp August 3-7 from 09001130 for pre-K through 6th grade, and the Protestant/Non-Denominational community will offer Vacation Bible School August 21-25 from 0900-1200 for those who have completed K-5th grade. The Catholic Kid’s Camp theme is Around the World in 5 Days: Assorted Saints and the Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love. The Protestant Bible Camp theme is Everest: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power. Both summer camps promise adventure, fun, and meaningful values for learning and living. Whatever your religious background, we welcome you to
Response:
Thank you for identifying this situation. After receiving your email, I learned an MWR employee temporarily removed the Mississippi state flag out of sensitivity to the recent tragic, racially-motivated massacre of nine African Americans in South Carolina and this event’s association to the Confederate Flag. At the same time, as you correctly point out, the Mississippi flag is the official state flag and categorically not the same as flying the Confederate Flag was in South Carolina. So, following your notification, the flag was remounted in the gymnasium. I apologize for causing any perception of disrespect. As a side note, the press reports Mississippi is considering formal debate on redesigning the Mississippi state flag to remove the Confederate Flag inset. If a change is ultimately approved, MWR will ensure the new state flag is displayed as soon as commercially available.
Comment regarding “Comment regarding buying goods from NEX and DECA then giving to locals”: DECA and NEX policy prohibits purchasing items for distribution to unauthorized recipients. What should we do when community members post on Facebook asking the community to buy items intended as donations for unauthorized recipients?
Response:
Thank you for the question. My first suggestion is to kindly remind our community that purchases are to be made only for personal use or as authorized by higher authority, and no one should solicit authorized patrons to make unauthorized purchases. If problems persist, please contact Base Legal at 624-5258. Provide specific details and screen shots so Legal can follow up directly. I’d like to remind all Sig’ Citizens: 1) Our NEX and Commissary stock is based solely on our population. 2) NEX and DeCA shopping are privileges. 3) Authorized patrons abusing privileges can lose these same privileges (to include MWR and tax-free fuel coupons).
Comment regarding “Rude Gate Guard at Marinai”: participate in either or both of these dynamic summer camps for children. In case you are looking for volunteer and service opportunities, we look forward to your invaluable assistance. For more information on registration or volunteer service, you may contact the Chapel at 624-3975 or https://www.facebook. com/NavalAirStationSigonellaChapel.
Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Suggestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publically recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program! There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu. – or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".
Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment regarding "The Fourth of July Fun Run":
Why did MWR schedule the Fourth of July Fun Run on a holiday? Traditionally MWR runs are early so participants can get the run in, shower, change, and get to work. Why did they have it on a holiday when no one will participate? Couldn't they have changed it to July 5?
Response:
The 4th of July Fun Run is a holiday run and part of the day's Red, White, and Boom Festival and not part of a series. This is the second time we've run this event and last year's was very successful. On the other hand, July 5th is a Sunday and I am certain would not be well attended. As for other MWR runs, most are associated with various MWR Sigonella Run Series. This year's Base-to-Base (B2B) series begins in August and will feature nine runs of various distances on various days and various times, culminating with the traditional Base 2 Base March finale. The variety of the B2B series runs is to accommodate the many schedules of our runners. Days and start times vary for the race series. For further on MWR athletic events, please contact the MWR Athletic Director, John Lenz, at john.lenz@eu.navy.mil or by phone at 624-0504.
Comment regarding “BZ for Red, White and Boom”:
Thank you to the entire MWR team and all the other base services for this
year’s fantastic Independence Day events. Start to finish, it was a great day! All the MWR Red, White and Boom activities were especially enjoyable and well-devised. The ball area worked out great for little kids; the wristbands were fantastic; many kids played for hours inside the bounce houses and game booths. The MWR staff was enthusiastic and plentiful ensuring all activities ran properly and safely. The fireworks presentation was stunning, exceeding expectations by a long shot. Simply put, MWR did an amazing job. Our small community in the heart of Sicily felt like America for a day, and I can’t thank you enough. Sincerely, Tina R.
Response:
Dear Tina, I couldn’t agree more! MWR (including CDC, SAC employees), Security, Public Works, Fire, Emergency Management, Hospital, Safety, Base Operations and our many volunteers contributed to make our Sigonella Independence Day events outstanding. Thank you for taking time to
send an ‘atta-boy!’ Sigonella MWR and all of our professionals are grateful for the opportunity to continue serving you, your family, and our entire community.
Thank you! PS: For serious issues like this one, it is most helpful to provide me your contact information so I can personally follow your situation. Thank you.
"ICE" continued on Page 2
A Marinai security guard was rude and unprofessional toward me on two separate occasions on the same day. During the first encounter they barely acknowledged me and, though not otherwise engaged, the sentry stood with their back to me and then walked away while joking with another person while I waited to show my identification. The second time the same sentry ignored me while checking my ID and then immediately pulled out his/her cellphone as I drove away. Is it too much to ask that duties be performed professionally?
Response:
I apologize for this uncharacteristic and unacceptable rudeness displayed by one of our normally exceptional sentries. Every community member and visitor should receive the same courtesy I receive everywhere. I call it “CO Customer Service,” and it is THE STANDARD I demand we provide 24/7/365 across our Sigonella community. Anyone experiencing less than “CO Customer Service” by our Security forces should contact Acting Security Officer, LT Juan Cardona, at: Juan.Cardona@eu.navy.mil, or by phone at 624-5474.
Comment regarding “PCS Transfer Issues”:
I am very close to my transfer date and PSD not only doesn’t have my tickets, they’ve told my Command PASS Coordinator (CPC) they do not know when I’ll receive them. I am concerned, frustrated, and am looking for somebody who has answers and cares.
Response:
Thank you for relaying your concern. I care. If you’ve already contacted your Command Master Chief/XO/CO and you are still not satisfied, please immediately contact PSD Sigonella at: LT Bill Garcia at William.Garcia2@eu.navy.mil or by phone at 624-5425 or Chief Minshall at Douglas.Minshall@eu.navy.mil, or by phone at 624-2329 . P.S. In cases such as this one, we can provide better and immediate assistance if you provide us your contact information.
Comment regarding “Removal of Unused Stop Sign”:
I was following a vehicle along the perimeter of the NAS 1 solar panel parking lot and was caught off guard when the driver in front of me stopped at the stop sign next to Hillis Drive. This traffic marker looks as if it was placed when the base used the nearby gate. Can we remove it for safety reasons?
Response:
Thank you for pointing this out. I personally twisted the NAS 1 stop sign in question so it is no longer facing traffic. I elected to not remove the sign however, as it may be needed should we need to reopen the nearby gate. For other base traffic questions or concerns, please contact Public Works Deputy Director, J.P. Thomasseau at: JonPaul.Thomasseau@ eu.navy.mil, or by phone at 624-2905.
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA Commanding Officer Capt. Chris Dennis Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney II Command Master Chief CMDCM Mike Kaszubowski
EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Paul Newell paul.newell@eu.navy.mil Editor M. Todd Butler michael.butler@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC1 Tony D. Curtis anthony.curtis@eu.navy.mil MC2 Ramon Go ramon.go@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 PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887 This civilian enterprise (CE) 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. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy. Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887. E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it. 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, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers. The Signature will not publish anyanonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consent of the publisher. cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
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THE SIGNATURE
July 24, 2015
THE SIGNATURE
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From sea to shore: U.S. Marines, Senegalese conclude training exercise
"CAPA continued from Page 1 British, and Canadian units* pushed their way toward Messina. After Allied paratroopers and amphibious combatants met initial resistance at beachheads in Gela (U.S.) and Siracusa (British), fighting in some parts of Sicily lessened, leading some U.S. top brass to believe its enemy was hastening its retreat from Sicily to concentrate their forces for the larger struggle anticipated in mainland Italy. But German and Italian protectors had no plans to hand over Sicily so easily and dug themselves into the rugged mountainous terrain to form “The Etna Line,” which stretched from Catania on the east, around the southern base of Mt. Etna, all way to San Fratello on the northern shore. Any Allied force within its confines was to meet stiff Axis resistance, and nestled between Lt. Gen. George Patton’s men and their objective sat heavily-fortified Troina, a town U.S. forces had no alternative but to take in order to reach Messina. From Troina the deeply-entrenched Axis had a clear view of exposed oncoming U.S. 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions, which made for a particularly uninviting U.S. advance in sweltering July heat. Once U.S. forces closed in on Troina and surrounding areas, a week of attacks and counter-attack left both sides battered and the town in ruins. Capa was on hand to capture imagery from Battle of Troina, said to be some of OPERATION HUSKY’s worst fighting. The exhibit also captures other compelling photographs during his time in Italy to include Anzio, Monte Cassino, Naples, and elsewhere. “The Capa exhibition in Troina gives us a genuine, vivid and visual account of the WWII American battles in Sicily showing the human face of the war,” said Rosario Patti, the president of the Nissoria Town Council and a tourism expert who is committed to encouraging tourists to visit Sicily and in particular the Enna province. “This unprecedented cultural event provides an exceptional opportunity to promote the richness of the historic heritage of Troina and the entire province of Enna which has a lot to offer.”
July 24, 2015
Compagnie Fusilier de Marin Commandos low-crawl toward an enemy position during a final exercise in St. Louis, Senegal, July 8, 2015. The exercise concluded a nearly six-week training evolution between U.S. Marines, Sailors and Coastguardsmen with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis ResponseAfrica and the Senegalese. The training focused on small-boat operations and infantry skills taught to more than 30 members of the Fusilier Marins. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lucas Hopkins/Released)
by Corporal Lucas Hopkins SPMAGTF- CR- Africa Public Affairs
Dr. Lengyel Beatrix, the curator of the exhibition of photos by Hungarian war photographer Robert Capa, tells visitors, after the grand opening on July 4 in Troina, how he was able to capture the human side of the 1943 landing of the Allies in Sicily. (Photo by Alessandro Castagna)
After World War II ended, Capa filled his days by palling around with old friend Ernest Hemingway and other celebrities, even following his lover Ingrid Bergman to Hollywood to try his hand in the movie business. But he had no pallet for scripted life, and in 1947 he traveled with friend John Steinbeck to Russia before heading to Israel shortly after its founding. After a near death experience during fighting in Israel, Capa announced he was through with front line photojournalism and in the early 50s focused his efforts on building up Magnum Photos, a company
he helped found years before. But it turned out he couldn’t stay away from the dangers that made him a household name. In 1954 while covering the French-Indochina war, the man who had lived every moment to its fullest in nearly every corner of the world, a citizen of no country in particular but to all humanity, instantly perished after stepping on a land mine. He was 40 years old. His photographs live through eternity. *Combatants from Australia, South Africa, and Free France also contributed to the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Need an appointment at the hospital? Call DSN 624-CARE (2273) or commercial 095-56-2273, M-F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. For non-emergent medical questions that arise over the weekend, holidays, or after office hours, please call 335-578-8077 if you are normally seen at the hospital or 335-578-8150 if you are normally seen at the Flight Line Clinic.
ST. LOUIS, Senegal - Approximately 15 U.S. Marines, Sailors and Coastguardsmen assigned to Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa conducted a final exercise with more than 25 Compagnie Fusilier de Marin Commandos in St. Louis, Senegal, July 8. The Fusilier Marins conduct amphibious assaults and river patrols within Senegal and are deployed to other areas around the African continent. They rounded out the six-week training by executing a smallboat raid on a simulated enemy compound to destroy an ammunition supply point. “On their deployments, most of their operations are small boat raids, just like our final exercise,” said Marine Capt. Joseph Burger, the team’s officer-in-charge. “We did the best we could to simulate a realistic environment where there is some stress induced.” During the exercise, the U.S. service members took a step back from the trainer role used for most of the course, allowing the Fusilier Marins to showcase what they had learned over the previous six weeks. Several of the Marines took defensive positions, playing the role of the opposing force on the beach, giving the Senegalese a chance to conduct a more realistic simulated assault. “[The Fusilier Marins] have been able to effectively take what they’ve learned and apply it to their mission,” said Marine Lance Cpl. William Haughey, a rifleman with SPMAGTF-CR-AF. “They stormed the beach, maneuvered with precision and executed the attack as quietly and stealthily as they could.” On the following day, the U.S. service members and Fusiler Marins drew the evolution to a close by holding a graduation ceremony. Throughout the evolution, the service members taught and trained their Senegalese partners on small-boat operations and maintenance as well as light infantry tactics, including patrolling, combat marksmanship, and sea-to-land raids and assaults. “I saw a full commitment from the Marines. They came here and gave us as much as they could,” said Senegalese 1st Lt. Goumalo Sall, a company commander with the Compagnie Fusilier de Marin Commandos. “Since their arrival, I’ve watched my soldiers get better and better.” The training helped prepare the Fusilier Marins for upcoming deployments to the Casamance region of Senegal and other locations throughout the African continent to help provide peace and stability. “We’re going to continue to build their capacity to promote stability in the region and the interoperability between the two groups,” said Burger. As the graduating Fusilier Marins prepare to bring the additional infantry and small-boat skills learned to their real-world operations, the U.S. and Senegalese service members look forward for potential future engagements. “We are building good relationships,” said Sall. “I’m looking forward to future training sessions.
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THE SIGNATURE
July 24, 2015
U.S. NAVY HEADLINES July 24, 2015
THE SIGNATURE
USNS Impeccable Rescues Distressed Fishermen
Saint Venera festival returns to Acireale on July 26 ACIREALE, Sicily - On Sunday, July 26, the community of Acireale, the city of the 100-towerbells for its impressive number of churches, will pay homage to Santa Venera (Saint Venera) its beloved celestial patroness saint with a spectacular festival which is one of the most important religious events in the Catania province. According to tradition, Venera was born in Aci Xifhonia on Good Friday of the year 100 AD. She was raised in accordance to Christian principles and dedicated her to serve the needy and the poor in the area where the thermals baths are located. After becoming an orphan when she was twenty years old, tradition has it that she gave all her possessions to those in needs and began to preach the Gospel in Sicily, Campania and Calabria as well as abroad. Because of her intense preaching she was beheaded on July 26 in 143 AD in Gaul. The festival of Santa Venera is similar to the ancient feast of Saint Agatha in Catania. After the holy mass held at 10:30 a.m. at the cathedral, the procession, during which the bust depicting the saint and containing her relics (kept inside a small chapel of the cathedral of Acireale) is paraded throughout the historic center, begins Sunday night around 8 p.m. and proceeds along the following streets: via Davì, via G. Meli, piazza Lionardo Vigo, via Ruggero Settimo, with a stop in piazza Duomo. The reliquary bust made by Mario D'Angelo Messina and painted by Giacinto Platania is kept in one of the most beautiful chapels in all of Sicily. The Saint's statue, which is covered with “ex-voto” (offerings given by devotees after receiving a miracle), has the gospel in one hand and a crucifix in the other. At the base of the statue, there is a sword, a tribute to the city of Catania to seal the peace after long-standing rivalry between the two cities. During the night, the bust of the saint is carried in a procession led by the local bishop, on silver carriage called “fercolo” made in 1659. The carriage is pulled by devotees dressed in white and accompanied by five “candelore” (giant candles placed inside elaborate Baroque floats) which represent the city guilds (shoemakers, bakers, fishmongers, masons and artisans) which perform the traditional “sway” and dance to the rhythm of the band in front of the procession among the crowd’s rejoicing. During the night, a Cantata concert will be performed by the local city band and polyphonic choirs.
The annual festival honoring the Santa Venera patroness saint of Acireale who underwent martyrdom in the 1st century AD, returns to the breathtaking Baroque city in the Catania province, this Sunday (July 26) featuring processions, holy masses, arts and crafts and fireworks (Photo provided by http://www.vdj.it )
At the end of the procession spectacular fireworks that light up the man square (piazza Duomo) of Acireale. On November 14, the transfer of the relics of the saint from Ascoli Piceno, occurred in 1642, is remembered with a church ceremony. What to see in Acireale Acireale is a coastal town in the north-east of the province of Catania, Sicily, Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna, on the coast facing the Ionian Sea. It is an important religious district, a diocese as it is the seat of the bishop of Acireale. The town is indeed famous for its churches, including the Neo-Gothic St. Peter's Basilica, St. Sebastian's Basilica in the Sicilian Baroque style, and the 17th century Acireale Cathedral, and
a seminary, for the training of priests. Acireale is also famous for its art and paintings: the oldest
"SAINT VENERA" continued on Page 14
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The Military Sealift Command Impeccable-class ocean surveillance ship USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS 23) rescued 11 fishermen while in route to Subic Bay, Philippines July 19. Impeccable Sailors spotted personnel on a partially submerged ship and noted debris in the water. The Impeccable Master immediately deemed assistance was required and began preparations to deploy their rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to rescue the personnel. "This was a team effort with civilian mariners, SECDET [security detachment], MILDET [military detachment] and Lockheed Martin working together to achieve an efficient rescue of all 11 fishermen," said Robert Wiechert, Impeccable's Master. "They [Impeccable crew] initially spotted only eight people on the partially submerged vessel," said Lt. Cory Hilgart, the theater anti-submarine watch officer at Commander, Task Force 74. "They then realized that it was actually 11 and made the call to commence the rescue effort." The RHIB made three trips to the distressed vessel and recovered all 11 individuals. "One of the crew members spoke English," said Hilgart. "He told the Impeccable crew that they were fishermen from the Subic Bay region. He confirmed that there were only 11 on board." Once the mariners were brought aboard Impeccable, they were examined by medical personnel and given food and water. No serious injuries or illnesses were reported. Shortly after Impeccable arrived in port in Subic Bay, July 20, all 11 mariners were turned over to the Philippine Coast Guard.
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Dempsey and Ghani Discuss Transregional Effort Against ISIL By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity
KABUL, Afghanistan, July 19, 2015 - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey today discussed the possibility of forming a network to oppose the transregional threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Ghani here this afternoon and said there is a clear need for a transregional strategy to address ISIL. Terror groups in Afghanistan most notably the Tehreeki-Taliban -- have rebranded themselves as ISIL, officials said, noting that these are terrorists who believe the Taliban are not vicious enough. ISIL is the latest and most successful manifestation of the terror threat, they added, posing a military threat and promoting an ideology that appeals to disaffected youths around the world. Dempsey has said for years the United States should address this transregional threat with a transregional strategy. ISIL began in Iraq and Syria, but has spread to the Sinai, Libya and into Nigeria. Now the group is recruiting in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "I think we're all having an important discussion on how to address the transregional nature of what is clearly a persistent threat that has to be addressed at a sustainable level of effort over a period of time," Dempsey said to reporters traveling with him. Seeks Expanded Assessment The chairman said he has asked Army Gen. John F. Campbell, the commander of NATO's Resolute Support mission here, to expand his assessment of the current campaign in Afghanistan to include the changing nature of the threat and "to give us his insights into what he thinks we should do." Dempsey said Ghani told him in their meeting that Afghanistan should be a regional hub in a transregional network that includes the Levant, Iraq, North Africa and West Africa. "His view is, 'Hey, look, I'm a willing partner in an area where you may not have willing partners,'" the chairman said. Ghani wants to have a conversation on what Afghanistan can do over time to form a network that will operate transregionally, he added. The chairman said Ghani's idea falls in line with his own thinking, but that he would like a discussion among American leaders on what the objective would be. "Once we have a clear idea of what we would like to accomplish ... over a 10 year period," he said, "then we should discuss what authorities would be needed, ... as well as what resources can be applied." The long-term look is important, the general said, because this is a generational fight and the level of resources supplied must be sustainable over 10 years. "I don't want to do this one year at a time," he said. Afghanistan could be a coalition counterterrorism partner and a South Asia hub. Ghani also pointed out to Dempsey that other global actors Russia, China and Iran also are concerned about the rising ISIL movement and are looking to Afghanistan for help. Ghani believes Afghanistan could be an exporter of stability in this type of program, Dempsey said. Afghanistan is a credible and willing partner in counterterrorism and could be one of the keys to addressing ISIL in all of South Asia, the chairman said, adding that it could also network with similar efforts elsewhere. Window of Opportunity This could be a window of opportunity for a strategy against ISIL, the chairman said, noting that there are nine stages of development for an organization that, like ISIL, aspires to be a state. "In Iraq and Syria, you might say they are in stage 6 or 7 or 8," he said. "In Libya, they are in stage 3 or 4, and in Afghanistan they are in stage 1 or 2." Therefore, he said, there is an opportunity in Afghanistan to deal with ISIL while it is still small there. Any military effort against ISIL must have two components, the chairman said. The main effort should be by, with and through partners. "But we also need to carve out for ourselves the ability to take actions unilaterally when we deem it to be a credible, real and imminent threat to our people, facilities or the homeland," he said.
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Martinez, a first responder to the active shooter. “Today I learned the importance of proper communication. If something comes across the radio incorrectly, then we don’t know what we might miss.” After two security forces apprehended the culprit, they were made aware of an IED at midtown. They reported it up to the incident commander and then continued to provide assistance for other Sailors participating in the drill. “These kind of drills keep the community safe by performing our training at top notch, we’re ready to go when we really have to respond,” said Martinez Once security learned of an improvised explosive device at Midtown, they alerted Sailors assigned to the military working dogs (MWD) division of NAS Sigonella security. Soon, two more security forces and two MWDs arrived and began sweeping the area. After searching around Midtown, they found a backpack in a trash can with a simulated pipe bomb inside. The Sailors promptly called EODMU 8. Once the EOD squad located a safe point to secure the IED, they sent in an ordinance disposal robot to transport the IED from the Midtown area, where they would have remotely detonated the device from a safe distance in a real world situation. After the area was secure from the active shooter and the IED, the shelter in place was lifted and Sailors from U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella were able to respond to the simulated casualties and victims that occurred during the training scenarios. The integrated training team and those who participated as active members during the exercise then met in the chart room and discussed what went well and what didn’t during the drill and what improvements needed to be made. “There was a lot learned today working with the other agencies on base,” said John Ogletree, Assistant Chief of Training for NAS Sigonella Fire & Emergency Services. “There are a lot of things we can take back and review with our personnel and make us ready for any kind of response.” After the exercise secured, the integrated training team met at the emergency operations center (EOC) to conduct a hotwash and take feedback from each group involved in the drill. “There was a lot of hustling and good attitudes today,” added Ogletree. “That’s what you want to see. With a good attitude and hustle, we can get anything accomplished as a team, no matter the obstacles.”
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July 24, 2015
Ristorante Bella Etna The Signature has established the "That's NOT - What Right Looks Like" section in order to make the NAS Sigonella community aware of how the command is prosecuting improper behavior, along with the hope of deterring future bad decisions. In July, a local national contractor was cited for speeding in Marinai; Pizzarotti suspended driving privileges for 2 months. An E-6 had NEX shopping privileges and fuel coupon ration suspended for 12 months for knowingly violating the guest sponsorship policy and abuse of privileges. Three third country national citizens were indefinitely barred from the installation for wrongful access to the NEX and abuse of privileges. An E5 suspected of DUI had driving privileges revoked for 12 months. An E4 had NEX shopping privileges and fuel coupon ration suspended for 3months for knowingly violating the guest sponsorship policy and abuse of privileges.
All Hands News Bulletin
To request publication of your message, please send it to thesig@eu.navy.mil
Religious Ministries Department will conduct an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) class on July 28-29, beginning each morning 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the NAS 1 Chapel. This is a great opportunity to learn suicide prevention skills for yourself and your department. You can make a difference and help save lives. At the end of the class, you will receive a certificate upon successful completion. If you attend, you must block out your entire day's schedule for this training. For more information and registration, you may contact the Chapel at 6243975 or KatieLynn.Wilkins@eu.navy.mil. OPM Breach: The SECNAV website is live. Information can be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/OPMBreachDON/Pages/default.aspx Ristorante Bella Etna - Now accepting credit cards for your meals. There are no international transaction fees if you are using a U.S. based credit card. There may be a fee for those of you that use a foreign credit card. We always accept cash. RIK or meal card holders are always FREE. Civilian Human Resources (CHR) Vacancy Announcements: Vacancy announcements for L.N. and U.S. appropriated fund positions may be viewed/ downloaded from http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/ nas_sigonella/about/jobs.html.
NASSIG Worship Services ROMAN CATHOLIC • Sunday - 9 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel • TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY 11:30 a.m. - Catholic Mass at NAS 2 Chapel Sacraments of Reconciliation / Penance precede each Mass • FRIDAY - 11:30 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel LATTER-DAY SAINTS • SUNDAY - 1:30 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel Contact: sigonellalds@gmail.com or 624-9049 JEWISH SHABBAT LAY SERVICE • FRIDAY - 5:30 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel PROTESTANT - NAS 1 CHAPEL • Saturday - 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Worship
Services • SundaY - 11 a.m. Traditional Worship; 12 p.m. Sunday School PROTESTANT / Non-Denominational - NAS 2 Chapel • SundaY - 6 p.m. NIGHT STUDY • MONDAY - AA Meetings - 5:30 p.m., second deck at NAS 1 Chapel; Thursday - 7 p.m. at NAS 2 Chapel • Tuesday - Italian Class - 7 p.m. at Classroom at NAS 1 Chapel • Tuesday - Glee Club - 12 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel • Tuesday - Awana Club - 4:45 p.m at NAS 1 Chapel
Chapel Offices: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, DSN: 624-3975, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493 RP Duty: 335-786-1950 NAS Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel
DRIVE SAFELY SIGONELLA
BREAKFAST Mon-Fri 6:30-8 a.m. Weekend/Holiday 7 -9 a.m. LUNCH Mon-Fri 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Weekend/Holiday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. DINNER Mon-Fri 4:30 - 6 p.m. Weekend/Holiday 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Friday, July 24 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links Lunch: Chicken Fiesta, Salisbury Steak w/ Gravy Speed Line: Freshly Made Pizza Dinner: Baked Chicken Nuggets, Chef Melo’s Penne Alfredo Saturday, July 25 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef Hash Brunch: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef Hash, Roast Turkey Dinner: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Spicy Chicken Wings Sunday, July 26 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage, Oven Fried Bacon Brunch: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage, Oven Fried Bacon, Roast Beef Dinner: Veal Parmesan, Chicken and Rice Monday, July 27 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Minced Beef on Toast Lunch: Beef Cordon Blue, BBQ Chicken Speed Line: Freshly Made Pizza Dinner: Chicken Fried Steak, Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches Tuesday, July 28 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links, Grilled Sausage Patties Lunch: Simmered Corned Beef, shepherd's pie Speed Line: Chicken Fajitas with Mexican Rice and Refried Beans Dinner: Fishwich, Chef Vincenzo’s Home Made Lasagna Wednesday, July 29 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Creamed Ground Beef on Toast Lunch: Roast Turkey, Baked Creole Sea Scallops Speed Line: All American Grilled Burgers Dinner: Chef Russo’s Home Made Meatloaf, Baked Chili Mac Thursday, July 30 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef Hash Snack: Chicken Fiesta, Roast Beef Speed Line: Pasta Bar with Freshly Made Pasta Sauce Dinner: Roast Pork with Gravy, Baked chicken Nuggets Friday, July 31 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Lunch: Pork Chops w/ Mushroom Gravy, Baked Fish Speed Line: Freshly Made Pizza Dinner: Cantonese Spareribs, Baked Beef Ravioli Breakfast: $3.45
Lunch: $5.55
Dinner: $4.85
As a reminder to everyone: Reminder - there are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.
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NAVSUP FLC Sigonella celebrates 10 years of Fleet Logistics support
July 24, 2015
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GAME ZONE
SIGONELLA, Sicily -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Sigonella marks its 10-year anniversary of providing excellent logistic support to the fleet. NAVSUP FLC Sigonella is located at the geographical heart of the Mediterranean, and is ideally positioned to serve as the logistics hub for Europe and Africa. Since its establishment in 2005, NAVSUP FLC Sigonella's diverse team of military, civil service, and foreign national personnel has adapted to a dynamic environment to provide NAVSUP products and services to a broad spectrum of installation and fleet customers. Over the last decade, the command established a network of coordinated sites located throughout eight different countries that function under a single chain of command. In return, the breadth and depth of its engagement with critical installation, fleet and expeditionary customers expanded. During that time, the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) Military Unit Award was presented to the command twice and they have been operationally engaged in conducting numerous real-world operations and annual exercises. Today, the workforce consists of nearly 500 employees that work towards the same mission every day. That mission is to plan, coordinate, integrate, synchronize, and provide logistic support to U.S. Naval, Joint, and allied forces operating in peace, crisis, and wartime within the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility. As NAVSUP FLC Sigonella marks 10 years onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, the command is poised to deliver logistics requirements that meet and exceed the high standards that they are known for. NAVSUP FLC Sigonella will continue to support NATO's overall Ballistic Missile Defense System by providing logistic support to the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense system complex in Romania, the establishment of a second complex in Poland, and the continued support of Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Rota, Spain. To further support the AFRICOM mission through Africa Partnership Station, the command is expanding its workforce to directly engage with the Camp Lemonnier deployed unit. This will lead to increased involvement from NAVSUP FLC Sigonella with pre-deployment and exercise planning in Djibouti, Africa. This also permits the command to expand support to the following expeditionary units; Naval Special Warfare (NSW), Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF). Recently, NAS Sigonella was selected as a forward operating base for the Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). NAVSUP FLC Sigonella will support the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance program (AGS) by providing an array of NAVSUP products and services. Currently, the command supports the Global Hawk and Predator unmanned aerial vehicles by providing hazardous material management and fuel support. NAVSUP FLC Sigonella, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support, provides global logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and allied forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support. NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,500 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.
OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING
MEDIUM
By Shannon Haney NAVSUP FLC Sigonella Public Affairs
LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA
EASY
USN (ret.) Capt.Philip Valenti (left) was the first Commanding Officer to command NAVSUP FLCSI on his right, is NAVSUP FLCSI's current Commanding Officer, Capt. Chris Parker. (U.S. Navy photo by Shannon Haney)
ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY
DIFFICULT
USA States
Find and circle all of the USA States that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message - an Adlai Stevenson quotation. Note: VIRGINIA and WEST VIRGINIA do not overlap. The same goes for KANSAS and ARKANSAS
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Doc, do I have a drinking problem? By LCDR Larkin Magel Clinical Psychologist US Naval Hospital, Sigonella
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Facing the possibility of an alcohol problem can stir up shame, guilt, disbelief, and denial. The first time you might think you have a problem, could be when you get in trouble at work (i.e., show up late because of a hangover) or when loved ones complain about your drinking, or when you encounter your first legal consequence (i.e., DUI). My hope for you is that you do not wait until you get in trouble to seek help. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has a list of questions for you to consider. You can find this list and full resources for AA at aa.org. If you answer yes to four or more of the questions below, please reach out for help. 1. Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days? 2. Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking-- stop telling you what to do? 3. Have you ever switched from one kind of drink to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting drunk? 4. Have you had to have an eye-opener upon awakening during the past year? Do you need a drink to get started, or to stop shaking? 5. Do you envy people who can drink without getting into trouble? 6. Have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year? 7. Has your drinking caused trouble at home? 8. Do you ever try to get "extra" drinks at a party because you do not get enough? 9. Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want to, even though you keep getting drunk when you don't mean to? 10. Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking? 11. Do you have "blackouts"? 12. Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink? What can you do if you would like help? If you are an active duty member, contact your Command DAPA right away for assistance. They will conduct an administrative screening and get you connected with the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) for further assessment and assistance. If you are a civilian or dependent family member, you can contact SARP directly here in Sigonella at 624-6092. If you are unsure where to start, please start somewhere and ask for help through your other local resources: Chaplain Services: 624-3975; Internal Behavioral Health Consultant (CDR Goldberg) 624-2273; and Fleet and Family Support Center 624-4291, or the Mental Health Clinic 624-6095.
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"SAINT VENERA" continued from Page 6 academy in Sicily, the "Accademia dei Dafnici e degli Zelanti", is located here. According to tradition, the city's origins trace back to Xiphonia, a mysterious Greek city now completely disappeared. In Roman times, there existed another Greek town, Akis, which was involved in the Punic Wars. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, there is a great love between Acis, the spirit of the Acis River, and Galatea the sea-nymph. According to mythology, the tears of Galatea after the death of Acis gave birth to the Acis River, Fiume di Jaci, flowing past Acireale (the ancient Akis or Acium). In the Middle Ages, the town expanded around the castle (now part of Aci Castello), known as Jachium under the Byzantines, as Al-Yāj under the Arabs, and, later, as “Aquilia.” In 1169, a huge earthquake scattered the population of the mainland, divided between the numerous boroughs of Aci. Another Aquilia was founded in the late 14th century further north, creating the nucleus of the modern city. The only remains of the medieval Aquilia Nova ("New Aquilia") is the Gothic-Lombard-styled portal of the cathedral. In the 16th century, Emperor Charles V freed the city from feudal ties, creating it as a Crown commune. In the late 16th century, the town had between 6,000 and 7,000 inhabitants. The most ancient document mentioning the Carnival of Acireale dates to 1594. The town expanded its role as a trade center (it was granted the right to hold a Free Market or Fiera Franca) and received numerous new edifices. Acireale was badly affected, almost destroyed, by an earthquake in 1693, which substantially halted its economic growth. During the Expedition of the Thousand (1861), which freed Sicily from the Kingdom of Naples, Acireale was the first town to rebel against the Bourbons. In 1941, it was bombed by the Allies, resulting in many civilian casualties. Acireale offers many leisure activities, which includes art, festivals and concerts, nature, open-air markets, theater, and thermal baths. The church of San Biagio in Acireale contains some of the relics of the Venerable Gabriele Allegra, who had entered the Franciscan seminary in 1918. Villa Belvedere and Parco delle Terme, two large public parks and "La Timpa", a beautiful natural reserve overlooking the Ionian Sea, offer great nature sights. Piazza Duomo, with its St. Peter's Basilica, is in the main square of the city. As reported by Italythisway.com, the center of Acireale is the Piazza del Duomo, onto which some of the most important buildings of the city face, among which the Cathedral, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the Municipal Palace, and the “Modò” Palace. Acireale Cathedral is dedicated to "Maria Santissima Annunziata", but is consecrated to the cult of "Santa Venera," the patron saint of the town. The original church dates from the 15th century but it was renovated in subsequent centuries. Inside are works by Pietro Paolo Vasta (1697-1760) , Antonio Filocamo (1669-1743), Giuseppe Sciuti (1834-1911), Francesco Patanè (1902-1980), Vito D'Anna (1718-1769) and Giacinto Platania (1612-1691). The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul was built in the mid-16th century and rebuilt in the first decade of the 17th century. It has a typically Baroque style, the interior has a single nave, decorated with paintings by Pietro Paolo Vasta and Giacinto Platania, two of the most famous painters of Acireale. There are many beautiful historic Baroque buildings in town, such as Palazzo Pennisi and Palazzo Modò, which date from the 17th century, and Palazzo Musmeci dating from the 18th century. The commercial city center is primarily located in the streets around Corso Umberto and Corso Italia, which are the city's principal thoroughfares. Acireale boasts a tradition of spectacular floats during the carnival season which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. As reported by Italythisway.com, the center of Acireale is the Piazza del Duomo, onto which some of the most important buildings of the city face, among which the Cathedral, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the Municipal Palace, and the “Modò” Palace. Acireale Cathedral is dedicated to "Maria Santissima Annunziata", but is consecrated to the cult of "Santa Venera," the patron saint of the town. The original church dates from the 15th century but it was renovated in subsequent centuries. Inside are works by Pietro Paolo Vasta (1697-1760) , Antonio Filocamo (1669-1743), Giuseppe Sciuti (1834-1911), Francesco Patanè (1902-1980), Vito D'Anna (1718-1769) and Giacinto Platania (1612-1691). The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul was built in the mid-16th century and rebuilt in the first decade of the 17th century. It has a typically Baroque style; the interior has a single nave, decorated with paintings by Pietro Paolo Vasta and Giacinto Platania, two of the most famous painters of Acireale. Before you leave Acireale, don’t forget to sample the granita, the popular ice dessert which is one of the town’s food specialties. For more information and detailed festival schedule visit, http://www.comune. acireale.ct.it
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The meaning and course of your life By Fleet & Family Support Center Sigonella Adapted from index of Life Skills Articles
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - How would you like to live your life? Would you like to feel energetic and lively when you are 90 years old? Would you like to feel that you have accomplished something? Would you like to have your loved ones by your side every day when you are 90? Recognize that your present activities directly impact your future. Well, it is now and today that you have to start planning and taking action for the future. Everything you do today will translate into what type of life you live, how you feel, how you feel about yourself, what you will be doing, how you will be enjoying your life, and a plethora of other ramifications in the future. This future does not even need to be the distant future as implied above. It can also be what type of lifestyle you will be living a couple of years later. In other words, every present action will affect your future. Working towards goals in a variety of activities in various areas such as health, relationships, career, and personal growth will hopefully ensure a more balanced lifestyle. Just be aware that if you spend time cultivating any area, you will reap the rewards of that area proportional (perhaps not directly proportional though) to the amount of time you spend. For example, if you enjoy watching TV after work and find it extremely relaxing, then you are basically engaging in improved health (and perhaps learning about what you are watching). Other areas may
suffer, but that is your choice. Don't force situations. It is not easy to decide what path your life will follow. In fact, it often is not possible to decide yourself, as many times circumstances dictate it. You may really want to stay home to look after the kids, but financial situations may prevent you from doing that. Be creative in molding your life. At the same time, though, it is actually often possible to turn your wishes into reality. For example, if you really wanted to stay home to look after the kids, maybe it would just mean eating out less and cooking at home more, which would mean that you would probably eat healthier anyways. Or, perhaps you could work part-time or work an earlier shift? If you really would like a certain outcome, try to think of possible ways to make them a reality. Do decide on your course. One thing you must do, however, is to decide on your course even though external circumstances may prevent you from realizing your immediate dreams. You have to decide on the type of life that you envision to lead. Don't just go through life wandering here and there just for the pleasure of it (unless that is what you have decided your purpose to be). You must actively decide what will be your path in life. Everyone makes different decisions, which is fine, but you nonetheless have to decide for yourself what path to take. One of the goals of this website is to make your path less rockier with respect to many different areas of life. Use your values to decide. How do you decide, though, what type of life to lead? This comes to the core of your inner self. Your values are what determines what you deem to be important in life. If you enjoy singing because you like the natural sound of the voice, and think that singing enhances your life as well as that of others, perhaps you should join a weekly choir. If you decide to become a professional singer, then you will need to make more sacrifices, but at least you will have made that decision based on your values in life. Perhaps you believe in serving the public as a professional singer. That is your choice. Everyone must decide. There is no right or wrong, but it should come from within your deepest values. Follow the path of those you admire. Don't be afraid to emulate and improve upon the lives of those whom you admire. Look at some of the lives of similar people who have walked your
path. Look at the lives of people in history that you admire, or those in your family, or your friends. Engage in activities of which you will feel proud. As for leading a life that is meaningful, everyone's definition of "meaningful" varies. For you, it may be nothing more than sitting on a beach on a Saturday afternoon and enjoying the beautiful scenery. In general, though, leading a meaningful life should essentially be doing something that you would feel proud of later on. For example, several years later, you may feel proud that you put together a family album of past photos, organized by year. Or, you may feel proud that the chickens you barbeque almost always end up sweet and tasty. You may have more noble ambitions, and those are fine too. Whatever you decide, those activities should make you proud. The path individuals take to form meaningful and productive lives will be unique for all of us. It is never easy to decide on what course to take. Be assured, though, that if you are willing to invest time in personal growth, to listen to shrewd advice from others, and to have a caring heart, you will be able to steer yourself along a path that others may, in turn, want to emulate. In summary, to lead a meaningful life, A. Recognize your present activities directly impact your future. B. Don't force situations. C. Be creative in molding your life. D. Do decide on your course. E. Use your values to decide. F. Follow the path of those you admire. G. Engage in activities of which you will feel proud. The Fleet and Family Support Center offers a wide variety of support services. To learn more about our classes, workshops and counseling services, contact the Fleet and Family Support Center at DSN: 624-4291, Commercial: 095-564291. 2015, Index of Life Skills Articles -http:// lifeskills.endlex.com/menu/articleindex.html, Retrieved from http://lifeskills.endlex.com/article/ meaning_and_course_of_your_life.html/
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