Panorama, December 9, 2016

Page 1

61st year, No. 46

Serving the NATO, Naples and Gaeta Military Community in Italy

Friday, December 9, 2016

The 2016 Holiday Village Tree Lighting By Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Barker NSA Public Affairs

This year’s holiday season kicked off on Support Site with Navy Community Recreation’s Holiday Village Tree Lighting event the evening of December 2. Artificial snow fell as hundreds of eager onlookers started a countdown to 6 p.m. in anticipation of the tree lighting. When the festive holiday lights came to life, cheers and applause filled the Village Forum Courtyard as the holiday season was officially started. The event was free and open to all U.S. and NATO ID card holders, as well as local national employees with access cards and their immediate family members. “This year’s event was really special for the children,” Petty Officer 1st Class Nelida Mack said. “They especially enjoyed the laser countdown and snow machine, it was just a very festive atmosphere for everyone.” There were many activities including a 3K Ugly Sweater Run, a Holiday Market, a Holiday Greeting Card Contest, performances from the Naples Middle High School, Naples Elementary School and the Chapel Catholic Children’s Choir. Armed Forces Network Naples broadcasted from location, the Navy Rock Band provided live holiday music, there were food vendors, and of course a special visit by Santa Claus was one of the highlights of the evening.

Naples is now aglow with holiday illuminations welcoming locals and visitors alike to its alleys, streets and squares, and especially to Rotonda Diaz as host to Naples’ massive Christmas tree also known as N’Albero. As tradition goes, the explosion of Nativity tableaux in the quaint Naples historic center has been, for ages, the major attraction to the city this time of year. Also bringing Christ-

WORD SEARCH / COLOR ME 14

ASH CARTER

Speaking of aromas, check out the mid-December culinary fest focused on Neapolitan cuisine to share with your holiday guests. And finally, for a truly memorable treat in our super musical season, experience the scheduled romantic opera or the magical, holiday-themed ballet in town.

“Presepio” art before heading towards Piazza Plebiscito to enjoy the brilliance of the San Francesco di Paola Colonnade. Additionally, the Chiaia and Vomero shopping areas undoubtedly draw more shoppers this season for their lavishly illuminated streets.

Festive Illuminations Naples Be mesmerized at the exhibition of bright lights and colors at the Naples historic center renowned for the 18th century

Sorrento Fascinating holiday lights further enliven this jewel city with great shopping, dining and relaxing activities. CHRISTMAS MAGIC

Page 11

CAPTAIN’S CORNER. . . . . . . . . 2 BASE NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 NAVY HISTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 FFSC CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SOUND OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 MOVIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 JOBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

THE FORCE IS BACK . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9

WHY IS IT COLDER OUTSIDE? . . . . . . . . . page 14

By Ash Carter Secretary of Defense

USO TOURS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Christmas Magic in and Around Naples mas cheer in the air have been holiday markets with rustic stalls filled with local arts and crafts. Remarkably this year, Christmas villages, fairs and markets have mushroomed in many districts of the city with some being held with Northern European/Tyrolean style chalets as venues. As expected, they are packed with enticing Yuletide symbols, handicrafts, toys, dolls, sweet treats and aromas inevitably kindling the holiday spirit and shopping fever.

Combat Integration: The First Year of Firsts One year ago, I announced that the Department of Defense would be opening all combat positions to women. As I have said repeatedly over my time as Secretary, our military is strongest when we draw from a pool of all eligible women and men who possess the skills and talents necessary to meet our standards. The defense of our nation depends upon all of our people, especially the men and women who have performed so valiantly in combat over the last 15 years. The discipline and commitment that have marked our military Services’ leadership of this change has been the keystone of our success. I’m pleased to announce that each of the military Services and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) are on track with implementation efforts and seeing positive results and lessons that will make our force stronger. In this first year of implementation we have witnessed many “firsts” making the policy change a reality. The Army has seen the fruits of thoughtful implementation as our first 10 women graduated from the Army’s elite Ranger school. We’ve seen the Army’s first female enlisted infantry soldiers, and this week 13 women graduated from Army’s first integrated Armor Basic Officer Course. Navy selected the first 38 enlisted female sailors to serve aboard a submarine, USS Michigan, in June 2015.

Left: Snow and lights fill the air as hundreds of onlookers participate in the Holiday Village Tree Lighting event in the Village Forum Courtyard on Naval Support Activity Naples Support Site December 2. Photo by PO1 Daniel Barker

By Lou Freed

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter

Page 7


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.