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NAVFAC Southeast breaks groundByMC1(AW)MelissaRobertson-LeakeStaffWriter

The new Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast Engineering Operations Center ground-

breaking ceremony took place May 30 at NAS Jacksonville.

The ceremony celebrated the command’s first anniversary after reorganizing and align-ing with Commander Navy Region Southeast, which combined its Charleston, S.C. and Jacksonville offices June 2, 2006. The realigning of the two offices last year was part of the Base Realignment and Closure.

The ceremony began with a few words from NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Chip Dobson. “There’s a tremendous amount of great things going on at NAS Jax that speak very well for the future of this installation and the people who work here. The new

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www.jaxairnews.comTHURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2007

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TOUCHING

BASETuskegee Airmen wanted for special eventRep. Cliff Sterns (R-Fla.) is holding a special event this

summer to honor the Tuskegee Airmen living in the Sixth Congressional District.

Those who did not attend the recent event in Washington,

D.C. will receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

If you can help track down a member of the Tuskegee

Airmen by June 22, please contact John Konkus at 352-

351-8777 or 1-800-888-7743.

ByKayleeLaRocqueEditor

Amemorial service was held May 31 to remember five HS-7 “Dusty Dog” aircrew-

men who lost their lives in a heli-copter crash May 7 in Nevada. Family members, friends and co-workers came out to pay trib-ute to HS-7 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Michael Sheahan, Lt. Richard Andersen Jr., AW1(NAC/AW) Wil l iam Weatherford, AW2(NAC/AW) Jared Rossetto and AW2(NAC) Andrew Bibbo during the two-hour service.

As the NAS Jax Honor Support Team marched solemnly past aisle after aisle to present the colors, guests proudly stood at attention as Navy Band Southeast present-ed the national anthem. After a short scripture reading and prayer by Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Maurice Buford, ATAN Kara Bates sang “Amazing Grace.”

First to take the podium to offer some heartfelt words of encour-agement to those in attendance was Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing U.S. Atlantic Fleet Capt. John Smith.

“These shipmates knew the associated risk, yet they contin-ued to train so when the time came they were ready for the call. They trained hard and they trained well. They were manned, trained, fully equipped and they were professional in what they did. The Dusty Dogs do an out-standing job and this crew is a testament to that,” said Smith. “To the families, shipmates and friends of these five Dusty Dogs, we offer no trite expression, rath-

er we stand with you in sincere sympathy. Our hope is that your memories of these loved ones and colleagues are proud ones. President Ronald Reagan said once, ‘America holds a special place for those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.’ These individuals did that. He also said, ‘We must honor them and respect them not just when they are in battle, but everyday they were their proud uniform.’” “Unfortunately, I do not have the words to help you move on from your tragedy. I would ask that you continue to

help each other, support each other and rely on each other. Time will help some, but the pain will remain. With God’s grace, we will find the strength to go on,” continued Smith.

Next to give his remarks was HS-7 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Mark Huber, who recognized each of his five squadron mem-bers. “We’ve gathered here today to acknowledge the commitment, sacrifice and lasting legacy of the five crewmembers of Dusty Dog 612. Those of us who knew these five men, those of us who had the honor to serve with them would

do well to remember what each of them has taught us. By reflecting on their qualities, we learn from them. By learning from them, they endure in us throughout our lives as our teachers,” stated Huber.

“I met Cmdr. Michael Sheahan for the first time when he checked into HS-7 as the executive officer in September 2005. Although I had not known him before, I was familiar with his reputation. He was widely known for his intel-ligence and for being outspoken,” said Huber. “He earned his call sign ‘Flush’ because early men-tors feared his personality and

willingness to speak his mind would ruin his career. I soon dis-covered his outspoken nature was simply a larger manifestation of his uniquely cheerful enthusiasm and confidence which made him a compelling and charismatic lead-er.”

“I ’ ll always remember Lt. Richard Andersen for his humility and dedication. He was one of the hardest working officers in the squadron. It was commonplace for me to discover at the end of the day that Lt. Andersen was the last man working. As legal officer, he took it upon himself to be an advocate for troubled Sailors. He routinely vested off duty hours to minister to the needs of HS-7 who were on restriction or in the brig,” continued Huber.

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PhotobyMC2(SW/AW)RebeccaKruckCommander,NavyRegionSoutheastRearAdm.MarkBoenselawardsLt.BryanHagerfromVP-30,withatopprizeofseasonticketstotheJacksonvilleJaguarshomegamesduringaspecialclosingceremonyMay29intheVP-30auditorium.VP-30isthecom-mandthatmostexceededitsoriginalcollectiongoalof$24,200andactuallybroughtinmorethan$76,000.Boensellaterselected10randomcommandswhowereamong38thatalsoexceededtheiroriginalgoalsduringthefunddrivethatraisedmorethan$315,000forNavy/MarineCorpsReliefSocietythisyear.

NMCRS fund drive wraps up

PhotobyMC1(AW)MelissaRobertson-Leake(From left) LindaDeleo, SteveHalverson andDenise RamseywithTheHaskell Company,RustyDahmsofPublicWorksDepartment Jacksonville,NASJaxCommandingOfficerCapt.ChipDobson,Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast CommandingOfficerCapt.MichaelBlount,PublicWorksDepartment Jacksonville’sPublicWorksOfficerLt.Cmdr.ChuckLewis,FredVarnofNAVFACSoutheastCharlesonOfficeandRalphKaneshiroofNAVFACSoutheastJaxOfficebreakground,commencingconstructionofthenewNAVFACSoutheastHeadquartersbuildingatNASJaxMay30.

OfficialNavyrendering

‘Dusty Dogs’ pay respects to fallen

PhotobyKayleeLaRocqueAmemorial ceremonywasheldMay31 to rememberHS-7CommandingOfficerCmdr.Michael Sheahan, Lt.RichardAndersenJr.,AW1WilliamWeatherford,AW2JaredRossettoandAW2AndrewBibbo.TheaircrewdiedMay7inahelicoptercrashinNevada.

PhotobyMC2BrianSmarrNavy Band Southeast buglerMU1TrevorSpaulding,playstapstohonorthefivefallenshipmatesofHS-7.