St. Maarten/St. Martin Council Celebrates First Decade

By PETER ATKINSON, Deputy Editor

Scholarships, New Members Mark 10th Anniversary

The St. Maarten/St. Martin Council celebrated its 10th anniversary with a series of events over Mother’s Day weekend that included a scholarship awards ceremony, a gala dinner and the official welcome for a group of new members.

On May 6, the council received a visit and briefing from Navy League National Executive Director Stephen R. Pietropaoli, according to Caribbean/Mexico Region President Dr. Jack Stevens. Pietropaoli was welcomed to the island by Lt. Gov. Franklyn Richards and both saluted the council for its work on behalf of the St. Maarten/St. Martin community and the sea services of the United States, Netherlands, France and other friendly nations, Stevens said.

On May 7, the council hosted a gala dinner at the Divi Resort that was attended by representatives from the American Embassy in Barbados and the American Consulate in Curacao. Vice-Consul Jean Akers from Curacao attended with her mother, Barbara. American Vice-Consul Donald Carroll from Barbados and his wife, Georgina, made their first visit to St. Maarten/St. Martin for the event.

The celebration culminated with the welcoming of seven new Navy League members and the awarding of the first Navy League Scholarships to three young St. Maarten women. The awards were made possible by the inspired leadership and contributions of Council Treasurer Susan Heller and Navy League Board Member Asha Stevens, and by the significant work and contributions of Council President Art Nutcher and Board Members Carl Cooner, Barbara Fields, Carl Hart, Fred Philips and Emelda Riley.

The three scholarship winners are:

Jenny Lorena Frederik, an honor student at Milton Peters College, who was scheduled to graduate in June. Frederik said she plans to become a social worker and return to St. Maarten to help children and families there.

Sherina G. Hathiramani received her Associate of Arts in Business degree and graduated with honors from the University of St. Martin May 21. She has been accepted in the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program offered by Mount Saint Vincent University in association with the University of St. Martin. Hathiramani will begin those studies in the fall.

Gisella S. Hilliman currently is following a course of study leading to the Associate of Arts in General Liberal Arts degree. During the scholarship ceremony, Hilliman took time from dinner to sing an impromptu rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”

Police Chief Commissioner Derrick Holiday and wife also came out to welcome the Navy League guests from off-island and congratulate the council on its anniversary. Holiday said he appreciated the positive work the council was doing for the island and that he was looking forward to more cooperative work in the future between the Navy League and other organizations on the island, Stevens said.

Fitzgerald Presents Sarasota-Manatee NJROTC Honors

Navy Vice Adm. Marc Fitzgerald, commander, Second Fleet, and commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic, was on hand at the Sarasota-Manatee, Fla., Council’s monthly dinner meeting April 27, where he served both as guest speaker and award presenter.

Following his brief remarks to about 75 council members at Bird Key Yacht Club, Fitzgerald presented the council’s annual $1,000 scholarship to Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Blake. She will be attending Boston University next year, according to council First Vice President Alois J. Burda.

Fitzgerald also presented the Teddy Roosevelt Youth Medallion to NJROTC Ensign Katie Hill. Both cadets are in the NJROTC program at North Port High School in Sarasota County.

Oak Harbor Council Hears How Iraq Donations Helped

Members of the Oak Harbor, Wash., Council who donated supplies to help wounded U.S. military personnel and Iraqi citizens had the opportunity to hear how they had helped.

The donation drive, dubbed “Whidbey Wings to Iraq,” was inspired by Capt. Bill Griffin, who was in charge of Navy personnel in Iraq as the commander of the Maritime Component Coordination Element in Baghdad. The council spearheaded the drive in the local community on Griffin’s behalf and netted more than 1,700 pounds of supplies, according to Lee Youngblood, the council’s publicity vice president.

An Oak Harbor Navy League contingent that included National Director Beth Munns and President Joseph Mosolino was invited to an April 1 All Officers Meeting at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island during which Griffin recounted the Iraq deployment and the results of the donation drive.

Griffin, who spent six months in Iraq, spoke of the challenges of logistics, administration, leadership, transportation and simple survival of a Navy team spread across a wide area of a hostile country, according to Youngblood. The more than 250 Navy personnel were assigned to perform a wide variety of missions in Iraq.

Griffin’s time in Iraq encompassed the Iraqi parliamentary elections, and he told how inspired he was by the courage of Iraqis such as his translator who braved a terrorist attack to earn the purple finger that was the mark of the Iraqi voter. The presentation was highlighted by photos Griffin took during the deployment, including some of Iraqis receiving supplies donated by the Whidbey Island community.

Broward County Council, Miami Reserve Center Form Partnership

The Broward County, Fla., Council and the Miami U.S. Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center signed a partnership agreement April 14 at the council’s monthly dinner meeting in an effort to provide further support to local reservists and their families.

Executing the document were council President Joseph Giambrone; Cmdr. John A. McGuire, commanding officer of the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center; and Marine Gunnery Sgt. Syril Melvin, who represented Maj. Scott J. Mack, inspector/instructor, Antitank (Tow) Company, 8th Tank Battalion, Marine Corps Reserves.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Navy Lt. Roy Ferreira, executive officer at the center; Navy Reserve Full Time Support Chief Yeoman Janette R. Chandler, command chief at the center; Lt. j.g. Carlos Crespo, executive officer at Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale; and Tim Easter, director of fleet operations Navy Region Southeast. The Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center’s Color Guard presented the colors at the meeting.

The agreement calls for the council to provide information to the center regarding all Navy League-sponsored activities in the community. Reservists also will be provided an opportunity to become members of the council, and the commanding officer or their designee will have the opportunity to serve on the council’s Board of Directors in a non-voting capacity.

In addition, the council will recognize the center’s “Active Duty Sailor/Marine of the Year” and the selected “Reservist Sailor/Marine of the Year” for outstanding dedication to duty and performance.

“Our council is very pleased to partner with the reservists and hopes to develop a long relationship with them,” Giambrone said.

Stethem Visit Highlights Navy Days L.A.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem was in port in Los Angeles in mid-April for the Pacific Southwest Region Navy League’s “Navy Days L.A. 2005.” The vessel docked in the Port of Los Angeles from April 14-18, during which it hosted rides, tours and receptions, and its crew was able to enjoy some of the area’s many attractions.

In honor of its visit, Stethem commanding officer Cmdr. Charles F. Williams was presented with a plaque by Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn at pierside after the ship arrived in port. The ship also was honored at a special presentation at Los Angeles City Hall Council Chambers.

Nearly 400 Navy Leaguers, Sea Cadets, Boy Scouts, local business people and others were able to take advantage of two ship ride opportunities aboard the Stethem, according to National Director Grant W. Ivey. About 300 Boy Scouts, Sea Cadets, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts were among the nearly 2,000 people who took part in ship tours while the Stethem was berthed. A tour and party aboard the ship also was held for some 70 city government officials, business executives, port commissioners and Navy Leaguers April 17.

While the Stethem was in town, crewmembers were able to take trips to Catalina Island, Universal City, the Reagan Library and attend a L.A. Dodgers game against the San Diego Padres that included a complimentary Dodger Dog. The Stethem provided the color guard for opening ceremonies at the game.

All of the sailors also received a coffee cup mug with the Navy League’s logo, the crest of their ship and “Navy Days – LA 2005” imprinted on it.

Short Bursts

The Mayport, Fla., Council’s annual Coast Guard Night in April ended up providing an opportunity to pat itself on the back. Along with welcoming Coast Guard Rear Adm. R. Dennis Sirois, assistant commandant for operations, and presenting its Coast Guardsman of the year award, the council celebrated its selection as a Navy League “Outstanding Council” during the April 21 event at the Ocean Breeze, Naval Station Mayport. Sirois served as guest speaker during Coast Guard Night. The Coast Guardsman of the Year award was presented to PO Ryan Smith.

The Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Council helped welcome the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge to the city for a port visit April 7-13. Navy League members were flown out to the ship as Kearsarge approached Palma, giving the ship and community leadership an opportunity to meet before the ship arrived pierside.

During the visit, Kearsarge hosted a reception in the hangar bay for Navy League members and local dignitaries, while the Navy League coordinated a reception hosted by Palma’s assistant mayor at City Hall. Kearsarge also hosted tours for local Navy League members, as well as other key officials.

More than 60 sailors and Marines participated in two separate community relations projects for Project Home, a drug rehabilitation center, before the ship left to continue its deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

“These visits and events went a long way in strengthening partnerships between the Navy and the Palma community,” said Capt. Luke Parent, Kearsarge’s commanding officer.

Send items for “Council Digest” to:
Peter Atkinson, Deputy Editor
Seapower/Navy League News
2300 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201-3308
E-mail: patkinson@navyleague.org