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| www.sbnl.org | December, 2011 / Issue 4 |
Season's Greetings From the SBNL! |
Letter of Appreciation from 3/5 Dark Horse Command
CAPT Stefan S. Moss, USMC , commanding officer of the 3/5 Dark Horse Battalion offers this letter of Appreciation to the citizens of Santa Barbara:
I would like to personally thank the Santa Barbara Navy League for their generosity and warm hospitality shown to the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. The experience was truly magnificent. The Channel Cat Cruise ride was such a great time, and the ability to sit down and talk with the members of the Navy League was terrific. The Marines had a phenomenal time as well in the softball contest with the Santa Barbara Fire and Police Departments. Not only was it great fun to be competitive with other groups serving the nation, but it had such a deeper meaning in that it was the weekend of September 11th. The Gala was another event that truly showed the incredible generosity of the Santa Barbara Navy League.
The Carriage Museum was a really unique and special occasion. The food was absolutely delicious, the entertainment was terrific, and the desire for the Navy League to hear deployment stories from one of our Marines, 1stLt Patterson, was amazing. The Yacht rides were another great experience. I myself have never been on a yacht and I'm quite sure that the majority of Marines haven't been on one before either; so this experience was fantastic. It was so generous of the skippers to allow us onboard and I really enjoyed learning about sailing.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you the Navy League, as well as, the entire City of Santa Barbara. The community was so kind and supportive to the Marines and Sailors from 3/5. The fact that we would enter and restaurant or bar and the locals would come and talk to us and thank us for our service was so meaningful. Lastly, it was an incredible honor to be present and speak at the September 11th Remembrance Ceremony at the Sunken Gardens. It gave the Marines a chance to remember the heroic acts and sacrifice of the police and firefighters on that fateful day, and the sacrifice of all the men and women of the armed forces and their families. I will always be grateful to the Santa Barbara Navy League and the City of Santa Barbara
Semper Fidelis, Captain Stefan F. Moss
Another Successful Year: The Santa Barbara Navy League in Review: 2011
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SBNL board members enjoy the Welcome Home Weekend Channel Cat cruise with members of USMC 3/5 Dark Horse Battalion |
Santa Barbara – The Santa Barbara Navy League (The League) has a variety of programs that support our 15 adopted military units. Recently, the League hosted a Welcome Home Weekend for our newest adopted unit, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (Dark Horse 3/5) from Camp Pendleton, California. The League had numerous events planned at a variety of venues throughout Santa Barbara. The four day weekend for Dark Horse 3/5 on the 10th anniversary of 911 started off with a cruise on the Santa Barbara Channel Catamaran, and moved on to a tour of the Ronald Reagan Ranch, a Welcome Home Weekend Gala at the Coral Casino in Montecito and a barbecue at the Carriage Museum with Congresswoman Lois Capps as a guest speaker.
The Welcome Home Weekend ended with Dark Horse 3/5 as invited guests on boats during the Santa Barbara Yacht Club’s Annual Charity Regatta. Dark Horse 3/5 was graciously appreciative of the League’s hospitality and as one young corporal so nicely stated, “this is best thing the United States Marine Corps has ever done for me!”.
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Color Guard members from the AIRPAC Squadron Sea Cadets with the Keynote Speaker for the Welcome Home Weekend Gala |
Several SBNL board members attended the fly-in of VAW 113 from the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in September at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. The League sponsored food and gift bags for returning service members and their families at this event. League members greeted returning pilots, their families and personally welcomed home the CO of VAW 113, Cdr. James Elias, USN along with Pam Ortiz, the spouse of CAPT Hamlin Ortiz-Marty, USN, Carrier Air Group Commander, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
The League has partnered with the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce to honor and begin a fund raising drive for the family of Navy Seal Louis Langlais who was killed a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in August 2011.
The League has also recently adopted USS CALIFORNIA (SSN 781), the Navy’s newest, Virginia class, nuclear-powered submarine. Several of the League’s Board members attended the commissioning on October 29, 2011 in Norfolk, Virginia. The League plans on flying a culinary specialist from USS CALIFORNIA (SSN 781) out to Ventura in February 2012 to receive culinary training on California cuisine with Chef Luiz at the Crowne Plaza.
USS MILIUS (DDG 69) made a port call to Santa Barbara, November 10-15, 2011 and was treated to a variety of events sponsored by the League.
The League partnered with the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans’ Museum and Library for the 16th Annual Military Ball in November. This year’s special guests were the commanding officer, Cdr. Nicholie Bufkin, USN and representatives her crew from USS MILIUS.Community outreach projects sponsored by the League continue with our “Support the Troops” postcard campaign, participation in local events such as the Seabee Museum ribbon cutting ceremony, Fiesta Parade, Santa Barbara Harbor Seafood Festival and integration of our AIRPAC Squadron Naval Sea Cadets in all League sponsored programs.
--Patricia Westberg, SBNL Public Affairs Officer
SBNL Life Member Bob Beyers Jr. Receives Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award
Simply stated, the Santa Barbara Navy League’s mission is to support the men and women serving our nation in the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Army and Air Force, their families and youth programs which support building strong character development, integrity, work ethic and patriotism, as well as to educate our community civilian population of the issues facing these heroes. Our readers are familiar with our adopted youth units: Naval Sea Cadet Corps AIRPAC SQUADRON and University of California Army ROTC, SURFRIDERS. SBNL has a history of working with Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, and the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara. One of SBNL’s Life members and gracious supporters, Bob Byers Jr., recently was selected by Western Los Angeles County Council, Boy Scouts of America to receive the 2011 Distinguished Citizen Award and by SBNL to receive the Navy League Certificate of Achievement.
The Boy Scouts’ The Distinguished Citizen Award was presented to the citizen in the community that demonstrates leadership above and beyond the call of duty. Those citizens that help other people at all times; are active and outstanding citizens in their community, state, country and to scouting; and are devoted to their family. The Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award was first presented to President Theodore Roosevelt by the Suffolk County Council in Long Island, New York.
President Theodore Roosevelt and his small group of friends founded the Navy League of the United States. Boy Scouts of America and Navy League were both founded more than 100 years ago and have similar appreciation for outstanding community leadership . No wonder there is a synergy of purpose and mission between our two organizations.
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Karen Crawford, National Vice President NLUS, Public Affairs and Education, and CEO SBNL presents the Navy League Certificate of Appreciation to Bob Byers Jr. |
-- Karen Crawford, National Vice President NLUS
SBNL
P.O. Box 4007
Santa Barbara, CA 93140-4007
The SBNL is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Charitable contributions are tax deductible. Federal Tax ID: 77-0553915
To join the NLUS Santa Barbara Council or to learn more about unique ways you can help: Call 805.879.1775.
Visit www.SBNL.org or e-mail SBNLdevelopment@gmail.com
Presidents' Advisory Committee
Karen Crawford - Lin Graf
Honorary Board
John Barletta - Sr. Christine Bowman - Fred Brander - CDR Alan Brown, MD - Earnest Cowell - George Krebs - Connie Los - Stan Los - John McGowan - Kathleen Yabsley
SBNL Officers
President: Kevin McTague
First Vice President: Brenda Blalock
Second Vice President: Lynn Behrens
Third Vice President: Rick Reeves
Judge Advocate: Kevin McTague
Secretary: Robert Duncan
Treasurer: Steve Hicks
Executive Committee: Grant Ivey
Executive Committee: Jerry Lomonaco
Chief Executive Officer: Karen Crawford
SBNL Directors
Brady M. Bustany - Ed Carr - Col. Phil Conran (USAF, Ret.) -
Jeff Cotter - Doug Crawford - Philip Hons - CDR Charles "Crash" Huff USN (Ret.) - Grant Ivey - Jerry Lomonaco - Debbie Neer - Susie Pridmore
- Sarah Reeves - LCDR Thomas Watson (USN, Ret.) - Patricia A. Westberg
Strike Team
Leslie Lund - Sarah Reeves
Interim Executive Director
Alexis Baker - 805.879.1775
SBNLDevelopment@gmail.com
The Bridge
The Bridge is a publication of the United States Navy League, Santa Barbara Council
Editor: Rick Reeves
Public Affairs Officer: Patricia Westberg
Questions? Comments? Story Ideas?
Please email us at Newsletter@sbnl.org
The 3/5 Dark Horse Marines arrive at Reagan Museum - Welcome Home Weekend - Sept 8-11, 2011
The Year in Pictures: Santa Barbara Navy League Fulfills our Mission
Rick Reeves, Vice President for Education - Santa Barbara Navy League
The past year was an extraordinary and busy year for the Santa Barbara Navy League Team, our members and our fifteen adopted units. SBNL staged or participated in almost a dozen major events, and added two new adopted units to our family: The USMC 3/5 "Dark Horse" Battalion, and the US Navy's latest nuclear submarine, the USS California. This photo essay, in chronological order, summarizes the SBNL's 2011 campaign in pictures:
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January: SBNL Annual Meeting / Santa Barbara Maritime Museum |
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July: SBNL "Topside Thursday" Mixer on the Condor Express |
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July: SBNL visits Navy Days Los Angeles / San Pedro |
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August: SB Navy League and Old Spanish Days Fiesta Parade |
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September: USMC 3/5 Dark Horse "Welcome Home Weekend" |
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October: USS CALIFORNIA (SSN 781) Commissioning Ceremony |
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November: Santa Barbara Port Visit: Guided Missile Destroyer USS MILIUS (DDG 69) |
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November - 16th Annual Pierre Claeyssens Military Ball |
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Seasons Greetings From SBNL and USS Chung Hoon DDG 93!
Favorite Moments from the Welcome Home Weekend
Editor's note: The visit to Santa Barbara by the USMC 3/4 Dark Horse Battalion during the Welcome Home Weekend was the highlight of the year for the SBNL team. Several members of the Santa Barbara Navy League Board of Directors share their favorite moments from that fantastic weekend.
From Lynn Behrens:
Second Vice President
During the trip on the Channel Cat, the marines and their wives or dates were so happy to be there. Several of them told me they had never been on a ship, or on the Pacific or.....on a ship as beautiful as the Channel Cat. Several others told me how excited they were to be able to go to the Reagan Ranch and made sure I knew that Ronald Reagan has "saved the Marines". Apparently there was some move in Congress to do away with the Marines and Reagan stood up to Congress and told them "not on my watch". I went to see them off at the Reagan center and they were eager to have their tour of the Reagan center and were asked when the vans would leave for the Ranch. I later heard they had the most wonderful time and were very impressed how small the house was and that it was very apparent to them that he was a "regular guy" and they understood why he loved the ranch so much.
At the barbeque at the Carriage Museum, many turned up in their uniforms although they had been told it was not necessary. Those uniforms came in handy as early in the evening, they were asked by Lin Graf to do a flag folding ceremony for one of the Brewery Boys band members who had lost her father in Iraq. Patricia Rembley's father had served three tours in Iraq and had requested that if anything happed to him, that he be buried at sea. The Navy had sent her a flag in a box but it had never been folded properly. An officer asked them to do that and in seconds they were lined up to complete the ceremony. They accomplished that with great reverence and handed her the flag - she was very grateful for their paying honor to her father and later told me that she felt more complete about loosing her father.
Later at the barbeque, I noticed a bunch of them in a huddle. I just thought they were conferring on where they were going later that evening on State Street and did not find out until the following day that they had been told about the 9/11 ceremony at the Sunken Gardens and decided to appear in uniform to honor 9/11 and the City of Santa Barbara for the hospitality that had been extended to them for the weekend. They were indeed impressive, standing silently on a ridge at the back of the gardens. Many of the audience waved at them and they smiled back. Their appearance took the whole ceremony to another level in my opinion.
As they appeared at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club at noon, they were welcomed by many and soon were sent out to various sail and observation boats for the Regatta. The group on Bob Duncan's boat including Jack Scalia, one of the MCs from the event at the Coral Casino, several Marine families and their kids and a few Navy League including the Duncans, Alex Baker and myself. A great time was had by all and the flyover was a treat for everyone. The barbeque and beer at the Yacht Club was enjoyed and many of the Marines and their families sat and enjoyed the priceless view from the deck.
From Doug Crawford:
SBNL Board of Directors, Area President
Karen and I were approached in March 2011 by members of our church, Carol and Bob Ohman. A friend of their son - Navy Captain Jonathan Ohman - had contacted Jonathan and asked if he know of an organization that could help support the 3/5 Marine unit where he served as medical doctor during their deployment in Afghanistan. They had fought bravely and taken back the Sangin District from the Taliban during their seven months in country, and had sustained significant losses of life and limb.
The leadership of the Santa Barbara Navy League immediately voted to "adopt" the unit and to honor them in Santa Barbara during the 9/8-11/2011 weekend. Dozens of members opened their homes to 3/5 families, and our local Franciscan Inn provided rooms for single Marines.
Karen and I were able to host two Sergeants and their family members for "the second 9/11 weekend we will never forget. From the moment they arrived we were impressed with their love of family, country, and each other. We listened to them tell about their deployment, their victories, their losses, and their reuniting with their loved ones. We cheered, laughed, and wept that weekend for reasons that are beyond words, as we attended events with them on the Channel Cat, at the Reagan Ranch, at the Carriage Museum, at the Coral Casino, and in the courtyard of the County Court House during Santa Barbara's 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Remembrance.
The Santa Barbara Navy League never ceases to Serve & Support our service members and their families in ways we are told "are the best they have ever experience and times and people they will never forget." Karen and I have been honored, humbled, and blessed time and again to be the recipients of the gratitude, friendship, and love of family members of Navy League's "adopted units".
Won't you join us? You will never regret the opportunities membership and opening your hearts and homes will give you in return.
From Robert Duncan:
Secretary
Upon arrival at the Reagan Center to meet the arriving Marine’s of the 3/5, I was immediately struck by all the smiles on the stunningly, youthful faces. Having been a part of SBNL of many years I should not have been surprised by the relative adolescence of our nation’s warriors, nonetheless I did a mental double check to confirm I was at the right spot. Sure enough these ebullient young men were all part of the storied Dark Horse battalion fresh from intense combat in the Sanjin Province of Afghanistan.
As I took care of some lodging needs for a variety of enlisted men, I was soon introduced to “my family” for the weekend ahead. The Cardenas family of Sgt. Walter, his lovely wife Jessica, and two adorable daughters, 9 year old Ashlee and the irrepressible 7 year old Jazzy beamed up at me as I introduced myself. I knew immediately that my family had won the brass ring as I gazed at this beautiful American quartet. I quickly told them about the weekend ahead and all the plans we had for them. Little Jazzy just giggled and said, “Let’s go”. So they jumped into their car and followed me to our home. I made a quick call to my wife and daughter and told them I’d be home in a few minutes with the most delightful family in tow.
Upon arrival my 16 year old daughter Emily took command and immediately shepherded the two little ladies to our backyard pool area , “boy, we’re gonna have a lot of fun over the next couple days, are you two ready?” Both Ashlee and Jaz nodded excitedly as they quickly found they had a new big sister to play with. Walter and Jessica were excited too and began to ask questions as we showed them their rooms and some of the gifts we had for their little girls. Soon we were gathered in the kitchen chatting loudly as if we’d been friends for decades. My wife and I winked at each other as the traveling family of four retired to their rooms after an hour or so to finally freshen up and relax. As they walked up the stairs we could hear Ashlee tell her parents, “this is GREAT, can we stay forever?”
As the marvelous weekend unfolded, we learned more and more about Sgt. Cardenas’s special heroism. On Saturday night, his Lieutenant told the gathering of some 250 at the Carriage Museum about Walter’s extraordinary leadership under the most harrowing of combat conditions. Walter simply turned his eyesdownward and listened to the moving accolade. Afterwards he told me that his Lieutenant was the best LT he’d ever had and Lt. Patterson had told the story just as it had happened, but that all the men were heroes; A truly humble and honorable gentleman.
We had many more memorable and special moments with the Cardenas family throughout the 4 days. By late Sunday it was time for our little Marine family to head back to Camp Pendelton. The girls were exhausted but still sporting the same happy smiles they wore when I first met them, only this time I got a huge hug from both as they said goodbye for now to “Uncle Bob”. Just before they were ready to leave I asked Walter and Jessica if they would like to join our family and friends for our annual Thanksgiving celebration. They smiled once again and said, “we’d love to… see you in November”. Wow, just like that, a wonderful family of four have become friends for what we hope will be a lifetime; Reinforcing once again for my family that the best of America can be found in our quiet soldiers, their supportive spouses and their ever optimistic children. God bless America and God bless the Cardenas family.
From Rick Reeves:
Vice President for Education
We attended the Welcome Reception and Cocktail Cruise for the 3/5 Dark Horse enlisted personnel and their families, held onboard the Channel Cat. Here, Sarah and I met the Marines, who only a month earlier were patrolling some of he 'meanest streets' our Planet has to offer - Helmund Province, Southwestern Afghanistan - step aboard Santa Barbara's best-known (and most comfortable) Party Boat for several hours of luxury cruising and socializing.
No doubt these Marines (AND their spouses and girlfriends) were, to say the least, unaccustomed to the 'level of service' offered by the Channel Cat and their crew (let's face it - some Fortune 500 CEOs are unaccustomed to it, which is why the 'Cat is in high demand as a fundraising venue). But as you would expect, the Marines took the event in stride, and soon, they had established control of the battlespace. Only the looks on some of the faces of these young heroes and their dates (see pictures, nearby) betrayed their gratefulness for the reception. And if you could have seen the faces of their Navy League hosts, you would know how honored WE felt, serving as their hosts for the Welcome Home Weekend.
--Edited by: Rick Reeves
Holiday Thoughts from CAPT Bruce Derenski, USN
On my way to SBNL’s Holiday Party at Summerland Winery earlier this month, I started to think about all of our wonderful events in 2011, the people and communities that we had positively impacted, but I also couldn’t stop thinking about how very busy we had been and still are. I so wanted to embrace this holiday season with love, generosity, giving and gracious thanks, but because of the flurry of activities, I felt myself getting caught up in the “to do” list of life rather than the significance of this special season. So, I asked my friend, CAPT Bruce Derenski, USN if he had any good stories to share on holiday cheer and this is the gift he shared in return…
--- Patricia Westberg, PAO, SBNL
Change
I didn’t see your request for holiday spirit until the day after your meeting, so I think I missed my window of opportunity. When I did bend my mind to it, I was hard pressed to come up with a self-contained scenario that captures how I think of the holidays in the context of a military life.It did strike me, though, that it IS different. My Michigan family, the families of civilian friends, and (I suspect) most families in this country are able to spin a chronology of how the holidays unfold, and that scratchy black-and-white film that plays in their heads is how the tradition is recorded and lovingly played over and over every year throughout their lives. The weather changes, the shopping begins, certain shows come on TV, cards are sent on THIS day, and baking is done by THAT day. “Oh, we ALWAYS go to the midnight service.” “It just isn’t Christmas without oranges in the stockings.” “I HAVE to watch It’s a Wonderful Life to really get into the spirit.”
Such absolutes are the first thing that gets lost in the moves between duty stations, or drilled out of us by military necessity. But what is left behind instead is as precious, and as comforting in its own way. Each holiday, wherever and however it is spent, leaves a bright and shining fragment of why THAT year was different, and rare and special. So instead of the scratchy familiar movie, we get a box of unlabeled snapshots, each of aching beauty and fraught with that one-time meaning.
Circling off St. Marys, Georgia, on board USS WEST VIRGINIA, waiting for the fog to lift on Christmas Day so we could come home… In Kuwait on Christmas eve in a plywood shack, listening to a Soldier and a Sailor play Silent Night on two guitars, and thinking it must have been just like that in 1820.
- In Iraq, unwrapping a tiny box of salted peanuts and candy, sent faithfully by my hometown VFW
- Taking the boys to see Santa arrive… by helo, by tugboat, by HummVee.
- Getting a free Christmas tree in Guam right after Typhoon Paka hit, and decorating it with paper chains and popcorn strings because it was all we had.
- Flying into Camp Bucca on Christmas Day eve, and seeing it lit up like Times Square
- On the midwatch on TOLEDO, going to the bridge just to watch the water slide over the hull and the stars slide around the sky, with the phosphorescent wake marking your path.
Joy after joy, moment on top of moment…and not one of them the same. Separated wildly by location, by circumstance, by mission, with the only consistency being Change. And what we are given, in exchange for what is lost, is the realization that the trappings don’t matter, and nothing is essential except the wide-eyed wonder that we greet each moment with, and the care that we take to grab that snapshot, and put it in the box with the rest, to pull out next year and the year after, to treasure, to hold close…not one of them the same.
CAPT Bruce Derenski, USN
Commander Submarine Group 2 Representative
General Dynamics Electric Boat
Groton, CT