December 11, 2015• VOL. 72 • NO. 48• NAVY.MIL/LOCAL/GUANTANAMO • FACEBOOK.COM/NSGuantanamoBay NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA • PSC 1005 BOX 25 • FPO, AE 09593 • 011-5399-4520

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Hosts Command Holiday Party

Women show off their ugliest holiday outfits for the chance to be crowned the Queen of the “Ugliest Holiday Sweater” competition at the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Command Holiday Party in the Windjammer Ballroom, Dec. 10.

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay hosted their annual command holiday party with the theme of “Ugly

Holiday Sweater” in the Windjammer Ballroom, Dec. 10. “At first we thought, when would you ever get a chance

to wear a sweater in Cuba?” said Chief Master-at-Arms Fabian Salazar, head of the Holiday Party Committee. “Why not the holiday part?”

Attendees were encouraged to wear their ugliest holiday sweaters, vests, shirts and more with a completion held later in the evening to crown the King and Queen with the best ugliest sweater.

With the Windjammer Ballroom decked out in reds, greens and golds the room was easily transformed to match the holiday spirit and even included a little “photo booth” set up for guest to have a holiday photo taken when they walk in.

“I think the decorations committee did an outstanding job with the entire set up and the guests will love the prizes,” remarked Salazar. “Overall, this committee put in a lot of effort to ensure a great time.”

The party even a few games to play with everyone needing to participate in helping ten volunteers with a scavenger hunt till only one remained. Each level of the

hunt required the volunteers to find harder items such as a blue ink pen or a gold credit card.

“It is a great time to come together during the holidays,” reflected Salazar. “Many Sailors do not have families here and choose to stay on island, so this gives them a chance to have a good time with others.”

The night wasn’t all fun and games. Commanding Officer Capt. David Culpepper took the opportunity to recognize and award Master-at-Arms 1st Class Kaitlin Hill as the NS Guantanamo Bay’s Sailor of the Year and Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Dana Yusten as the Junior Sailor of the Year.

Capt. Culpepper also recognized the Sailors who performed the most push-ups, sit-ups, made an outstanding and had the best run times during the physical fitness test and awarded them with a 96 hours liberty pass.

The evening’s main festivities ended with three rounds of raffle prizes give out to attendees ranging from Playstation 4 systems, Go-Pros, Bluetooth speakers and a grand prize of 55-inch HD TV.

“I am thankful to be a part of such an awesome committee,” concluded Salazar. “It was great seeing all the smiles at the party.”

MC2 Kegan E. KayPhotojournalist

PAGE 2• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE

VOL. 72 • NO. 48

The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is an authorized publication for members of the military services and their families stationed at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The contents do not necessar-ily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Navy, and do not imply endorsement thereof. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Document Services with a circulation of 535.

COMMANDING OFFICER EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMMAND MASTER CHIEF

CAPT. DAVID CULPEPPERCMDR. AL ROSS

CMDCM (SW/AW) RODD TOOKER

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER GAZETTE EDITOR

MCC(SW/AW) KEITH BRYSKAMC2 KEGAN KAY

Guantanamo Bay GazetteNAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

NS Guantanamo Bay Commanding Officer, Capt. David Culpepper congratulates MA2 Zaragoza on his selection as Sailor of the Week.

■Job/Department: CMAA/NAVSTA■Age: 23■Hometown: Indianapolis, IN■Ambition/goal: To always keep improving myself.■Book: Stephen King’s “Thinner”■TV Show: Doctor Who and Breaking Bad■Movie: Cloud Atlas■Hobby: Reading■Guantanamo Restaurant: The Jerk House■Musician: Metallica■Favorite Quote: “You are confined only by the walls you build yourself■Sailors of the Week Because: MA2 Luis Zaragoza was selected as Sailor of the Week for his hard work as Command Master-at-Arms and for maintaining and coordinating classroom availability for the training of 50 newly selected Petty Officer Selectees from the September Navy Wide Advancement Exam. MA2 also conducted successful random anti-terrorism measures designed to enhance the safety enviroment of NAVSTA Command Staff as well as executing and directing 30-hours of building maintenance and grooming the professional appearance of interior and exterior of NAVSTA Headquarters building.

MA2 LUIS ZARAGOZA

December 11, 2015• PAGE 3

Nestled in the tiny old seafaring New England village of Columbia Falls, Maine, lies a forest of over 5,000 acres of Balsam fir trees.

The impressive spread of vibrant green coniferous trees make the quintessential Christmas trees and wreaths. It is home to Worcester Wreath Company and is also home to the non-profit organization “Wreaths Across America.”

The idea for Wreaths Across America (WAA) started in 1992 when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, found his company with a large surplus of wreaths near the end of the holiday season. Worcester looked back on a childhood memory as a 12-year-old boy working a paper route for the Bangor Daily News. He had won a trip to Washington, D.C. It would be his first visit to our nation’s capital and it would leave a profound impact on Worcester decades later.

“I didn’t want to throw them away, they were nice and fresh so I thought about Arlington, because of the impact it had on me as a boy,” said Morrill, as he looked out onto the spread of trees used to make hundreds of thousands of wreaths each year.

With the help of then Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, Worcester was able to make arrangements to have the surplus wreaths placed at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. They were placed in an older section of the cemetery, one that received less and less visitors every year.

A local trucking company provided transportation of the wreaths to Arlington and volunteers from a local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts paired with community members to decorate the wreaths with a traditional red, hand-tied bow. Members of the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C., helped to organize the wreath-laying, which included a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This became an annual tribute that went on quietly for over a decade. Then in 2005, a photo was published of the wreaths adorning the headstones covered in snow. Suddenly Worcester found his act of kindness receiving national attention and thousands of volunteer requests pouring in from all over the country.

“We didn’t really know what had happened. That was the 14th year actually, and we placed our 5,000 wreaths,” reflected Morrill on that moment. “But then I started getting mail from people and they were sending me checks, and they were thanking me for what we did and all this stuff and I really didn’t understand what this was all about.”

“All of a sudden what we’d been doing since 1992, the cat was outta the bag and people wanted to get involved,” said Karen Worcester, Morrill’s wife, and Executive Director of WAA.

Worcester was unable to donate thousands of wreaths to each state; Worcester began sending seven wreaths, representing each branch of the military and POW/MIA service members to every veteran cemetery that wanted to participate in WAA day.

In 2007, Worcester, his family, veterans, and others who had helped with the annual Arlington wreath ceremony formed WAA to help continue and expand this event and support other groups around the country who wanted to hold the same type of ceremony.

“So in 2006, we decided that we were going to have to do something to answer the call and I think what I love about Wreaths Across America is, it wasn’t something that the family said ‘oh let’s have a 501-C3’, we were almost led by the call of what the people wanted,” Karen said of the near decade old family run non-profit. “It’s not coming from some brainstorm that the Worcester family had, it’s from listening to the families and listening to the gold star families and the veterans as to what they think is important to put out there for Wreaths Across America and how we can help with our mission.”

WAA has a simple, but powerful mission: Remember. Honor. Teach.In 2008, over 100,000 wreaths were placed on veteran’s graves at over

300 locations around the U.S. including Puerto Rico and 24 cemeteries overseas with the help of over 60,000 volunteers.

That same year, Congress unanimously voted December 13 as “Wreaths Across America Day”.

In 2014, WAA and volunteers worldwide laid over 700,000 wreaths at 1,000 locations. WAA was also able to include wreath laying ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and the sites of the September 11 tragedies. WAA was also able to accomplish covering Arlington National Cemetery, placing 226,525 wreaths.

To make this possible WAA has had help from over 2,000 fundraising groups, corporate contributions and donations of trucking, shipping and countless volunteers.

The wreath laying is held annually on the second or third Saturday of December. WAA’s pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine to the nation’s capital is the world’s largest veterans’ parade.

They stop at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities along the way reminding people how important it is to ‘Remember, Honor, Teach.’

Honor and Balsam: Wreaths Across America—Remembering the Sacrifices Veterans Gave to Our NationPhotos and Story by MC2 Charlotte OliverDefense Media Activity

PAGE 6• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE

Chaplain’sCorner

December 11, 2015• PAGE 7

DOWNTOWN LYCEUMMOVIES FRIDAY Dec 117 p.m.:

9:30 p.m.:

SATURDAY Dec 127 p.m.:

10 p.m.:

SUNDAY Dec 136:30 p.m.:

9 p.m.:

MONDAY Dec 147 p.m.:

TUESDAY Dec 157 p.m.:

WEDNESDAY Dec 167 p.m.:

THURSDAY Dec 177 p.m.:

FRIDAY Dec 1812:01 a.m.:

The Last Witch HunterPG13

In the Heart of the SeaPG13

Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the ClonesPG13

SHOPPERSHOPPERGTMO E - m a i l c l a s s i f i e d a d s u b m i s s i o n s t o P A O - C L A S S I F I E D A D S @U S N B G T M O . N A V Y . M I L If sent to any other e-mail, it may not be pub-lished. Submit your ad NLT noon Wednesdays for that week’s Gazette. Ads are removed after two weeks. Re-submit the ad to re-publish. The Gazette staff and NS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, page. The Public Affairs Office has final edito-rial discretion on all content. Call MCC Keith Bryska at 4520 with your questions or concerns.Please keep ads to a minimum of 5 items.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost DimensionR

Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom MenacePG13

Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the SithPG13

CHRISTMAS CONCERTThe Chapel is hosting a Christmas Concert Sun., Dec. 13 in the Main Chapel at 7 p.m. Please come out and enjoy some festive holiday music.

DAYS FOR GIRLSYou are invited to join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of girls and women around the glove. We meet monthly to cut out fabric and sew supplies. If you can use scissors, you can help! We will be meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Chapel Annex, room 14. If you have scissors or a sewing machine, please bring them along. For more information, please call 74332.

KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTYThe First Class Petty Officer Association is hosting a Kids Christmas Party on Sat., Dec. 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Youth Center for ages 3-10.

NO HOLIDAY FERRIESThere will be NO FERRIES

The 33PG13

NAVSTA:Laura McManusombudsmangtmo@gmail.comCell: 84792 Home: 77182

Brittany Morrellnsgtmoombudsman@gmail.comCell: 55268 Home: 77129

NAVFAC:Brittany Roleygtmopwdombudsman@gmail.comHome: 78096

OMBUDSMAN CONTACT INFORMATION:

Naval Hospital:Lauren LaBoyUsnh.gtmo.ombudsman@gmail.comHome: 75877

For sale: 2 sets of Golf Clubs in Golf Bags, Golf balls and tees for only $200. For more info: e-mail eballesteros@mcm-gtmo.com or call 90025.

Double firm mattress for sale, practically new, $100. Contact 75586 if interested.

FOR SALE

running on Christmas Day, December 25, or on New Year’s Day, January 1. Only Uboats will be running on those days so please plan accordingly.

KIDS WINTER BALLThe Junior Enlisted Association would like to invite kids of all ages up to 17 to attend the Kid’s Winter Wonderland Ball to be held Fri., Dec. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Windjammer Ballroom. Dress up in a Princess ball gown or favorite button down for an evening of FREE food, fun and warm music. Parents may stay to make this a special night for their kids by joining in the fun and dancing. For more info, call 84085.

GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!Enjoy the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Navy vs. Army football game Fri., Dec. 11 starting at 6:20 p.m. at the football field and enjoy the official Army vs. Navy game Sat., Dec. 12 on AFN.Scoop The

Star Wars: Episode IV- A New HopePG

Star Wars: Episode V- The Empire Strikes BackPG

Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the JediPG

Star Wars: Episode VII- The Force AwakensPG13

The United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has steadily sent out

notifications to individuals affected by the data breach that took place earlier this year.

In an effort to reach everyone affected, OPM has launched a website designed to help people check if their personal information has been compromised.

OPM’s Cybersecurity Resource Center (http://www.opm.gov/cybersecurity) requires individuals to submit their information, but won’t instantly be able to tell the user if his or her information has been compromised. Instead, the government will review submissions and respond in two to four weeks with a letter.

For those notified, OPM has offered up to three years of intensive credit monitoring with a company that specializes in identity theft protection, fraud resolution and a million dollars in identity theft

insurance. So far only 1.2 million people have signed up for that protection, according to a blog post by acting OPM chief Beth Cobert.

“Part of its job, other than verifying for individuals if they were or were not affected, is providing another method to confirm their current contact information,” said OPM press secretary Sam Schumach.

In addition to the site, individuals can also call 866-408-4555, to get the investigation process started.

If you would like to read more about the information the letter contains and what you can do to protect your information read the All Hands magazine story:

You’ve Been Exposed, More than 21 million people affected by data breach

http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/deptStory.asp?issue=3&dep=5&id=90573.

New Website Helps Identify Victims of OPM BreachNavy Office of Information