Familylife 061413

DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement June 2013

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June 2013 DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement

By Michelle Spivakand Cameron Barry

Every day more and more veterans are recognizingan invisible injury that can be as debilitating andimpactful to their lives as shrapnel wounds or ampu-tation. It’s PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, avoid-ance of social situations, emotional numbness andhyperarousal. Untreated PTSD can lead you on adestructive path—job loss, alienation from family,drug abuse and more. Today, our understanding ofPTSD can put many of these symptoms in checkand help those suffering from the disorder leadmore fulfilling lives.

There is no shame in a PTSD diagnosis. It is ashame if you suffer from disturbing thoughts ormemories of the trauma, insomnia, and many otherpainful symptoms without seeking help. PTSDis treatable, and the Washington DC VA MedicalCenter’s (DCVAMC) Mental Health Service isexpert at treating this condition.

If you are concerned that you, a family member or afriend has PTSD, read on. Flashbacks are the call-ing card of people with PTSD. Veterans with PTSDoften experience a mental re-creation of a triggeringtraumatic event. The flashback may transport themfrom the present back to the scene of the trauma.Social avoidance is another behavior. Often reservedand reluctant to be in large crowds, those withPTSD may avoid locations with loud noises.

According to DCVAMC clinical psychologist KrisMorris, Ph.D., “25 percent of people exposed totrauma will develop PTSD.” Although there is amuch greater understanding of what causes PTSDand how to treat the symptoms, mental health pro-fessionals are still challenged by how different peo-ple react to trauma.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ providersunderstand that trauma takes many forms. Combatis one of the most variable types of trauma; forexample, a soldier on the front lines is likely to expe-rience a more intense form of trauma than a combatsoldier whose trauma could be linked to repeatedlyhearing distant mortar fire while being stationedmiles away from the front line. Military SexualTrauma is another form of trauma leading to PTSD.

The DCVAMC and its five community-basedclinics throughout the region have many mentalhealth professionals to guide veterans with PTSDon their journey to improved health and well-being.These clinicians work with thousands of veteransthroughout the capital area offering group and indi-vidual therapy. DCVAMC provides a supportive,

nonjudgmental environment where you can healamong others with similar experiences.

Mental health professionals are becoming moreand more successful in treating patients with PTSDdue to several treatment options, such as cognitiveprocessing therapy (CPT) and prolonged expo-sure therapy (PET). In CPT, patients are educatedabout what symptoms they exhibit, what causestheir symptoms and how to deal with their symp-toms when they take hold. PET takes a slightly con-frontational approach, and includes practice copingwith symptoms in real-world (safe) social settings.On their own, people with PTSD find it helpful toopen up and share feelings with friends and family.

VA’s many services for veterans with PTSD includenew technology, such as private therapy viaTelehealth and PTSD mobile apps for self-help, edu-cation and support. There are treatment companionapps for veterans and their doctors to use together.The apps are not intended to replace treatment witha health care provider, but to support treatment.Learn more about the app at www.ptsd.va.gov.

Nationwide, in 2011, VA treated more than100,000 combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan,many with PTSD. There are many more veterans

who avoid mental health treatment, believing theold stigmas will affect their career opportunities andrelationships. These veterans, who may be sufferingalone, often act out in self-destructive ways thatworsen their situations. Because this often paralyz-ing stigma lingers over the heads of veterans withPTSD, retired Army Gen. Peter Chiarelli suggestedremoving the word “disorder” and shortening theacronym to PTS.

Whatever it’s called, it is treatable, and theWashington DC VA Medical Center has programsand specialists to help. DCVAMC’s Mental Healthteam is determined to reach out to all veterans andtheir family members concerned about PTSD andencourage them to get the care they’ve earned andthey deserve. If you’ve yet to enroll for VA healthcare, learn how at www.washingtondc.va.gov. If youare an enrolled veteran seeking treatment for PTSD,contact your primary care physician or call Dr.David Cueva at 202-745-8000, ext. 2434. There ishelp and there is hope.

Michelle Spivak is the director of public affairsand the congressional liaison for the WashingtonDC VA Medical Center. Cameron Barry is a pub-lic affairs intern and student at Old DominionUniversity.

THE INVISIBLE INJURY:OVERCOMING PTSD

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PHOTO BY WILLIAM JUNIPHER, COURTESY OF DCVAMCMichelle Spivak, director of public affairs for the Washington DC VA Medical Center, spends time

with a veteran at the medical center.


LOCALWOUNDEDWARRIOR////

By C.D. Carter

Karen Barnett can recite her son’s injuries as ifreading from a laundry list: lost right leg below theknee, lost right pinkie finger, multiple wounds to hisleft leg—which still, almost a year after he steppedon an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan,cause him excruciating daily pain.

Barnett, a resident of Washington County inMaryland, is her son’s caregiver, assigned to takecare of the Army specialist who required 16 surgeriesin the first 30 days after the IED exploded under-neath him.

She’s one of many caregivers at Walter ReedNational Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.,that ensure wounded warriors are taken to theirmany doctor’s appointments, that their wounds arecleaned and that they’re taking the proper medicineat the right time of day. Every injured soldier isassigned an official caregiver—sometimes a spouse,other times a parent—when they become outpa-tients at the medical center. These caregivers oftenserve as the memory for wounded soldiers, whosehead injuries may have caused short-term memoryloss, as well as many other roles.

Being a caregiver, living on the medical center’scampus away from family, can be crushingly stress-ful, Barnett said. Without the tight-knit communityof caregivers in Bethesda, she said, things would bea whole lot worse.

“I think we’d lose our minds if we didn’t haveeach other,” said Barnett, whose son, Kevin Jaye, 26,was flown to Germany after suffering his injuries.“We’ve all laughed together, we’ve certainly criedtogether, we’ve given advice to each other, andreally, we’ve given each other a way to get throughthe day, no matter how difficult it gets for us.”

Having to manage home life from a distance mul-tiplies the stress of caregivers in Bethesda, whetherthey live an hour away from Walter Reed or 3,000miles away.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that we’rerunning two households,” Barnett said. “We dowhat we do here as caregivers … and we’re worriedabout what’s going on at home.”

Tammy Karcher’s son, Jeffrey Shonk, 24, was shotin the head, the lower left leg and the right hand byfriendly fire in Fallujah, Iraq in September 2010.Karcher said she has missed her husband anddaughter over the two-and-a-half years as Shonk’scaregiver. Seeing her family more than every otherweekend, she said, simply isn’t possible as long asShonk needs her as his “personal secretary,” arrang-ing appointments with various specialists as he con-tinues his long recovery.

“I just hope to get back to normal someday, toget back to work,” said Karcher, who lost her jobafter having to spend so much time caring for herson, a former Army specialist. “Though my life haschanged, I want to rekindle my marriage, I want tospend time with my daughter, more than just oncein a while.”

Karcher said the caregiver community’s naturalbond stems from a pain few will know, and it’s thatbond that makes the most trying days bearable.

“Unless you’ve dealt with something equally trau-matic, you have no idea what we go through,” saidKarcher, 44, whose family lives in Hollywood, Md.“We talk about the things we have to face daily, evenhourly … Military families are their own specialgroups with their own special bonds, and we are too.”

Barnett and Karcher are two of the estimated 275,000to 1 million women and men serving as caregiversfor U.S. military members injured in Afghanistanand Iraq, according to a study released in March byRAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organi-zation. Military caregivers face a unique and trying

COURTESY OF TAMMY KARCHERThe Karcher family walks together in August 2012.

CAREGIVERSLOOKTOEACHOTHERFORSUPPORT


Circulation of 110,000 printed by offset as a civilian enterprise quarterly mag-azine for installations within the National Capital Region by Comprint MilitaryPublications, a division of The Gazette. Comprint Military Publications is locatedat 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Telephone 301-921-2800.

Editorial content, including graphic art and photographs that support mes-sages, new stories, and feature articles, are prepared in the Marketing Offices of the instal-lations that contribute the information and blogs from DCMilitaryFamLife.com. Letters andsuggestions may be mailed to DCMilitary Family Life Publisher, Comprint Military Publications,9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

The printer is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of Defense. Opinionsexpressed herein are those of the contributors to this Marketing publication, and they arenot to be considered an official expression of the Department of Defense. The appearanceof advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Departmentof Defense of the products or services advertised.

John Rives, PublisherComprint Military Publications

301-921-2800Maxine Minar, President

DCMilitary Family Life

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set of challenges, including navigating thelabyrinth of health care systems and benefitproviders for wounded warriors in need of amyriad of medical services, according to theRAND report.

“Just as the nation’s longest period ofwartime has posed challenges for the mil-itary, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraqhave created hardships on the family mem-bers and others who provide care to thewounded warriors once they return home,”Terri Tanielian, the study’s lead author anda senior social research analyst at RAND,said in a statement included in the report.

Caregivers for injured soldiers were foundto suffer disproportionately from mentalhealth issues, and were at greater risk forcoronary heart disease, hypertension, com-promised immune function and reduced

sleep, according to the report. In a 2010National Alliance for Caregiving survey,more than two-thirds of respondents saidthey spent more than 20 hours a week oncaregiving duties, while 20 percent said theyspend as much as 80 hours a week lookingafter their injured military member.

The RAND study was commissioned bythe Elizabeth Dole Foundation, after for-mer Senator Dole served as caregiver forher husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, dur-ing his stay at Walter Reed Army MedicalCenter in 2010. It became clear during hertime at Walter Reed that caregivers neededmore support, Elizabeth Dole said in thereport. “In listening carefully to hundredsof caregivers, I am struck by a sense ofurgency,” she said. “We as a nation mustdo a far better job supporting these hid-den heroes…”

Despite watching her son sink into occasionalbouts of depression brought on by the longrecovery time, the many surgeries and thepersistent pain from his numerous battle-field injuries, Karcher said she’s fought toremain positive. She does whatever shecan to lend support, and also serves asa valuable resource for younger, less expe-rienced caregivers—usually wives withyoung children.

“The younger caregivers rely on the moreseasoned caregivers,” she said. “I feel like

a fountain of information sometimes. I’mglad to offer it. Their worlds have beenturned completely upside down. This is notwhat they expected. Not at all.”

Barnett said her son’s resilience hasproven inspiring in the face of such alengthy recovery.

“His attitude has just been unbelievable,”she said, adding that among Jaye’s goals isto play baseball again. “But he’s realistic. Heknows things are never quite going to be thesame. Still, he’s upbeat—it’s amazing.”

COURTESY OF TAMMY KARCHERJeffrey Shonk, a former Army specialist, is treated for his injuries at the former

National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda in October 2010.

“ITHINKWE’DLOSEOURMINDSIFWEDIDN’THAVEEACHOTHER.WE’VEALLLAUGHEDTOGETHER,WE’VECERTAINLYCRIEDTOGETHER,

WE’VEGIVENADVICETOEACHOTHER,ANDREALLY,WE’VEGIVENEACHOTHERAWAYTOGETTHROUGHTHEDAY,

NOMATTERHOWDIFFICULTITGETSFORUS.”-Karen Barnett

COVER PHOTO: COURTESY OF OPERATION SECOND CHANCECindy McGrew, president of Operation Second Chance, and Army Pfc. Marissa Strock

attend an Army-Navy lacrosse game at the U.S. Naval Academy in April.


HELPING OURWOUNDED WARRIORS

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By Jim Mahaffie

After almost 13 years of warfare, an extensivenetwork of volunteers and organizations hasdeveloped that are serving wounded warriorsacross the U.S. today.

Imagine the issues for a wounded veteranand his or her family; paramount, of course, isrecovery and learning to live with disabilities,both obvious and not so obvious. But thencomes a long list of both basic and extraor-dinary needs—travel to and from the hospi-tal; paying bills; and keeping a job while jug-gling child care, therapy and a marriage. Then,there’s getting around while at Walter ReedNational Military Medical Center, holiday toysfor kids, clothes for winter and hundreds ofother items.

Support from dedicated medical experts, casemanagers and the military only goes so far.That’s where many volunteers come in to help.In the halls of Walter Reed today, the followingare two organizations mentioned regularly fortheir invaluable contributions.

MEET OPERATION SECOND CHANCE“We hate to say no to anybody.”

Volunteers from Operation Second Chance(OSC) spend lots of time in the wards at WalterReed, visiting wounded warriors and their fami-

lies and helping when they can—which is often,said President and Founder Cindy McGrew.“We visit at least a couple of days a week, butwe get calls almost daily from caseworkerswhere they run into situations where they thinkwe can help,” she said. That means paying amortgage or utility bill; getting reimbursementfor a car rental; bringing in Girl Scout cookies;providing a baby stroller, diapers and formula;and so much more.

“We make a lot of travel arrangements,” saidMcGrew. “We want to keep families together asmuch as possible, so we arrange for flights soguys can be with their family for Easter breakand other holidays.”

OSC help can be random and mundane—butneeded nonetheless. For instance, in March, theorganization arranged for four new car tires foran amputee at the hospital when a volunteernoticed the vet was driving around on com-pletely bald tires. “When I hear the stories andget these emails about the problems soldiersand their families have, it breaks your heart.They’re very proud and don’t want to ask forhelp.” But McGrew and her volunteers will ask.“We try to get discounts whenever possible,”said McGrew.

McGrew, 55, has four older brothers with mil-itary backgrounds—three went to Vietnam and

one to West Point. She lives in Germantown,Md., and directs OSC full time. Her workbegan when a friend went to Iraq in 2004, andshe started hearing about men that were injuredin his unit. She would get to work each day,pull up his Stryker brigade news feed and readabout the soldiers. She began visiting a groupof injured men at Walter Reed who had beenambushed in an alley in Iraq, and said that shereacted as a parent.

“I noticed they were wearing the same clothesday in and day out,” said McGrew, who broughtsome clothes for them and got to know the men’sfamilies. “The families have so many needs. Theyhave to make decisions, pack up often in themiddle of the night, keep things going at homeand take extended leave from a job.”

OSC steps in whenever it can to make lives eas-ier. Through fundraisers, donations and partner-ships, the organization has provided more than$1 million in emergency financial assistance,travel, groceries and essential items to woundedwarriors and their families, said McGrew.

Based in Alexandria, Va., the Alexandria CakePop Company offers one-of-a-kind cake deco-rating treats for all events and occasions. OwnerTamara Wilson donates 5 percent of all proceedsto OSC. A military wife, her U.S. Army husbandworks at Walter Reed helping wounded warriors.

COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN HAMILTON PHOTOGRAPHYOperation Ward 57 volunteers served a traditional, catered holiday dinner

in December to inpatient wounded warriors, families and staffat Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

COURTESY OF OPERATION SECOND CHANCEWounded warrior Staff Sgt. Michael Cain watches the start of an AprilArmy-Navy lacrosse game from the VIP tent, organized by Operation

Second Chance in conjunction with Ride Allegheny members.


“I wanted to do something to help the families,” shesaid. “I know how hard their situations can be.”

Just Riding Along Bicycle Shop in Laytonsville, Md.,is another supporter. Owner Travis Evans got involvedwhen a vet came into his shop looking for a bike forRide Allegheny, a 300-mile fundraising and cyclingadventure from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Gaithersburg, Md.,that raises money for OSC, according to McGrew.Despite no military background or previous experi-ence with Walter Reed, “we decided to join them,”said Evans. “The guys that do it have a great sense ofcamaraderie, and they need us.” Along with holdingfundraisers at his store, the company shuts down everyyear to support the ride and put all their resources intobecoming “a rolling bike shop” for Ride Allegheny,according to Evans.

Operation Second Chance is growing. In 2011, OSCjoined forces with Operation No Person Left Behind,a formally independent charity that teams professionalhunters, fisherman and outdoor-minded people withdisabled veterans for hunting and fishing opportuni-ties, according to the OSC website. OSC provides tripsand retreats for injured service members, couples andfamilies, too. Recently, groups of amputees traveled tothe U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis for an Army vs.Navy lacrosse game, the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C., and to the Chesapeake Bay for a fishing retreat,according to McGrew. The organization also maintainsresources to help assist veterans and their families withtheir many health, employment and financial needs.These, and more, are listed on OSC’s website at opera-tionsecondchance.org.

McGrew and her volunteers are committed to themany wounded warriors who pass through WalterReed, some for a few weeks and some for a year ormore. “I don’t look at them for their injury—I thankthem for their service,” she said.

MEET OPERATION WARD 57“We support wounded soldiers and their

families anywhere in the country.”One of the organizations providing grassroots sup-

port and morale boosting to wounded warriors atWalter Reed and around the nation is Operation Ward57. OPW57’s mission is to “support wounded war-riors, their families and medical staff at Walter ReedNational Military Medical Center by providing itemsthat assist in recovery, maintenance and morale of thehospital environment and through advocacy, educationand promotion of their circumstances,” according tothe organization’s website.

Executive Director Brittney Hamilton said this couldbe as simple as providing a winter coat for visitingkids, an extra blanket, a catered meal or concert tick-ets. “We support wounded soldiers and their familiesanywhere in the country,” she said. “Almost anythingthat we can do for boosting morale and advocating ontheir behalf.”

At the onset of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,many of the most severely wounded soldiers werebrought to Ward 57 at Walter Reed Army MedicalCenter. The hospital section was known as “the ampu-tee ward,” according to Hamilton, and patients spent COURTESY OF OPERATION WARD 57

OPW57 volunteer Laura Boone stands with woundedwarrior Spc. Andrew Wilson.

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NSA Annapolis MWR14th Annual

“Navy Night at the Baysox”The 14th Annual “Navy Night at the Baysox”

will be held on Friday, Aug. 2 at 7:05 p.m. whenthe Bowie Baysox (AA affiliate of the BaltimoreOrioles) take on the Portland Sea Dogs (AA affil-iate of the Boston Red Sox) at Prince George’sStadium, routes 50 and 301 in Bowie, Md. Gateswill open at 6:05 p.m. The U.S. Naval AcademyBand will perform patriotic music in front of thestadium shortly before the gates open.

Opening ceremonies will be performed byNavy personnel and Navy Federal CreditUnion personnel at 6:30 p.m. There will alsobe a spectacular 20-minute postgame fireworksdisplay that will light up the skies over the cityof Bowie!

Free tickets will be available to Departmentof Defense-affiliated personnel beginning July8 at several of the military installations listed inthis publication. People eligible to receive freetickets are active duty and retired military fromall branches of military service, active reservistsand National Guard members, Department ofDefense civilians (active and retired) and familymembers, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen,DoD contractors, and Naval Academy AthleticAssociation and U.S. Naval Academy AlumniAssociation personnel. Please contact your base’sMWR Information, Tickets and Travel (ITT/

ITR) outlet and present proper ID when pickingup tickets.

The MWR Information, Tickets and TravelOutlet at Naval Support Activity Annapolis islocated in the Recreation Services Bldg. No. 89.Hours are Monday through Friday from 5:30a.m. to 8 p.m. Free tickets will be available duringthese hours.

Pr ince George’s Stadium is a “familyfriendly” stadium with a carousel and play-ground area for the kids. All seats, includinggeneral admission tickets, have terrific views ofthe playing field, so you’re always close to theaction! Concession stands are convenient to allseats and parking is free! This is a great oppor-tunity for the whole family to enjoy an eveningof baseball compliments of the Bowie Baysox!

This annual event is made possible by a com-mercial sponsorship from the Bowie Baysox withthe Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department,NSA Annapolis. Navy Federal Credit Unionis sponsoring the evening for the U.S. NavalAcademy Class of 2017 (Plebes) and the fire-works display.

Tickets are for promotional use only—not forresale. (Neither the Navy nor any other part ofthe federal government officially endorses anycompany, sponsor or their products or services).

For more information, call 410-293-9206(DSN 281).THOMAS NORTHCUT/LIFESIZE/THINKSTOCK


NSA South Potomac and NSF Dahlgren MWRSummer is the Seasonof Vacations and Travel

Be sure to visit the Information, Tickets& Tours (ITT) office. ITT offers discounttickets to attractions such as amusementparks, movie theaters, sightseeing desti-nations, golf resorts and sporting events.Vacation packages, cruise packages and dis-count vouchers are also available. Brochureshighlighting local tourist destinations andmaps of the area are available for cus-tomers to pick up, as well as informationon the Military Travel Voucher Program.Newcomers to NSF Dahlgren are encour-aged to visit ITT for information on thearea’s activities and opportunities or call540-653-8785.

Subway franchise comesto NSF Dahlgren

Subway was scheduled to open the fran-chise by June 1. During the renovation,patrons of the bowling center could bring intheir own food items or have food delivered.The bowling center sold beverages and pro-vided snacks during the interim.

Dahlgren Aquatics CenterSummer Pool hours began Memorial

Day. Open year-round for Red Cross CPR& Life Guard Training, swimming lessons,lap swimming, aqua aerobics classes andspecial family events monthly. Please callthe pool for hours of operation, prices andfacility rental at 540-653-8088.

Auto Skills CenterOpen five days a week for service or the

do-it-yourselfer. The Auto Skills Center isavailable for all your basic car maintenance.Classes offered every other month. Qualifiedstaff will assist you in doing it right!

Cannonball LanesBowling Alley

Open seven days a week. CannonballLanes has 10 lanes of bowling featuringAMF equipment with state-of-the-art Bosesound system, concessions and shoes avail-able. Activities include open bowling, spe-cial event nights, leagues and party rentals.

Child Development Center(CDC)

Open five days a week from 6 a.m. to 6p.m. The CDC provides a full-time childdevelopment program for children 6 weeksto 5 years old. The CDC is accredited bythe National Association for the Educationof Young Children, holds DoD certificationand participates in the USDA child andadult care food program.

Craftech Hobby ShopOpen five days a week. Bring your items

in for monogramming—towels, linens,tote bags, shirts, etc. See our selection ofgreat gift ideas; personalized pens; clocks;customized color printing on mugs; laserengraving for trophies, awards, plaques;and more. Craftech offers classes in stainedglass, ceramics, framing and matting.Craftech carries craft supplies and specialsupplies for customers. Is your child intoart? How about a crafting birthday party?For more information, please stop by theCraftech Hobby Shop (next to the ITTOffice, across from the Pool.)

Gray’s Landing on the PotomacRestaurant (MWR Restaurant)Hours of Operation:Open seven days a weekBreakfast: 6-9 a.m.Lunch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.Dinner: 4-6 p.m.Weekends and HolidaysBrunch: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Dinner: 4-6 p.m.

Gray’s CaféOpen Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

and located within Gray’s Landing on thePotomac Restaurant. Gray’s Cafe proudlyserves Starbucks coffee, fresh brewed cof-fee, lattes, frappuccinos, cappuccinos andespresso, and includes fresh baked pastries,bottled beverages, fruit cups, yogurt par-faits, a selection of wraps and grab-n-gomeals, along with other beverages. LoungewithWi-Fi hot spot and television.

Dahlgren Fitness CenterOpen seven days a week. Join a variety

of group fitness classes, including CardioBoxing, Spinning, Power Yoga, Strengthand Stability, and Kettlebells. The FitnessCenter offers racquetball throughout theyear. Other sports and tournaments areoffered, such as softball, soccer, flag foot-ball and basketball. Karate classes are alsooffered every three months for children ages6 through adult. Ballet and jazz classes areoffered during the school year.

Information, Tickets and Tours (ITT)Open five days a week. The ITT office

offers information, maps and directionsto local shopping, restaurants, historicalsites and entertainment. Discount tickets toRegal Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon theaters,National Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, WaltDisney World, SeaWorld and more! Ask forinformation on military discounts and theArmed Forces Vacation Club. Call the ITTOffice at 540-653-8785 for more informa-tion on MWR facility rentals.

Liberty Center (Single/Unaccompanied Sailor Program)Open six days a week.The Liberty Center

offers recreational activities year-round forsingle or unaccompanied active duty mili-tary personal, particularly ages 18 to 24.TheLiberty Center is equipped with pool tables,computers, wireless Internet access, videogaming systems, gaming tables, fax machine,big screen TV, 8mm movies and more.Contact the Liberty Coordinator at 540-653-7277 for information and scheduledevents. ID required for Liberty discounts.

LibraryOpen five days a week with a variety of

fiction, nonfiction, periodicals and refer-ence materials; movies; audio CDs; dailypapers; and reading lounge with Wi-Fi hotspot and television. Computers, copier anda fax machine are available for patron use.Computer classes offered seasonally, storytime for the kids is held every Friday and avariety of events are offered monthly.

Gear Issue & Equipment RentalOpen five days a week. Located within

the Auto Skills Center, Gear Issue &Equipment Rental offers a selection of rec-reation equipment for fishing, camping,picnics, special events, sporting equipmentand more. Rentals can be daily, weekly orfor the weekend. Call during hours of oper-ation for details and pricing.

The Dahlgren Movie TheaterThe NSF Dahlgren Movie Theater has

gone digital! Join us at the newly remod-eled Dahlgren Movie Theater. We have newseating with drink holders, new carpet, newpaint, new curtains and a new digital moviesystem (capable if showing 3-D movies).Friday and Saturday evening movies shownyear-round, featuring recent movie releases.Concessions are available, including foodand beverages. A significant savings whencompared to commercial movie theaters.Eligible patrons include all with base access.For more information, please contact themovie info line at 540-653-7336.

Hours of Operation:Friday: 7 p.m. ShowingSaturday: 7 p.m. ShowingPrice of Shows:$5 Civilian; $4 Active Duty, Retired &

JUPITERIMAGES/COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK

JUPITERIMAGES/COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK

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01039913

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall MWRSummer Fun at

MCCS Henderson HallSubmitted by Doriann Geller

MCCS Marketing Officer

MCCS Henderson Hall, located on JointBase Myer-Henderson Hall, offers a greatvariety of activities for active duty person-nel, reservists, retirees, family members,and DOD civilians in the National CapitalRegion. From our awesome gym and anextraordinary Marine Corps Exchange tofamily support activities, we offer some-thing for just about everyone. We invite youto visit www.mccsHH.com, a comprehen-sive site encompassing all things MCCSHenderson Hall. And now, we offer mobilecontent optimized for smartphones andtablets at www.M.mccsHH.com. We knowyou are visiting us on the go, so we’ve madeit easier for you to view our content.

Pool OpensThe Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool is

open for the summer season! Check ourwebsite for hours of operation (still to bedetermined at press time). The pool is aquiet place to swim laps, enjoy the sun(don’t forget sunscreen!) and enjoy aquaticfun. Aqua aerobics classes are set to resume

as well; the pool aerobics equipment is justthe thing for exercising in the water withless stress on your joints.

Semper Fit RunsCheck the OohRah Run Series website at

www.mccsHH.com/oohrahrunseries.html.Upcoming runs include the Chesty’s 5kFun Run on June 26, the Devil Dog 7K onSept. 18, a “Semper Fi-ght” Obesity 5k FunRun with Navy Mutual Aid Association onOct. 23 and the annual Turkey Trot JointBase 5k Fun Run on Nov.15.

For more information, please call 703-614-5959. And, if you would like to be noti-fied when runs are opening for registra-tion, please sign up by going to our website,www.mccsHH.com/SignUp.html, and askto be included on the email list.

Golf Tournaments“Golf With Us,” Semper Fit’s tourna-

ment series, is under way monthly throughSeptember at courses in Northern Virginia.Play is open to all DOD ID card hold-ers and their guests. Fees include lunch,

cart, 18 holes, and, thanks to our gener-ous sponsors, a goody bag and door prizes.Reservations are essential, as the rosterfills quickly. Call 703-697-2706 for moreinformation or check www.mccsHH.com/SemperFit.html.

Family ProgramsMCCS Henderson Hall of fer s a

wide range of services to Marines andtheir family members throughout theNational Capital Region and beyond to a105-square-mile area around Joint BaseMyer-Henderson Hall. Through a robustoutreach program, the programs provideinformation on topics such as relocationassistance, school liaison services, educa-tion and career resources, personal financialmanagement, and counseling support. Foran overview of the services available, pleasevisit www.mccsHH.com/MFS.html.

Want to keep in the loop on MCCSHenderson Hall offerings? Visit us at www.mccsHH.com or www.M.mccsHH.com,follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mccsHH, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MCCSHH.

COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK RYAN MCVAY/DIGITAL VISION/THINKSTOCK


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Stay in the KnowWant to know about all the summer

events in Quantico? Then be sure to pickup a copy of our Summer Guide, availableonline and at various locations on base. Or,keep in touch and stay in the know by sign-ing up to receive our Monthly Trifold at theMCCS website or like us on Facebook atfacebook.com/Quantico MCCS.

MCCS Quantico MWRWednesday Socials at TCAQEnjoy the night out with friends and com-

rades. Stop by The Clubs at Quantico everyWednesday for a social night with drinks anda full pub menu. Check out the MCCS web-site for all the details or call 703-784-4264.

Family Golf OutingBring the family to the Medal of Honor

Golf Course on Saturday, June 15, for nineholes of golf.The event begins at 4 p.m. andfinishes with hot dogs and fixings with fruitpunch at the Medal of Honor Golf CoursePavilion. Children ages 5 to 17 play for free.Stop by the Pro Shop to preregister or call703-784-2424.

Quantico 50M PoolNew year, new pool! With summer upon

us, don’t forget about taking a dip in theQuantico 50M Pool. Open Rec Swim, LapSwim, Lessons and more! We have a newschedule and pricing, so pick up a poolbrochure or visit us online today! Stay in theknow by watching the MCCS website formore details.

Website: www.quantico.usmc-mccs.org

RYAN MCVAY/LIFESIZE/THINKSTOCK

Reserve Mil E7 and above and their fam-ily members with ID; $2.50, E1-E6 andbelow and their family members with ID;$2, Child (6-11); Free, Child (5 and under).

Youth Activity CenterOpen five days a week from 6 a.m. to

6 p.m. The Youth Activity Center offers abefore- and after-school program and sum-mer camp for youth grades K-12. Our car-ing staff members supervise a wide range ofactivities from recreation to crafts to home-work time.

Sign up to get a free subscription for theNSF Dahlgren Fleet and Family Readiness(FFR) weekly Marketing Office ElectronicNewsletter (e-News) at [email protected] for an update of MWRspecial events, movie schedule, restaurantmenu, sports events, Fleet and FamilySupport Center class schedules and more!

L i k e NSA Sou th Po tomac onFacebook at: http://www.facebook.com/NSASouthPotomac. Don’t miss out on baseevents and news—let NSASP and Facebookkeep you up to date!

STOCKBYTE/THINKSTOCK

NSA South Potomac and NSF Dahlgren continued from page 9


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BISHOP IRETON HIGH SCHOOL

“Be who you are and be that well”- ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

201 Cambridge Road,Alexandria,VA 22314(703) 751-7606 • www.bishopireton.org

Advancing always in Christ through the legacy of the gentle saint, Francis de Sales

Apply NowLimited space available for

freshmen and transfer studentsfor the 2013-14 school year.

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NAS Patuxent River and NRC Solomons MWRCOME SPEND YOUR

VACATION TIMEAT NAS PATUXENT RIVER

NAS Patuxent River invites you to enjoythe summer with us!

Camping atNAS Patuxent River

MWR offers more than 37 campsites nes-tled amid the beauty of land and sea. Fromprimitive sites to those with water and elec-trical hookups, there is no better way to getcloser to the natural splendor of the region.The Patuxent River campgrounds are openFebruary through November.

All campsites located onboard NASPatuxent River can be reserved by calling877-628-9233 or visiting www.dodlodging.net. Requests for camping reservations maybe made at the West Basin Marina. Themarina office number is 301-342-3573.

Travel smart! Save moneyby staying with NGIS!

877-Navy-Bed (628-9233)www.dodlodging.netNot up for camping? You can still enjoy

all the fantastic events this summer and

stay at our Navy Gateway Inns & Suites.Standard rooms are only $54 and suites

are just $64. VIP rooms are $69 and VIPsuites are $74. Available for active duty,retired and dependents, National Guard,reservists, and DoD civilians. Priority isgiven to guests on government-fundedorders. Leisure travel reservations areavailable 30 days in advance, for up toseven nights. (Based on availability.)

ENTERTAINMENTSummer Theater Seriesat the Waterside Stage

July 11 and Sept. 12; 7 p.m.Bring your blanket or patio chairs and

relax on the lawn at the River’s Edge whileenjoying a theater performance waterside!We are hosting a series of one-act playsthat are family friendly and locally themed.There will be two original shows each night

with a brief intermission. Tickets for eachshow are $8.50. A variety of delicious andfresh preplated meals will be available foryou to purchase. Beer, wine, champagneor your favorite cocktail will be on handas well. Performances last 90 minutes withintermission. Hillside seating begins at5:30 p.m. Space is limited; call and reservetickets at 301-342-3656. Please, no cool-ers and no pets. Thank you! Sponsored byNorthrop Grumman.

Father’s Day Brunchat the River’s Edge

June 16; serving from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Bring dad to enjoy carved barbecue beef

COURTESY OF NAS PATUXENT RIVER AND NRC SOLOMONS


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brisket, fried potato wedges, pancakes, bacon,eggs, sausage, fresh fruits, salads and desserts.

Adults $14.95, children (6-16) $9.95,children (3-5) $3. Please call 301-342-3656for reservations.

Summer Fling Dinner and DanceJune 27; dinner served from 5:30-7 p.m.,

dancing until 10 p.m.Make plans now to attend this fun event!

We have called back the “Sultan of Sound,”DJ David Kalil, for another night of musicand dancing. And, as always, Chef DougMackey and his team will be preparing adinner guaranteed to delight! So bring yourfriends! On the menu: carved flank steak,herb-crusted tilapia, salad bar and more.And … for dessert we will have a shortcakebar, where you can top your own shortcakewith fresh berries and ice cream. Call 301-342-3656 for details and reservations.

$14.95 members, $16.95 nonmembersWine package is optional and extra.

Members coupons will be redeemable.

DON’T FORGET THE SPORTSCedar Point Golf Course

The picturesque Cedar Point GolfCourse at NAS Pax River features 6,714

yards of golf from the longest tees; par 72.This course’s key features are its narrow,tree-lined fairways, located amid a fairlywooded area, and the greens are bent grass.

Hours of Operation:Monday, 12-7:30 p.m.Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.Friday, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m.Please note: Golf course hours may

change as the days become longer. Pleasecontact the Pro Shop at 301-342-3597.

Father’s Day Scramble at theCedar Point Golf Course

June 16; set own tee times between 7-11 a.m.Bring dad out for a day of golf and fun

at our Father’s Day Scramble. Format willbe a two-person scramble consisting of dadand any family member. Gross and netprizes using 50 percent of combined hand-icaps. Register the day of the event beforeteeing off. $15 per team to participate. Call301-342-3597 for more information.

Match Play ChampionshipJune 22-23; assigned tee timesPlayers will be flighted by handicap.

Saturday: First and second round matchesare nine holes. Sunday: Final round

matches are 18 holes. Entry fee is $45 ($30for punch card holders). Green fees areincluded (cart fees separate). Register atthe Cedar Point Golf Course by June 16.Contact the Pro Shop for more informationat 301-342-3597.

NRC SOLOMONS

Patriotic Pool PartyJuly 3; 8-10 p.m.Join us for our third annual patriotic pool

party at the Riverside Aquatic Complex.Special activities will take place at the pool.

Call 410-286-8047 for more information.

Patriotic ParadeJuly 4; 3 p.m.Let your American spirit shine in an old

Americana favorite. Join the NRC team inour 3rd Annual Patriotic Parade on July 4.Bring your pooch dressed up as Uncle Sam,your little red wagon with stars and stripes, abicycle with streamers, or a golf cart with bal-loons. The Solomons team looks forward toyou joining them as we show our Americanpride and celebrate the spirit of indepen-dence with a family-friendly walk from theAdventure Zone to the Riverside Pool.

Call 410-286-8047 for more information.

WHAT WE OFFER

CampingNavy Recreation Center Solomons has

14 group tent campsites, 56 primitive tentcampsites, 146 complete hookup sites, and156 electric- and water-only sites (20-50amp service available at sites with electrichookup).Campsites are not pull-throughsites. To check on availability, call theLodging Office at 410-286-7301/2.

The Adventure ZoneThe Adventure Zone is available for the

entire family. It features an air-conditionedTV lounge with an arcade and gear issue.Just outside is an 18-hole miniature golfcourse, billiard tables and a pingpong table.The Adventure Zone hosts a variety of spe-cial events, including dances, tournaments,outdoor movie nights, family events, artsand craft projects, and carnivals.

Need sporting equipment? Gear Issue,located inside the Adventure Zone, has ten-nis, basketball and softball equipment toloan out with the purchase of a Leisure orActivity Pass.

Have birthday parties with us! TheAdventure Zone can assist in birthday partycelebrations. Call 410-286-8046/8047 formore information.


01039912

weeks and months there recuperatingand learning to live with new challenges.Operation Ward 57 began as a grass-roots, volunteer effort to supply neededitems for the ward and its patients, fam-ily members and staff.

The organization is now a nationalmovement , suppor ted by ath le tes ,musicians and various organizations.Through the Honor & Courage pro-gram, volunteer wounded heroes serveas caseworkers and mentors for thosewho are struggling with injuries. Funds

are raised from many sources, but aprimary source is the sale of Ward 57T-shirts with proceeds going straight tosupport for the ward, said Hamilton.

The T-shirt was what drew Hamiltonto the organization. “There was a wargoing on and I had no idea how to help.I don’t have a lot of money, but I wentto an event and met OPW57 co-founderDeborah Semer,” she said. “I bought aT-shirt because I saw that the proceedswould directly impact the guys in the hos-pital. I started volunteering doing events

and in booths.” Hamilton lives in Tacoma,Wash., and is a research coordinator atthe VA hospital in Seattle. Her husbandChristian is a U.S. Army supply sergeant.

“It’s amazing how many people gofrom Walter Reed to Madigan (ArmyMedical Center) in Tacoma, so we havea wonderful network of people on bothsides of the country,” said Hamilton.This network takes care of a lot of thesmall things people need, as simple asshoes and coats, SD cards for cameras,toiletries, diversions for children, carrepairs, and bills that need to be paid.

“Families have to suddenly be at WalterReed and are often not prepared to bethere,” said Hamilton. “It’s a stressfultime. They often don’t have transporta-tion to get around, and they leave lives athome that need to be managed.” One dayin April, Hamilton and the OPW57 teamhelped an active duty soldier in Texas. Hehad a baby in the house, his water wasabout to be shut off, and there was nomoney to pay the utility bill and no foodin the house. Hamilton received a phonecall about it from her Honor & Courageteam in Texas. She sent money to pay thewater bill and found volunteers in thearea to obtain gift cards and food dona-tions from local stores.

OPW57 organizes holiday events atWalter Reed and other VA hospitals,bringing in catered meals and gift bagsfor wounded warriors and their fam-

ilies. They have also organized grouptr ips to concer ts and spor ts events,such as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Seriesrace at Dover International Speedwayin Delaware in September 2012, whichthey sponsored along with Hero EnergyShot. Besides direct support for the sol-diers and their families, OPW57 has alsosupplied microwaves and storage furni-ture for the hospital areas, care packagesfor combat medics, live music on theward, and a video and game library.

Hamilton said there’s quite a familyof volunteers to help at Walter Reed.“OPW57 people go room to room andcheck in with everyone. We get to knowfamilies, so they feel comfortable reach-ing out to volunteers and referring peo-ple to us. We’ve really made an effort topartner with and befriend a lot of orga-nizations, so if we can’t meet the needswe find other organizations that can.”

The historic Ward 57 orthopedic wardwas moved to Bethesda’s Walter ReedNational Military Medical Center in2011. Now called 4E, it still cares forAmerica’s most severely wounded ser-vice members.

“So many people in the communitywant to help our wounded warriors andtheir caregivers and don’t know howto help them,” said Hamilton. But, shesaid, they can buy a Ward 57 T-shirt ormake a donation to the organization atan event or at www.operationward57.org.

COURTESY OF OPERATION WARD 57Operation Ward 57 and Hero Energy Shot hosted wounded warriors in September

alongside professional driver T.J. Bell for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raceat Dover International Speedway in Delaware.

WOUNDED WARRIORS continued from page 7


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