Soundoff feb. 27, 2014

Soundoff!
´

vol. 66 no. 8

Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community

February 27, 2014

honoring a hero
photo by noah scialom

Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Doty, a master instructor at the Defense Information School, is awarded The Soldier’s Medal by his father, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Timothy Doty,
in a ceremony Friday at DINFOS. The sergeant was recognized for his bravery and heroism in helping to save the crew of a downed helicopter in Northeasten Afghanistan
in 2010. For the story, see Page 4.

cYSS TODAY
Special pull-out
highlights child,
youth services
INSIDE

Civil rights
Black History Month
celebrates race
relations progress
Page 10

UPCOMING EVENTS

Today, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: “A Day of Financial Fitness” - Comm. Readiness Center
Friday, 5 & 7 p.m.: High School Boys & Girls Basketball Playoffs - Meade High School
March 3-7: Telework Awareness Week
March 6, 7 a.m.: Monthly Prayer Breakfast - Club Meade
March 19, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Technical Job Fair - Club Meade

Soundoff!
´

Editorial Staff
Garrison Commander
Col. Brian P. Foley
Garrison Command
Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Latter
Public Affairs Officer
Chad T. Jones
Chad.T.Jones.civ@mail.mil
Chief, Command Information
Philip H. Jones
Philip.H.Jones.civ@mail.mil
Assistant Editor & Senior Writer
Rona S. Hirsch
Staff Writer Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer Brandon Bieltz
Design Coordinator Timothy Davis
Supplemental photography provided
by The Baltimore Sun Media Group

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Co n t e n t s
News.............................. 3

Sports................................... 16

Religion........................ 20
.

Movies.................................. 15

Community.................. 14

Classified.............................. 21

SOUNDOFF! February 27, 2014

Commander’s Column

Strengthen your immune
system with good nutrition
This has been a harsh winter.
There has been a lot of snow, subfreezing temperatures and exceptionally high rates of colds,
upper respiratory infections and influenza.
Unlike the common cold, the flu can cause
severe illness and life-threatening complications, especially in older people, young children,
pregnant women, and people with certain health
conditions.
The best ways to prevent seasonal cold and
flu are:
• Getting an annual flu shot
• Maximizing your resistance to the virus by
washing your hands at least 11 times daily
• Eating high-potency foods with immunity
protective properties
In eating better to increase your immunity,
practice these six simple dietary habits:
1. Eat seven to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables.
The vibrant colors in fruits and vegetables
contain agents called phytochemicals that fight
illness, decrease inflammation and slow down
free radical production.
Free radicals are rogue, cell-attacking molecules that cause oxidative damage by colliding
into each cell of your body in excess of 10,000
times a day. This stress on cells can weaken your
immune system and make you more vulnerable
to seasonal viruses and even worse, debilitating
chronic illnesses.
There are more than 6,000 phytochemicals
identified in foods that break this cycle and help
fight diseases like cancer and heart disease.
There are two main categories of phytochemicals: carotenoids and flavonoids.
Carotenoids are the chemicals responsible for
the yellow, orange and red in plants. Some green
vegetables like spinach and kale are also full of
carotenoids.
Flavonoids are the blue, blue-red and violet
pigments in fruits and vegetables. Other flavonoids are found in cocoa.
2. Decrease sugar intake.
Sugar has a damaging impact on our immune
functions.
One study shows that the ingestions of just
100 grams or 3.5 ounces (7 tablespoons, the
amount of sugar in a 28 oz. Big Gulp soda) of
simple sugar in the form of glucose, fructose,
sucrose or honey significantly reduced the ability
of white blood cells (neutrophils) to attack and
destroy bacteria.
This effect started within less than 30 minutes
after ingestion and lasted more than five hours,
with a 50 percent reduction in neutrophil pro-

duction.
Other highfiber
carbohydrates and
starches did not
have this effect.
3. Eat more
garlic.
Garlic is an
edible antibiotic with strong
antibacterial
COL. danny b.n. Jaghab
MEDDAC Commander
properties that
fights viruses.
Fresh garlic contains sulfur compounds rich
in antioxidants that have heart-protective properties and help build the body’s immune system.
Eating two to four cloves a day is recommended. Cooking deactivates these antioxidants, so it
is suggested to crush the garlic and let it stand
for 10-15 minutes before cooking to preserve the
therapeutic effects of garlic when cooked.
4. Drink more green and black tea.
These both contain immunity-boosting antioxidants.
A study conducted at Harvard University
examined the immune function in coffee drinkers compared to tea drinkers. When the blood of
both groups were exposed to the E. coli bacteria,
the tea drinkers’ immune cells responded five
times faster than the coffee drinkers’.
It is best to drink one to four cups of tea a
day.
5. Take a multivitamin with B complex vitamins.
Stress weakens our immune system. B vitamins are responsible for many immune processes
that counteract this by strengthening our cellular DNA, and producing white blood cells and
antibodies.
The B vitamins complement each other and
should be taken as indicated on most highpotency multivitamins.
6. Take a multivitamin with Vitamins A, C
and E.
These vitamins work together to keep the
immune cell count high and the immune system
strong. The recommended daily dosage is 200
IU of Vitamin E; 5,000 to 10,000 IU of Vitamin
A; and 250-1,000 mg. of Vitamin C.
By practicing these habits daily, you will
strengthen your immune system, and avoid
colds, upper respiratory infections and the flu.
Remember, these habits should be followed
this winter and in every season.
http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

News

DoD 2015 budget aims to reform compensation
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
The Defense Department can no longer
put off slowing the growth of military
personnel costs, and the fiscal year 2015
budget request DoD is recommending to
the president begins that process, defense
leaders said Monday.
Saying they are ready to take on the
hard task of curbing growth in compensation, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel
and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey,
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
previewed the fiscal 2015 budget request
for reporters.
Hagel said all defense leaders agreed to
a holistic and comprehensive approach to
compensation changes.
“Continuous piecemeal changes will
only magnify uncertainty and doubts
among our service members about whether promised benefits will be there in the
future,” he said.
Dempsey also stressed this in his
remarks.
“I know this weighs heavily on the
minds of our men and women in uniform
and on their families,” he said. “Our force
is extraordinarily accepting of change.
They are less understanding of piecemeal approaches. They want — and they
deserve — predictability.”
Military and civilian compensation
accounts for 50 percent of the DoD
budget. This has put the department out
of balance, the defense leaders said, and
the department must invest to ensure service members are well equipped and well
trained to handle future challenges.

All savings from compensation reforms
will help keep service members properly trained and equipped, they said. The
budget request recommends a 1 percent
increase in military pay, and it freezes pay
for general and flag officers.
Hagel and Dempsey stressed that no
one in uniform will see a pay cut. Rather,
they explained, the push is to slow growth
to put pay and benefits on a more sustainable path.
“Total pay and benefits increased 40
percent faster than the private sector
between 2001 and 2012, and while that
was the right thing to do at the time, we
can’t continue at that rate over the long
term,” Hagel said.
In addition to pay, the budget request
begins the process to slow the growth rate
of tax-free basic housing allowances. This
will continue for five years until the allowances cover about 95 percent of the average service member’s housing expenses.
Again, no one will see a decrease in
their basic house allowance, Hagel said.
DoD also would no longer reimburse
service members for renter’s insurance.
This change will happen slowly so that
no one’s housing allowances will actually
go down, Hagel said, noting that the process also will consider differences in the
relative cost of living, so service members
in high-rent areas won’t be adversely
affected.
Under the request, the department
will not shut down any commissaries, but
will cut subsidies for some of them, the
secretary said.
“Over three years, we will reduce by $1

billion the annual direct subsidy provided
to military commissaries, which now totals
$1.4 billion,” he said. “We are not shutting
down commissaries. All commissaries will
still get free rent and pay no taxes.
“They will be able to continue to provide a very good deal to service members and retirees — much like our Post
Exchanges, which do not receive direct
subsidies. Overseas commissaries and
those in remote locations will continue
receiving direct subsidies.”
DoD will simplify and modernize the
TRICARE health insurance program by
consolidating plans and adjusting deductibles and co-pays in ways that encourage
members to use the most affordable means
of care. That includes military treatment
facilities, preferred providers and generic
prescriptions, the secretary said.
“We will ask retirees and some activeduty family members to pay a little more
in their deductibles and co-pays, but their
benefits will remain affordable, as they
should be,” he said.
“To protect the most vulnerable, under
this plan medically retired service members, their families, and the survivors of
service members who die on active duty
would not pay the annual participation
fees charged to other retirees, and would
pay a smaller share of the costs for health
care than other retirees.”
Under the budget recommendation,
the average military retiree would go from
paying 8 percent of health care costs out
of pocket to paying 11 percent.
Retirees old enough to use Medicare
and who choose to have TRICARE as

well, eventually would be asked to pay
a little bit more to enroll in TRICARE,
Hagel said.
The approach encourages retirees to use
free military facilities if they are close to
home, which provide outstanding care and
are often underused, the secretary said.
The compensation proposals do not
recommend any changes to the military
retirement benefits for those now in the
services, Hagel said.
“We are awaiting the results of the
Military Compensation and Retirement
Modernization Commission, which is
expected to present its report in February 2015, before pursuing reforms in this
area,” he said. “But DoD continues to
support the principle of ‘grandfathering’
for any future changes to military retirement plans.”
Hagel said the proposals were carefully
crafted to reform military compensation
in a fair, responsible and sustainable way.
“We recognize that no one serving our
nation in uniform is overpaid for what
they do for our country,” he said. “But if
we continue on the current course without
making these modest adjustments now,
the choices will only grow more difficult
and painful down the road.
“We will inevitably have to either cut
into compensation even more deeply and
abruptly, or we will have to deprive our
men and women of the training and
equipment they need to succeed in battle.
“Either way, we would be breaking
faith with our people,” he said. “And
the president and I will not allow that to
happen.”

Fort Meade
environmental
team honored

The team competed against installations
throughout the world and was recognized
for outstanding performance and excellence in environmental stewardship and
sustainability.
The Fort Meade team consists of Paul
Fluck, program manager, and George
Knight, project manager, as well as contractors Denise Tegtmeyer and Erin
McKinley of Osage Inc.
“We know we have a dedicated and
hardworking team,” Garrison Commander
Col. Brian P. Foley said. “To have official
recognition that our environmental restoration program is the best in the Army by a
panel of experts is particularly gratifying.
“This recognition also goes to assure
our community that when we talk about
environmental stewardship, we’re not just

using buzz words. We believe in what we
are doing and hope to leave a legacy of a
healthy and sustainable environment for
the decades that follow.”
Fort Meade’s Installation Restoration
and Military Munitions Response Program team is tasked with protecting the
post and surrounding communities from
potential human health and environmental
hazards caused by historical operational
activities.
The team’s work includes projects such
as removing contaminated soil at a former
pesticide shop adjacent to the Directorate
of Emergency Services and excavating
methane-generating buried trash at the
Manor View dump site.
“While the issues we are remediating
stem from historic operations, the correc-

tion of those problems will benefit generations to come, and we’re all proud of that,”
Fluck said.
Over the last two years, the team investigated more than 130 acres of land that
was previously suspected of being contaminated, and determined it was available for reuse. The team also was credited
for saving the Army millions of dollars
using innovative scientific and management techniques.
“We’re all most proud of our efforts in
reducing risk from exposure to harmful
chemicals in soil or groundwater and still
save the Army approximately $17.5 million,” Fluck said. “I think it’s a true demonstration of Fort Meade’s commitment
to the environment and the people who
live, work and recreate here.”

By Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
Fort Meade’s environmental team is
doing its part to protect and preserve the
environment.
For its work done in 2012 and 2013,
the Installation Reservation and Military
Munitions Response Program team was
recently honored with the Secretary of the
Army Environmental Award for Environmental Restorations.

February 27, 2014 SOUNDOFF!

C over S tory

The Soldier’s Medal awarded to Airman for heroism
By Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer
On May 3, 2010 Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Doty was the first to rush to the scene
of a crashed helicopter in Northeastern
Afghanistan and helped to rescue its three
crewmen.
For his bravery and heroism, Doty was
awarded The Soldier’s Medal in a ceremony
Friday at the Defense Information School.
The Soldier’s Medal is an individual
decoration of the Army awarded to any
member of the U.S. Armed Forces or of a
friendly foreign nation who, while serving
in any capacity with the U.S. Army, distinguishes himself or herself by a heroic act not
involving conflict with an enemy.
Doty is a master instructor in the Visual
Communications Department at DINFOS
and teaches the basic still photography
course. At the time of the incident, he was
a combat photographer.
In his remarks, DINFOS Commandant
Col. Jeremy Martin called the ceremony a
“most auspicious occasion.”
“It’s not every day that an Airman
receives a Soldier’s Medal on an Army base
by a Navy captain,” Martin said. “So this is
a really big deal.”
Doty was nominated for the award by
Navy Capt. Raymond J. Benedict, who
saw the crash. At the time, Benedict was
commanding officer of the provincial reconstruction team at the Forward Operating
Base, Kala Gush, in the Nuristan province
in Afghanistan.
Benedict, who is now the commanding
officer for the Center for Security Forces in
Little Creek, Va., was the ceremony’s guest
speaker.
“We’re here to witness a long overdue
award to Sergeant Doty,” he said.
It took almost four years. The office of
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski began working late last summer to help expedite the
award.
During the ceremony, Benedict recalled
the crash of the helicopter, which landed
on its side. It was later determined that the
aircraft crashed due to mechanical failure.
The rotorhead, with broken rotor blades
that had scattered, was still turning and
caused the aircraft to shake. The running
engines caused fuel to pool on the ground.
To make matters worse, the helicopter
was carrying ammunition and high-explosive mortars rounds, which were strewn on
the ground.
There was no firefighting team at the
FOB.
“But that didn’t stop the rescue party,”

photo by noah scialom

Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Doty, a master instructor at the Defense Information School, laughs before being awarded The Soldier’s
Medal on Friday at the school. Among the speakers was DINFOS Commandant Col. Jeremy Martin (left).

Benedict said.
Within 35 seconds of the crash, Doty ran
to the scene.
“Doty led the rescue effort. He was the
first person to the helo,” Benedict said. “He
kicked in the window and climbed into the
cockpit.”
According to the award citation, Doty
helped pull the first two crewmen out of the
wreckage and then tried to shut the helicopter down while other service members pulled
out the last crewman.
Doty reached several controls but couldn’t
turn off the engines or the rotorhead. He
then climbed completely inside the wreckage to reach the throttles and fuel controls
located on the helicopter’s ceiling.
Soon after, 1st. Lt. Joseph Wingard, who
had followed Doty to the scene, told him
that all the crew had been rescued and that it
wasn’t safe to try to shut down the aircraft.
Doty exited the helicopter, then grabbed

his camera to document the crash.
Benedict said it took the team of service
members less than three minutes to rescue
the crewmen.
“Without any training, guidance or direction, they responded magnificently that
day,” he said.
They responded with “complete disregard for their own safety and performed at
great personal risk. ... They did not hesitate
a second to risk their own lives to rescue
those three crew members,” Benedict said.
A short video clip of the crash was played
at the ceremony.
Afterward, Doty’s father, retired Air
Force Lt. Col. Timothy Doty, pinned The
Soldier’s Medal on his son’s uniform.
“This is almost embarrassing to stand
here as the sole individual for an action
that was completed by a team,” the sergeant
said in his remarks. “It’s an upbringing that
I’ve had since I was a kid — to serve others

before I serve myself.
“It’s a trait that the Air Force instilled in
me. Really, what happened was instinctive.”
Doty’s wife, Thalia, was an Air Force
staff sergeant on the same deployment.
She witnessed the crash and her husband’s
rescue efforts.
“I’m very proud of him,” she said after
the ceremony. “It’s a great accomplishment.”
The couple and their young daughter are
relocating in March to Laughlin Air Force
Base in Del Rio, Texas. He will serve as the
noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
Office.
“The military is in our blood,” said Doty,
whose two brothers also have served in the
armed forces. “From Day 1, [we learned] it
was not about us, it was about everybody
else. We love our service and we love our
country.”

N ews

IMCOM central region
director visits Meade
By Philip H. Jones
Chief, Command Information
The regional director of Installation
Management Command for the U.S.
Army’s Central Region made a one-day
trip to Fort Meade on Friday.
The visit provided Thomas J. Schoenbeck an opportunity to talk with garrison
leaders, get a firsthand look at ongoing
construction projects and discuss ways
that IMCOM can support the garrison’s
infrastructure challenges.
As director for the IMCOM’s Central Region, Schoenbeck is responsible for
management and execution of all installation management programs of active and
Reserve components at 26 installations.
Increased traffic and the challenges
associated with more commuters on the
installation have been an ongoing issue at
Fort Meade, due in part to the 2005 Base
Realignment and Closure Act.
Since 2005, the workforce at Fort Meade
has increased from about 34,000 employees
to approximately 50,000 employees.
The influx of commuters has been managed in a variety of ways including the
use of car and van pools, bus shuttles and
other transportation options. However,
traffic congestion and clogged local roads
continue to be a challenge.
“I’m concerned about the traffic and
roadways here,” Schoenbeck said. “We have
to figure out a way to develop a funding

line to help improve the road arteries on
the base. From an IMCOM perspective, we
have to make sure that we have the garrison
set to support the increased populations.”
With regard to construction, Schoenbeck said he is impressed with the way Fort
Meade continues to grow.
“I’ve seen improvements across the
board,” he said. “Not that Fort Meade
was in a bad place, but I’m just seeing
constant improvements like construction.
Last time I was here, we saw the concept
of the single Soldier apartment complex.
Now, as we drove by, it’s come a long way.
So we’re seeing things come to completion
here, which is neat to see.”
In addition to discussions about Fort
Meade’s infrastructure, Schoenbeck said
trips to garrison installations provide him
with an opportunity to see what’s going on
at an installation such as Fort Meade and
get a chance to talk to garrison personnel.
“It’s a joy to get here and talk to some
of the workers and the directors and hear
their concerns, and [for me to] be able to
address those [concerns] with them,” he
said. “Every time I come to a place like this
I get takeaways.
“We have some work to do on some
projects and some funding lines to see
through. For me, it’s all about getting eyes
on the ground.”
Stops at the Freedom Inn Dining Facility, Club Meade and the Youth Center pro-

Photo by SpC. Joshua Kruger, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)

Thomas J. Schoenbeck, regional director of Installation Management Command for
the U.S. Army’s Central Region, talks with Keshia Gray, assistant director of the Fort
Meade Youth Center, and Emmy Niemczyk, the center’s facility director, as Lida-M
H Payne, chief of Child, Youth and School Services, and Francisco Jamison, CYSS
administrator, look on. Schoenbeck toured Fort Meade on Friday morning, and spoke
with garrison personnel about ways that IMCOM can support Fort Meade.

vided Schoenbeck with an opportunity to
thank garrison personnel for the work they
do. He emphasized that he is impressed
with the garrison personnel’s professionalism and hard work.
“Thank you for what you’re doing.”
Schoenbeck said. “From place to place I
go and staffs I see like this, [reminds me of
what] Lieutenant General Michael Ferriter
[commander, U.S. Army IMCOM, and
assistant chief of staff for IMCOM] says:
‘You’ve got people fighting above their
weight class. They’re doing more and more
than one would expect them to do.’

“I see people with great attitudes, people
making a heck of a difference. Thank
you.”
Schoenbeck also had a message for the
many partner commands at Fort Meade.
“We want to hear from partner commands on where we are hitting the mark,
where we are falling short in their eyes so
we can make those adjustments,” he said.
“IMCOM exists for one reason and the
garrisons exist for one reason — that is
to support Soldiers and their families, the
civilians who work here and the contractors.”

Tricky texts may be a link to a scam
By A.J. Colkitt
Legal Assistance Intern
“Congratulations! You’ve won a
$1,000 gift card! Click on this link to
claim your prize!”
Have you gotten a text like this? Millions of Americans have.
In fact, there are multiple offers involving gift cards from big-name companies
like Best Buy, Target and Walmart. Time
for a little shopping spree, right? As nice
as that would be, the sad truth is, all
texts like this are scams.
Let’s take a look at this scam beyond
face value. After you get the text, you are
prompted to click on the link provided
in the message.
Sometimes the webpage prompts you

to enter a code that is included in the
original message to gain access to the
website. Once you have logged on to the
website, it asks for some basic information for the prize to be claimed.
This sounds pretty harmless. But
these scams are only in the business to
get any information you are willing to
offer and sell that information to companies out to scam people out of house
and home.
By falling for this one scam, you begin
to slide down the slippery slope to even
worse cons.
On top of selling information, sometimes these scams offering free gift cards
require you to accept other offers in
order to claim your prize. These include

the requirement to pay for a subscription to a magazine or service, or to apply
for credit.
Of course, these are also scams.
So in light of all of this, the question
arises: “How can I recognize scams like
this?”
You need to ask yourself these two
questions:
1. “Did I sign up for this?”
Most likely, you haven’t asked for any
gift card, and this just came out of the
blue. That is a major red flag.
2. “What’s the catch?”
Unfortunately, nothing is free. There
is always a catch. If they aren’t telling
you what it is, run. Fast.
The last question is, what do you do

with these texts?
• Report these texts.
Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM)
for free to ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile
or Sprint (depending on who your carrier is.)
• Delete the text.
Do not respond. Do not click the link.
Just hit the delete button.
For more information about these
texting tricks, go to the Federal Trade
Commission website at ftc.gov.
If you are a victim of a scam, you can
report your encounter at the same website or call the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Office to schedule an appointment
with an attorney at 301-677-9504 or
301-677-9536.

N ews

CYSS chief retires after
39 years on Fort Meade
By Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer
During her years in high school and
at the University of Maryland, College Park, Lida-M H Payne worked and
interned at Fort Meade.
Today, Payne is chief of Child, Youth
and School Services.
After a nearly lifelong career that
started in 1975 and was dedicated to Fort
Meade youth and their families, Payne
retires Friday.
“Rewarding is when a patron tells you
how much they appreciate your staff and
how much their children have learned and
grown,” Payne said. “Rewarding is planning an activity, like the Family Fun Fair,
and to watch and improve it every year.
“Rewarding is seeing a staff member
truly enjoy what they are doing in their
jobs. ... Who could complain about having all of those positives in your life?”
Sarah Bonise, CYSS child administrator, will be the acting CYSS chief until a
replacement is hired.
“Lida’s strengths are many — strong
organizational skills, a wonderful mentor and coach to staff,” said Martha
McClary, director of Family and Morale,
Welfare and Recreation, who has worked
with Payne since 1985. “[She] possesses
sound judgment, unquestionable loyalty
and dedication to the organization, and
[is] an expert in her field, and her creativity, to name a few.”
Payne’s most recent accomplishments
include coordinating the requirements for
the approval of two new Child Development Center modulars to be constructed
this year.
Last year, she was selected with more
than 20 other CYSS leaders to participate
in the Department of the Army Inspector General background checks team to
review the practices and processes for
background checks at CYSS facilities.
“I learned so much and I feel that I
contributed positively to this exercise,”
she said.
Payne was born into a military family.
Her father Col. Carl George Witte served
in the Army for 30 years before retiring
from Fort Meade in 1963. The family
lived on post and in Odenton.
Payne attended Pershing Hill Elementary and MacArthur Middle schools,
and graduated from Anne Arundel High
School in Gambrills.

As a high school junior, Payne worked
as a lifeguard and water safety instructor
at what was then the Fort Meade Officers
Pool.
In the spring of her senior year in college, Payne interned in what was then the
installation’s Dependent Youth Activities
division.
After earning a Bachelor of Science
degree in health and recreation, with a
minor in business administration, Payne
was hired as the teen director at Fort
Meade in 1975. She earned $2.47 an
hour.
“I was pretty happy with that!” Payne
said. “Even though I made more money
working as a substitute teacher [for the
Anne Arundel County Public Schools], I
knew this is what I wanted to do — work
for a military community and families.”
Payne went on to serve as the Youth
Center director, sports director, School
Age Services director and youth administrator. During this time she was the
project officer for several construction
initiatives, including the Youth Center,
the Youth Sports Complex and the renovation of the School Age Services building.
McClary said these projects are among
Payne’s most important achievements.
Payne received professional training
through classes at the Morale and Welfare Academy, which was formerly located in Virginia.
“I grew up with the changes and growing pains of CYSS,” Payne said. “It was
an exciting time for CYSS, and I was
fortunate to be a part of this era.”
In 1998, she was awarded the Order of
the White Plume Award, the highest civilian award in the Army FMWR.
DeAnna Knox, CYSS Outreach Services director, has known Payne for 14
years. She began her career as a CYSS
administrative assistant when Payne was
the Youth Center director.
“Ms. Payne’s hands-on approach is
very appreciated,” Knox said. “I owe her
a debt of gratitude. ... I cannot imagine
not having her as my mentor and being
at this point in my career. Her knowledge and wisdom are something that will
always stay with me.”
Payne said she has many fond memories of her years at Fort Meade, but the
celebration of the nation’s bicentennial
held at Burba Lake stands out.

photo by philip h. jones

Lida-M H Payne, chief of Fort Meade’s Child, Youth and School Services, retires Friday
after 39 years of service to the garrison. Payne, who was born into a military family
and attended Fort Meade schools, worked and interned on post in high school and
college. In 1975, she was hired to work as teen director.

“Imagine a Fourth of July with the
Statue of Liberty and a stage with children singing and signing Neil Diamond’s
‘Coming to America,’ ” Payne said.
The event included a large red, white
and blue train built by the Directorate of
Public Works, and a 100-foot ice cream
sundae eaten by the community.
The event drew more than 25,000
people.
“We received many accolades and compliments,” Payne said. “This event took
months of planning and coordination,
but the bright faces and pure enjoyment
of our families was so well worth it.”
Payne said the most challenging times
in her career have been adapting to the
changes in CYSS.
“We have changed so much from when
I first started,” Payne said. “We have so
many more regulations, reports, standards, inspections and different processes
to follow. We have been in a world of
change. Fortunately, I have embraced
change.”
Payne said that sometimes, the changes
in the field have been accepted by staff
members, and sometimes not.

“The challenge is keeping morale up
and moving on,” Payne said. “Normally,
change is good for the organization and
patrons. Sometimes we meet resistance.
... It’s not always easy, but I have always
had a great staff.”
Bonise, who met Payne five years ago
when she was hired as Fort Meade’s
school liaison officer, said Payne is a true
advocate for children and youth, and
praised her kindness and compassion.
“If I can adopt that strength of dedicating time and focus to each person
and issues through each day, then I feel
confident that I will be able to maintain at
least a level of consistency and help our
staff feel secure,” Bonise said.
Payne and her husband Roy, a retired
high school teacher and department head
for guidance counseling at AACPS, have
two adult children, twin grandsons and
another grandchild on the way.
In retirement, Payne will enjoy her new
home on the Eastern Shore. The couple
plan to decorate the house and travel.
“Life has always been good to me,”
Payne said. “I am looking forward to
writing the next chapter of my life.”

N ews

Black History Month celebrates Civil Rights Act of 1964
By Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer
The country’s advancements in race
relations since the civil rights movement mark only the beginning in the
ongoing struggle for equality for black
Americans.
This is the message Clairborne Douglass Haughton Jr. shared during his
guest speech for Fort Meade’s annual
Black History Month observance on
Feb. 20.
“Tremendous progress has been
made since the civil rights movement,
thanks to the countless dedicated men
and women of all races who made it
possible,” Haughton said. “But despite
this progress, we cannot rest on our
successes. We cannot rest.”
The 2014 theme for the annual observance is “Civil Rights in America.” This
year also marks the 50th anniversary
of the signing of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964.
The 90-minute event, hosted by Army
Cyber Command and Fort Meade’s
Equal Opportunity Office, was held at
McGill Training Center.
Haughton is a retired acting deputy
assistant secretary of defense for equal
opportunity in the Office of the Under
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness. He served 35 years with
DoD and was a charter member of the
DoD Senior Executive Service at the
Pentagon for 23 years.
Acting Garrison Chaplain (Lt. Col.)
David Cooper delivered the invocation.
The Army Field Band Jazztet, an
ensemble of the U.S. Army Field
Band led by Master Sgt. Marva Lewis,
lead vocalist for the Field Band’s Jazz
Ambassadors, performed the National
Anthem and music by Stevie Wonder.
In addition to Haughton’s presentation, the observance included a video
featuring prominent civil rights activists
and drawings of the civil rights movement by fifth-grade students at Pershing Hill Elementary School.
The event also featured a display of
the text of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
and several books about the civil rights
movement.
“It is very important for all of us,
specifically for our young people, to
know who we are, whose we are and
where we came from to progress in this
society,” said Haughton as he began
his speech. “As long as the mind is
enslaved, the body can never be free.
“But if you know your history, it
10 SOUNDOFF! February 27, 2014

photo by nate pesce

Clairborne Douglass Haughton Jr., the guest speaker for Fort Meade’s annual Black
History Month observance on Feb. 20 at McGill Training Center, shakes a Soldier’s
hand. The 90-minute event, hosted by Army Cyber Command and the Fort Meade
Equal Opportunity Office, also featured books about the civil rights movement and a
catered buffet of Southern cooking.

instills a firm sense of self-esteem. That
is one of the most important, powerful weapons that you can have against
oppression and discrimination.”
Haughton said the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, signed by President Lyndon B.
Johnson on July 2, is a piece of legislation that “still reverberates in American
history today.”
The legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex or national origin.
Haughton said that when the act was
signed, it was a time when “Americans
found a clear choice between supporting
civil rights or opposing civil rights.”
The legislation was the fruition of
years of nonviolent protest led by Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr., then president
of the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference.
Haughton noted that by 1964, King
has already delivered his historic “I
Have a Dream” speech and was named
Time magazine’s “Man of the Year.”
In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel

Peace Prize.
Despite the public acclaim, King and
his supporters knew that “what they
were doing would lead to violence,”
Haughton said.
King’s home had been bombed and
he had been imprisoned more than 30
times by the time the Civil Rights Act
was signed.
Haughton said the civil rights protesters faced “the hate and scorn of
those who opposed them.” This included African-American veterans “who
were beaten and even lynched in the
uniform of their country.”
Yet, Haughton said, King had “faith
in America” — a faith that the injustices against African-Americans would
end.
“Change really has come to America,” he said.
Statistics on the black community
show that progress has been made, he
said.
For example, 50 years ago, blacks
were denied the right to vote. In the

presidential election of 2012, a higher
percentage of blacks voted than whites,
Haughton said.
In 1964, there were only 1,400 black
elected office holders. Today, there are
more than 10,000 elected black officials.
Most are mayors of cities.
The election of President Barack
Obama “is a clear signal that progress
has been made.”
Haughton noted that the first family
resides in a White House that was built,
in part, by slaves.
But the ascendancy of Barack Obama
to the White House is not the end of the
journey, he said.
“We can’t look at this election as a
panacea, nor as a fulfillment of Dr.
King’s dream,” Haughton said. “We
just have to look at is as a down payment on the dream.”
Haughton said that current efforts
to curtail voting rights, the unacceptable number of black men in prison,
and the low number of blacks in the
military’s officer ranks are proof that
more work has to be done to ensure
equity and equal opportunity for black
Americans.
“Sung and unsung giants upon whose
shoulders we stand, they have left us a
legacy of hope,” Haughton said. “They
never ceased to believe that we would be
all right as a nation, that we would be
all right as a people if we would continue to fight the good fight — continue
the course, and keep the faith.”
After his speech, Haughton was presented with a plaque of appreciation
by Garrison Commander Col. Brian
P. Foley. Col. Mark Schonberg, deputy
chief of staff for Army Cyber Command, presented Haughton with a coin
of excellence.
After the presentations, the audience
dined on a buffet of fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, sweet tea and cobbler provided
by Black Tie Caterers of Baltimore.
“I thought he was right on target,”
said Gloria Criss, a Severn resident,
of Haugton’s speech. “For those of
us who lived through the struggle, he
was clear and concise — a very good
presentation.”
Spc. Jessica Myers, 24, of the 781st
Military Intelligence Battalion, said she
was inspired by the speech.
“To hear an older African-American
share the history, you can get more
than you would be able to if it was in a
book,” she said.

N ews

Vietnam War veteran speaks at prayer luncheon
By Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
On July 26, 1969, a phosphorus
grenade exploded inches from Dave
Roever’s face, causing the Sailor to lose
90 percent of the skin on his body.
But with the help of friendship,
family and faith, the Vietnam veteran
was able to overcome his injuries and
become a motivational speaker and
resiliency coach.
Roever’s resiliency journey was the
focal point of the installation’s annual
National Prayer Luncheon on Feb. 19
at Club Meade. Roever served as the
guest speaker of the 90-minute event,
which featured lunch, live music and
Scripture reading.
“There’s not a tragedy in our lives
that can’t be turned into a triumph,”
Roever said. “It starts in the hearts and
minds of people who have had a difficult time in life, and who doesn’t?
“Life’s not fair. If you think it’s
going to be fair, you’re about to find
out you made an ‘F’ on that test. The
question in life isn’t, ‘Am I going to get
hurt?’ The question in life is, ‘When I
get hurt, how am I going to deal with
it?’ ”
The event began with a musical prelude performed by the U.S. Army Field
Band and a reading of Joshua 1:5.
In the introduction of the guest
speaker, Chaplain (Maj.) George Okoth
referred to Roever as “an American
hero.”
Roever served as a river boat gunner in the elite Brown Water Black
Beret, which was assigned to the SEAL
Team 1. The Vietnam veteran’s total
military service lasted two years and
six months, including “a year and six
months getting over the first year and
four months,” he said.
While on a mission, a phosphorus
grenade went off near Roever’s face,
throwing him into the water and requiring him to swim to the river bank.
The explosion left Roever with severe
burns and the loss of a majority of
the skin on his body. Phosphorus deep
inside his body continued to start fires
even after he arrived at the hospital.
Roever was transported to a hospital
in Japan, where he was given a mirror
to see the damage done. He called it
his worst day.
“I could see inside me — pieces of
me moving with the beat of my heart,”
he said.

photos by nate pesce

Air Force Staff Sgt. Tim Navarro of the 94th Intelligence Squadron greets Vietnam
veteran Dave Roever during the installation’s annual National Prayer Luncheon on
Feb. 19 at Club Meade. The 90-minute event featured lunch, music and Scripture
reading. Roever, who was severely burned during the war, discussed his resiliency
journey of recovery.

The thought of his wife seeing him
with the extensive injuries drove Roever
to attempt suicide by unplugging cords
attached to him. His attempt failed
when he only pulled out the feeding
tube.
That day, he said, served as a starting
point for the rest of this life.
“Suffering is not evil, difficulty is
not evil,” he said. “It can be the thing
that motivates you, it can be the thing
that shapes you and brings you back to
square 1 and centers you in reality.
“That day when I pulled that tube
was the beginning of the realization
that there is something worth living
for. If there’s nothing worth dying for,
there’s nothing worth living for.”
Through what he referred to as the

“cauldron of suffering,” Roever said
he saw the significance of friendship,
family and faith.
“There’s something about all this
story,” he said. “It’s called resiliency.
How do you fight back? ...There’s
something about resiliency that needs
to be born deep in your soul — something that says that there’s something in
life worth dying for, bigger and greater
than ourselves.”
After the event, several audience
members said they enjoyed his speech,
which often employed humor.
“He was great,” said Sgt. William
McIver of the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion. “The storyline was
very captivating. His storytelling was
really good.”

‘There’s something about
resiliency that needs to be
born deep in your soul.’
Dave Roever
Vietnam veteran

February 27, 2014 SOUNDOFF! 11

N ews

‘A very special person’

Garrison chaplain retires after decades of service
By Rona S. Hirsch
Assistant Editor
Garrison Chaplain (Col.) Carl R. Rau is
adept at zeroing in on what is needed and
obtaining the necessary resources.
In the desolate regions of Afghanistan in
2002, Rau pieced together a string of ministries, placing priests, ministers and rabbis
as part of a joint coalition with chaplains
from other countries and other branches
of service.
Since arriving on Fort Meade 10 years
later, Rau has worked with 14 staffers to
provide support to the nine worship services on post and the chaplain staffs of the
partner commands.
“I’m the one that goes to the command
and says, ‘This is what’s needed,’ while
working with constraints,” he said.
Now, after nearly three decades of service, including a stint as a Marine, Rau is
retiring March 6. A retirement ceremony
and reception will be held today at the
Main Post Chapel.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) David Cooper is
serving as acting garrison chaplain.
“Chaplain Rau has been such a team
builder among the chaplains at Fort Meade,
and has been intimately involved in all the
congregations,” Cooper said. “He took the
time with everyone on the staff to train and
to teach, and then allowed us to do our jobs.
He is definitely a mentor and an enabler. It
is not possible for me to fill his shoes.”
Though he planned to retire on Jan. 1,
2015, Rau decided to retire earlier after his
wife, Kathy, was diagnosed last November
with terminal cancer.
“I cried a week for Kathy,” Rau said.
“I have gone through so many different
emotions. My head clouds over. But I’m
coming to grips.”
After his retirement ceremony, Rau will
join his wife at their new home in Texas.
Their daughter Janell, a registered nurse
and mother of three young sons, resides
nearby. Their son Andrew is a Verizon
manager in Atlanta.
To care for his wife, an artist whom he
married in 1978, Rau plans to take courses
in cooking and baking, as well as learn
massage therapy.
“Just being with Kathy, that’s my retirement,” Rau said. “I will spend every day
with her. I am very blessed that I have the
means and the time.”
Rau is also grappling with another medi12 SOUNDOFF! February 27, 2014

‘I was blessed with
chaplains who put their arm
around me, and I wouldn’t
be here if not for them. So
my door is always open.’
Col. Carl. R. Rau
Garrison Chaplain

cal crisis. His older brother and only sibling
Paul, a retired comptroller, was diagnosed
with Alzheimer’s disease just one month
after Kathy’s diagnosis.
“I can’t stop Kathy from dying or Paul
from not recognizing me in two years,”
he said. “But there are things I can do. I
embrace the five legs of resiliency [health,
family, social, emotional and spiritual].
I am there, healthy enough, to give her
hope.”
Raised Lutheran, Rau attributes his
faith to the influence of both his beloved
grandmother “Maggie,” whom he walked
to church with every Sunday as a child in
his native Michigan, and to his father, a
former World War II prisoner of war and
survivor of the Bataan Death March.
His late father Sgt. Raymond Rau, who
enlisted at age 27, was in the Army just six
months when the Bataan Peninsula in the
Philippines was captured by the Japanese.
He endured 42 months as a POW.
“His faith kept him going,” Rau said of
his father. “He said the captors can take
everything from us but our spirit.”
During captivity, Rau’s father volunteered for burial detail.

“He said it ‘kept my sanity’ and that he
did not want to deprive his comrades of a
decent burial,” Rau said.
Though the elder Rau weighed 163
pounds when he entered the military, his
weight dropped to 97 pounds by the time
the Russians liberated the prison camp.
After the war, Rau’s father did not talk
about his captivity unless asked specific
questions.
“He wanted to protect us,” Rau said.
“My brother and I had to do research first
and then he would talk.”
Rau was born in Frankenmuth, Mich.,
where his father was an electrician and his
mother Anita was a homemaker.
One month after graduating high school
in 1971, Rau joined the Marine Corps.
After training on Parris Island, S.C., Rau
was assigned to security operations at
the National Security Agency. On July
11, 1974, he was discharged by President
Richard Nixon.
With plans of becoming a foreign missionary, Rau earned a bachelor’s degree in
religion and psychology from Michigan
State University and a Master of Divinity
degree in theology and counseling from
Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort
Wayne, Ind.
“I wanted to build churches, schools,
hospitals,” he said.
Rau ministered two congregations in
Lexington and Winchester, Ky., before
entering the Army chaplaincy in 1988.
Throughout his career, Rau has served
in military operations and exercises in 19
countries. That includes Honduras in 1989
and 1990; Haiti in 1994 for six months; and
Afghanistan in 2002 for one year with the
18th Airborne Corps in Bagram.
From December 1992 to January 1996,
Rau served as a Ranger chaplain with the
2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry.
In Afghanistan, Rau’s role as part of
higher headquarters was to help chaplains
establish ministries.
“Operationally, we were trying to put
together the religious support plan,” he
said. “My job was to put a plan together
and find out who is out there — an Australian minister or a Polish priest. We’re
all one big unified command. But I didn’t
know what was there, and they didn’t know
I was there.”
The joint area of operations included all
countries in that region that were friendly

nations.
“We had to figure out what assets we
have and what we need,” Rau recalled. “I
had to know what was out there — who
was coming and who was leaving.”
When the head chaplain in Kandahar
was leaving unexpectedly, Rau met with
chaplain assistants to ask who could fill in
as the leader to guide and mentor.
“We had sheep without a shepherd,”
Rau said. “We found the one with the gift
for leadership, even though he was junior
to some of the others.”
Religious services also were arranged. “I
went to see what they had and what they
needed,” Rau said. “I’m the one to get them
resources.”
Rau applied those skills at Fort Meade
after arriving in 2012 as garrison chaplain.
“It’s such a beautiful area,” he said. “The
people are wonderful. The people I work
with and for are wonderful.”
His supervisory role included develophttp://www.ftmeade.army.mil

FILE PHOTO

ing, mentoring and coaching
“I came in [the Army] as a lieutenant,”
he said. “I was blessed with chaplains who
put their arm around me, and I wouldn’t be
here if not for them. So my door is always
open. I have been assigned to a garrison
chaplain where the door was never open,
or the door was open but you better have
made an appointment. So I said, ‘I’m here
for all these people.’ ”
As garrison chaplain, Rau supported the
73 chaplains, chaplain assistants and DoD
civilian religious support staff working on
Fort Meade, including the NSA. He also
negotiated for resources for the three post
chapels: Argonne Hills Chapel Center, Calvary Chapel and the Main Post Chapel.
“He is a pleasure to work with — a
leader, a mentor and most of all, a friend,”
said Diana L. Durner, garrison chaplain
secretary. “Everybody respects him, and
he is involved in all the congregations. He
is very kind-hearted and caring. And most
important, he is a pastor. That is his first

priority, that is his mission.
“He really cares for the Soldiers and
their families. He is a joy, a very special
person. His high energy is his trademark.
His faith and integrity inspire all who
know him. He has blessed the Fort Meade
community with his loving example as a
chaplain, husband and father.”
Before Christmas, the staff obtained new
pew cushions for all three chapels; financed
the Passover model seder; and provided
$50,000 in funds for NSA retreats.
“The last thing I want to do is hold them
back,” Rau said of the chapel staff. “I don’t
want to restrain them. ... They want to do
their best — but only if you let them.”
As Rau prepares for retirement, he is
periodically reminded of the impact he has
made on the community.
“I run into someone who says, ‘You
married us’ or ‘You counseled us.’ It’s so
doggone rewarding,” Rau said. “I think
I’d do it all over again. It’s worth it just
for that.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARRISON CHAPLAIN CARL R. RAU

Garrison Chaplain Carl R. Rau, dressed in cowboy hat and boots, relaxes on a ranch
north of Dallas in August 2013. Rau is retiring March 6 with his wife, Kathy, to their
new home in Texas.
LEFT: Garrison Chaplain Carl R. Rau speaks at last year’s annual prayer luncheon on
Fort Meade. Throughout his 30-year career, Rau has served in military operations and
exercises in 19 countries. A retirement ceremony and reception will be held today at the
Main Post Chapel.

Chaplain’s Word
CONTAGIOUS ATTITUDES
“A positive attitude will have positive results
because attitudes are contagious.”
— Zig Ziglar
Motivational Speaker

C ommunity N ews N otes
The deadline for Soundoff! community
“News and Notes” is Friday at noon.
All submissions are posted at the editor’s
discretion and may be edited for space and
grammar. Look for additional community
events on the Fort Meade website at www.
ftmeade.army.mil and the Fort Meade
Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade.
For more information or to submit an
announcement, email Philip Jones at philip.
h.jones.civ@mail.mil or call 301-677-5602.

NEWS EVENTS

LTS change of hours
Due to limited staffing, the Leisure
Travel Services office must temporarily
adjust its operating hours.
Hours will be Monday to Friday from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m.
The office will be closed Saturdays and
Sundays.
The community will be notified when
normal operating hours resume.
For more information, call 301-677-7354.

Spring Quarter Auction
The Enlisted Spouses Club is hosting
its Spring Quarter Auction on Monday
at Jessup Community Hall, 2920 Jessup
Road, Jessup.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Play begins at 6
p.m.
Admission is $6 and includes two
paddles, or $20 for a group of four and
includes eight paddles. Cost for additional
paddles is $2.
Register at ftmeadeesc.org.
For more information, email
kimrsmith@gmail.com.

Jummah prayers
Individuals interested in participating
in Jummah prayers on Fort Meade
should call 301-677-1301.
Fort Meade has a room available
at Argonne Hills Chapel Center, 7100
Rockenbach Road.
The community also is seeking
individuals to join in a morning prayer
on Fridays.

EDUCATION

HRC evaluation training
The U.S. Army Human Resources
Command (Fort Knox, Ky.), Officer
Evaluation Report (Revised) Mobile

Training Team will provide an executive
briefing for all field grade and company
grade officers, and civilians who rate
officers.
The briefing will be held Wednesday
at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Post
Theater.
OER Processing Hands-on Computer
Base Training for HR professionals will
be conducted March 6-7.
For more information, call Richard
Lee at 301-677-4209 or email richard.
lee6.civ@mail.mil or call Jannette
Bolling at 301-677-2903 or email
Jannette.o.bolling.civ@mail.mil.

Lunch and Learn Series
Kimbrough Ambulatory Care
Center hosts a monthly brown bag
Lunch and Learn Series on the second
Tuesday of the month on the first floor
of the Rascon Building, adjacent to
Kimbrough.
The next lunch will be March 11 at
noon. The topic is “Healthy Fast Foods.”
The sessions, which are open to the
public, are an opportunity to review
a presentation and discuss new health
topics.
For more information, call Capt.
Alyson Rhodes at 301-677-8949.

ESC scholarships
The Fort Meade Enlisted Spouses Club
has posted its 2014 scholarship applications
on its website at FtMeadeesc.org.
High school seniors and students
currently enrolled in college who are
dependents of a military member of any
rank or branch who is on active duty,
deceased, a Reservist or in the National
Guard can apply for the scholarships.
High school seniors with an outstanding
academic record and volunteer service to
the community will be considered for the
Evelyn J. Silva Scholarship of Excellence.
Sponsors for all scholarships must reside
in the Fort Meade area.
Applications and all required
documentation must be received by March
28 at the ESC, PO Box 105, Fort Meade,
MD 20755, attn: Scholarship Director
Gerry Humphrey.

‘Military Saves’
Army Community Service is offering
“Military Saves: A Day of Financial
Fitness” today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the
Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm
Ave.
The free classes are open to DoD ID
cardholders including active-duty service
members, retirees and their family members,

DoD civilian employees and contractors.
Registration is required.
To register or for more information, call
301-677-5590.

YOUTH

“Godspell” at Meade
High
Meade High School will present the
musical “Godspell” March 6-8 at 7 p.m.
in the Meade High auditorium.
Tickets cost $8 ($6 with a canned
food donation). Tickets are available at
the door.
For information, email Caitlin Lucia
at CLucia@AACPS.org.

Grillin’ Chillin’
The Youth Center is offering Grillin’
Chillin’ for grades six to eight on
Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs
and sides.
Cost is $5. Sign-up ends today.
For more information, call 301-6771437 or 301-677-1847.

Chess tournament
A chess tournament for grades nine to
12 will be held Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at
the Fort Meade Teen Center.
All skill levels are welcome.
For more information, call 301-6776054

Kids Craft Club
The Kids Craft Club for toddlers and
preschoolers will meet March 11 at 9:30
a.m. at the Arts and Crafts Center.
Remaining sessions are: April 15 and
May 6.
Fee is $5 per session. Cost includes a
craft, snack and juice.
Space is limited. Registration is required.
To register or for more information, call
301-677-7809.

Romp ‘n Stomp
Romp ‘n Stomp playgroup for children
age 5 and younger and their parents
meets Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
from September to June at the Youth
Center gym at 909 Ernie Pyle St. and
from June to August at the Boundless
playground on Llewellyn Avenue.
For more information, call 301-6775590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@
mail.mil.

RECREATION

Out About
• The Naval Academy Band’s Crabtowne
Stompers will perform today at 6 p.m. at St.
Anne’s Episcopal Church in Church Circle
in Annapolis.
Rooted in the original New Orleans jazz
music of the early 1900s, the Crabtowne
Stompers fuses its music with modern funk
and jazz elements.
Naval Academy Band Concerts are
free and open to the public with no tickets
required.
For more information, visit the Naval
Academy Band website at navyband.navy.
mil or Facebook page, or call 410-293-1262.
• The U.S. Army Field Band Woodwind
Quintet will perform a chamber concert
on Sunday at 3 p.m. at First Evangelical
Lutheran Church, 3604 Chatham Road,
Ellicott City.
The Woodwind Quintet regularly
performs recitals, clinics and master classes
in schools and colleges.
The program will feature Carl Nielsen’s
Quintet, Vincent Persichetti’s Pastoral, and
John Harbison’s Wind Quintet.
For more information, go to
armyfieldband.com.
• Leisure Travel Services is offering its
next monthly bus trip to New York City on
March 22, with discounts to attractions. Bus
cost is $60. For more information, call 301677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

MEETINGS
• Families Dealing with Deployment
meets the first and third Monday of every
month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Meuse
Forest Neighborhood Center. Children
welcome. The next meeting is Monday. For
more information, call 301-677-5590 or
email colaina.townsend.ctr@mail.mil.
• Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club will
hold its next monthly luncheon on
Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Club Meade. The
program, “All You Need To Know About
Furs,” will be presented by Mano Swartz
Furriers, along with a mini fur fashion
show featuring ROWC models. Learn
how to choose and care for furs as you
use them for warmth and fashion.
Cost of the luncheon is $18.
Reservations are required by today. Call
your area representative or Betty Wade at
410-551-7082.
Membership dues are $25 per year,
but you may join from February through
May now for half price. Members may
bring guests at any time to the luncheons,

C ommunity N ews N otes
which are held on the first Tuesday of
each month, except June, July, August
and January.
For more information, call Genny
Bellinger, president of the ROWC, at 410674-2550.
• Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by
the Garrison Chaplain’s Office, is held the
first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at
Club Meade.
The next prayer breakfast is March 6.
There is no cost for the buffet; donations
are optional. All Fort Meade employees,
family members, and civilian and military
personnel are invited.
For more information, call Diana Durner at 301-677-6703 or email diana.l.durner.
civ@mail.mil.
• Meade Rod and Gun Club meets the
first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at
Perry’s Restaurant and Odie’s Pub at 1210
Annapolis Road, Odenton, in the banquet
hall in back of the building. The next meeting is March 6. Dinner is served at 6 p.m.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
of Anne Arundel County offers a free
support group for families with a loved
one suffering from mental illness on the
first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.
at the Odenton (West County) Library,
1325 Annapolis Road. The next meeting
is March 6. For more information, visit
namiaac.org.
• Meade Branch 212 of the Fleet Reserve
Association meets the second Saturday
of each month at 10 a.m. at VFW Post
160, 2597 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie.
The next meeting is March 8. Active-duty,
Reserve and retired members of the U.S.
Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard
are invited.
For more information, call 443-6042474 or 410-768-6288.
• New Spouse Connection meets the
second Monday of every month from 7
to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Readiness
Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is March 10. The program provides
an opportunity for all spouses new to the
military or to Fort Meade to meet and get
connected. For more information, contact
Pia Morales at pia.s.morales.civ@mail.mil
or 301-677-4110.
• Calling All Dads meets the second and
fourth Monday of every month from 4 to
5 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood
Center, 4998 2nd Corps Blvd. The next
meeting is March 10.
The group is for expecting fathers, and
fathers with children of all ages. Children
welcome. For more information, call 301677-5590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@
mail.mil.
• Single Parent Support Group meets the

second and fourth Monday of the month
from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at School Age Services, 1900 Reece Road. The next meeting
is March 10. Free child care is provided
onsite.
For more information, call 301-6775590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@mail.
mil.
• Bully Proofing Support Group meets
the second and fourth Monday of the
month from 4 to 5 p.m. at Potomac Place
Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is March 10. The group is geared for
school-age children and parents. For more
information, email Kimberly.d.mckay6.
ctr@mail.mil.
• Marriage Enrichment Group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets
the second and fourth Monday of every
month from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.
The next meeting is March 10. For more
information, call Celena Flowers or Jessica
Hobgood at 301-677-5590.
• Fort Meade TOP III Association meets
the second Wednesday of each month at 3
p.m. at the Courses. The next meeting is
March 12. The association is open to all
Air Force active-duty and retired senior
noncommissioned officers. For more information, call Master Sgt. Jonathan Jacob at
443-479-0616 or email jajacob@nsa.gov.
• Women’s Empowerment Group meets
Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. to provide
a safe, confidential arena for the support,
education and empowerment of women
who have experienced past or present family violence.
Location is only disclosed to
participants. To register, call Tina Gauth,
victim advocate, at 301-677-4117 or
Samantha Herring, victim advocate, at
301-677-4124.
• Project Healing Waters meets
Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the
Soldiers and Family Assistance Center,
2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave.
The project is dedicated to the physical
and emotional rehabilitation of wounded
warriors and veterans through fly fishing,
fly tying and outings.
For more information, call Larry
Vawter, program leader, at 443-535-5074
or email thecarptman@msn.com.
• Spanish Christian Service is
conducted Sundays at 1 p.m. at the
Cavalry Chapel located at 8465 Simonds
St. and 6th Armored Cavalry Road.
For more information, call Elias
Mendez at 301-677-7314 or 407-350-8749.
• Cub Scout Pack 377 invites boys in
first through fifth grades, or ages 7 to 10,
to attend its weekly Monday meetings at
6 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.
For more information, email

Cubmaster Christopher Lassiter at
pack377_cm@yahoo.com or Committee
Chairperson Marco Cilibert at pack377_
cc@yahoo.com.
• Boy Scout Troop 379 meets Mondays
at 7 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel
Center on Rockenbach Road. The troop
is actively recruiting boys age 11 to
18. For more information, email Lisa
Yetman, at lisayetman@verizon.net
or Wendall Lawrence, Scoutmaster, at
lawrencewendall@juno.com.
• Military Council for Catholic Women
is open to all women ages 18 and older
for prayer, faith, fellowship and service
at Argonne Hills Chapel Center, 7100
Rockenbach Road. The Catholic Women
of the Chapel meets Tuesdays from 9:45
a.m. to noon when Anne Arundel County
schools are in session. Monthly programs
are held Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
For more information, email Loretta
Endres at bradanloretta@yahoo.com.
• American Legion Post 276 is open to
veterans and active-duty service members
at 8068 Quarterfield Road in Severn.
Breakfast may be purchased beginning
at 9 a.m. Lunches may be purchased
from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Happy
Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. Dinner may be
purchased at 6 p.m. on Fridays and the
fourth Sunday of every month.
Membership discounts are offered
for active-duty military. For more
information, call 410-969-8028 or visit
americanlegionpost276.org.
• Fort Meade E9 Association meets the
second Friday of every month at 7 a.m.
in the Pin Deck Cafe at the Lanes. The
next meeting is March 14. The association is open to active, retired, Reserve and
National Guard E9s of any uniformed service. All E9s in this area are invited to attend
a breakfast and meet the membership. For
more information, go to e9association.org.
• Retired Enlisted Association meets the
third Tuesday of the month from 7:30
to 8:30 p.m. at Perry’s Restaurant, 1210
Annapolis Road, Odenton. The next meeting is March 18. For more information,
visit trea.org or call Elliott Phillips, the
local president, at 443-790-3805 or Arthur
R. Cooper, past national president, at 443336-1230.
• Military District of Washington
Sergeant Audie Murphy Club meets
the third Wednesday of each month
from noon to 1 p.m. at the Joint Base
Myer-Henderson Hall Dining Facility
in Virginia. The next meeting is March
19. All members and those interested in
joining the club are welcome. For more
information, contact Master Sgt. Erica
Lehmkuhl at erica.lehmkuhl@us.army.mil
or 301-833-8415.

M ovies
The movie schedule is subject to change. For
a recorded announcement of showings, call 301677-5324. Further listings are available on the
Army and Air Force Exchange Service website
at www.aafes.com.
Movies start Wednesdays to Saturdays at
6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
PRICES: Tickets are $5.50 for adults (12
and older) and $3 for children. 3D Movies:
$7.50 adults, $5 children.

Today through March 16
Today: “The Legend of Hercules” (PG-13). The
origin story of the the mythical Greek hero. With
Kellan Lutz, Gaia Weiss, Scott Adkins.

Friday Sunday: “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”
(PG-13). Jack Ryan, as a young covert CIA
analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S.
economy with a terrorist attack. With Chris Pine,
Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley.
Saturday: “The Nut Job” (PG). An incorrigibly
self-serving exiled squirrel finds himself helping his
former park brethren raid a nut store to survive,
that is also the front for a human gang’s bank
robbery. With the voices of Will Arnett, Brendan
Fraser, Liam Neeson.
Wednesday March 9: “Labor Day” (PG-13).
Depressed single mom and her son offer a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for
the escaped convict, the mother and son gradually learn his true story as their options become
increasingly limited. With Kate Winslet, Josh
Brolin, Gattlin Griffith.
March 6: “Her” (R). A lonely writer develops an
unlikely relationship with his newly purchased
operating system that’s designed to meet his every
need. With Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson.
March 7, 8: “Ride Along” (PG-13). Fast-talking
security guard Ben joins his cop brother-in-law
James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta in order to
prove himself worthy of marrying Angela, James’
sister. With Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter.
March 12, 15, 16: “The Lego Movie” (PG). An
ordinary LEGO minifigure, mistakenly thought
to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited
to join a quest to stop an evil LEGO tyrant from
gluing the universe together. With Chris Pratt,
Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell. (3D March 12)

S ports

Whiz Kids: Fort Meade runners excel in indoor track
Story and photo by Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
Although cold temperatures chased
the Fort Meade Highsteppers Track
and Field club off the outdoor tracks
for the winter, a handful of competitors refused to hang up their running
shoes.
Several Fort Meade runners headed
to the Prince George’s Sports and
Learning Complex to compete in
USA Track and Field indoor meets
to prepare for the upcoming outdoor
season, which begins in April.
“It’s a fun time because you get to
do shorter distances, but it’s more
competitive,” Ciara Thomas said.
The 9-year-old is among the several
runners who have excelled indoors as
she qualified for the USATF National
Indoor Championships, which begin
March 7 at the Prince George’s complex.
Seven of the Fort Meade competitors are ranked in the top 50 in the
nation at their events.
The team also featured Hannah
Salvador, the 8-year-old-and-under
racewalk national champion, and
Gabrielle Hill, district champion for
the 9- to 10-year-old long jump.
Coach Cliff Timpson said the reason behind competing in the indoor

meets in the offseason is to provide
continuous competition, which leads
to improvement. With a small team,
coaches are able to work closely with
the competitors to help them cut
times.
“It allows me to focus on each
individual need and each individual
strength,” Timpson said.
Ciara, who won a silver medal for
the long jump in the Junior Olympics
this past summer, is the only one
slated to compete at the national
championships next weekend.
Qualifying for the elite competition, however, was not the goal of
participating in indoor meets.
“We were just doing this indoors
to keep her body moving. We weren’t
expecting to excel on this as well,”
said Sabrina Thomas, Ciara’s mother.
“We’re very proud.”
The youngster ranks as the secondbest long jumper in her age group and
holds the second-best time in the 55meter dash on the East Coast as well
as a top-10 time for the 200-meter.
“It feels like something not a lot of
people do,” Ciara said. “It’s lucky to
be able to do that.”
Timpson said Ciara’s mindset is
what separates her from the rest of
the competition.

“She’s mature for her age,” he said.
“Once she’s focused on what she
wants to do, it’s very hard to change
her mind. ... She’s a workout freak,
she is a gym rat.”
During the winter months Ciara
typically plays basketball, but this
year she wanted to focus on improving her times and jumps, Thomas
said.
“The passion she puts into it is
amazing,” she said.
After the indoor national championships, Ciara will turn her attention
to the Child, Youth and School Services’ Highsteppers team.
Once she gets back onto the outdoor track, Ciara will pick up right
where she left off — eyes set on
another Junior Olympic medal.
“I’m getting faster times,” the
youngster said. “I’ve been training.”

Ciara Thomas, 9, jumps during the
Potomac Valley Assocation 14-andunder National Invitational at the Prince
George’s Sports and Learning Complex
on Saturday. Ciara will be competing in
the USA Track and Field National Indoor
Championships, which begins March 7.

Meade wrestling closes out successful season
By Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
During last year’s inaugural season of
the Child, Youth and School Service’s
wrestling team, the Cougars had one
wrestler bring home a title.
In the program’s second year, five
Meade wrestlers were named champions
during Sunday’s county championship
meet at Meade High School. A total of
eight wrestlers placed as the team finished sixth out of 13 teams.
“It went pretty well,” coach Adrian
Dance said of the championship meet.
“We couldn’t be happier. We’re pleased
with the outcome.”
The team of 30 wrestlers ages 3-13
featured many children new to the sport.
Despite competing in its second season,
the program only returned three wrestlers, leaving the coaching staff to start
from scratch.
With a large number of new wrestlers

— many under 7-years-old — coaches
focused on the basics of the sports
including the point system, and a few
pinning combinations and takedowns.
Dance said he doesn’t want to take
the wrestlers too far out of the box with
complex moves at a young age, but would
rather teach sound fundamentals.
“It’s learning the sport,” he said. “The
objective is to put your opponent on
their back.”
While the success in the mat is important to the coaches, Dance said they
preach academics and that appropriate
behavior comes before wrestling, setting
the youngsters up for success outside the
ring as well.
“We want these kids to have fun,” said
Jesse Miller, acting director of Youth
Sports. “If they win, that’s just something extra.”
Throughout the season, the Cougars
have been competing against much larger

teams and many have had more experience than the Fort Meade wrestlers. But
the team hasn’t backed down from their
competition.
Dance credits the coaching staff for
challenging the team in practice, creating
a competitive attitude.
“The kids aren’t intimidated,” he
said.
Dance said one the biggest hurdles
for the wrestling team is simply the lack
of popularity of the sport. But the Fort
Meade program is “growing in strides.”
Miller agreed.
“I’m very happy with the direction of
the program,” he said.
Throughout the offseason, the team
will host clinics and continue to create
a competitive wrestling program at Fort
Meade.
“We’re heading in the right direction
and we’re looking forward to build on
it,” Dance said.

Meade’s top finishers at
county championships:
• Conner Simmons, first place, 35-pound
weight class
• Blaine Wooleyhand, first place, 50-pound
weight class
• Keion Flowers, first place, 65-pound
weight class
• Keyshawn Flowers, first place, 70-pound
weight class
• Dalen Crawford, first place, 75-pound
weight class
• Ryan Knudson, second place, 60-pound
weight class
• Cyrus Shams, fourth place, 40-pound
weight class
• Aden Peirce, fourth place, 45-pound
weight class

S ports

Patriots fight off comeback to win fourth straight
Story and photo by Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
With two minutes left in Sunday’s
basketball game, the Fort Meade Patriots held a 13-point lead over Joint Base
McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
But as the clock ticked into final
seconds, Fort Meade struggled to maintain its lead as M-D-L pulled within 3
points. The Patriots’ defense held on long
enough to extend the team’s win streak
to four with an 81-77 victory.
“The team fell asleep,” said Mike
McKenzie, who led the Patriots with 24
points. “You can’t quit at the end of the
game. That’s when you have to stand
strong. There’s no point in quitting at the
end of the game.”
With the victory and an 86-78 win over
Fort Belvoir on Saturday, the Patriots
improved its Washington Area Military
Athletic Conference record to 4-2.
“It’s another two wins this weekend,” McKenzie said. “We’re feeling real
good.”
On Sunday, the two teams exchanged
points for the first 10 minutes of the
game. The Patriots created a lead in the
final 10 minutes of the half for a 32-27
halftime lead.
Dararius Evans led the Patriots with
7 points in the half, while McKenzie
and Gary Robinson each contributed an
additional 5 points.
The Patriots pulled away in the second
half as its defense shut down the M-D-L
offense and created fast breaks up-court
to develop a 69-54 lead. The 49-point
second half was led by McKenzie, who
scored 19 points, and Evans’ 11.
Near the end of the half, however,
Fort Meade’s defense began to struggle.
M-D-L quickly pulled itself back into
the game in the final minutes of the
game, cutting the lead to 79-74 with 10
seconds left.

Fort Meade
Patriots’ Mike
McKenzie
avoids a Joint
Base McGuireDix-Lakehurst
defender during
Sunday’s game
at Murphy
Field House.
McKenzie’s 24
points helped the
Patriots improved
to 4-2 with the
81-77 win.

M-D-L pulled within 3 points, but a
free-throw by Robinson with four seconds on the clock sealed the game for
the Patriots.
“We didn’t play smart enough in the
defensive end,” said head coach Ronny
Cunningham. “With a 10-point lead and
a minute and 20-some seconds, you’re
not supposed to lose a lead like that and
have to fight to scratch out a 4-point
win.”
McKenzie’s 24 points led the game.
Evans scored 18 points, and Brandon
Burns added another 11.

Meade Mustangs
weekly roundup
Basketball

Both Meade basketball teams closed out the regular
season with wins over Northeast on Feb. 19.
Jatarrikah Settles’ 10 points led the girls team to a
62-37 win, while the boys won 73-62.

Despite the final two minutes of the
game, Cunningham said the team’s interior defense and rebounding were the
best of the season.
“We’re still trying to find ourselves
on the defensive end,” he said. “I was
very pleased with how they played in the
defense end, especially inside the paint.”
This weekend, the Patriots will travel
to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey to play M-D-L again on Saturday
and will then face the undefeated Joint
Base Myer-Henderson Hall at home on
Sunday.

As the No. 2 seed, the boys basketball team will
open the 4A East Section I playoffs at home on Friday at 5 p.m. against Chesapeake High School. The
Mustangs (16-6) swept Chesapeake (8-14) this season,
with a 75-71 win in January and 88-81 victory earlier
this month.
The girls, who are seeded fourth in the playoffs,
will face North County on Friday at 7 p.m. at Meade
High School. Meade (15-7) has two wins over North
County (9-10) this year — 45-42 on Dec. 12 and 73-54
on Jan. 24.

With their sights set on winning the
conference, Cunningham said both
games are must-wins this weekend.
“If we can get both of those games,
we’ll be 6-2 and we’ll be one game behind
Myer,” he said.
McKenzie said the team is eager to
test itself against the top team in the
conference, but will have to practice hard
this week.
“Myer is going to be our measuring
stick,” he said. “We want to see how good
we are, and next weekend is going to be
that weekend.”

Wrestling

Meade hosted the Anne Arundel County wrestling
championships on Saturday.
The Mustangs finished the tournament in sixth
place, with Travis Chidebe (160) the team’s only championship winner. Jordan Riddick (182) also advanced
to the finals.
For more coverage of Meade High School sports, go
to ftmeadesoundoff.com/sports.


S ports

Sports Shorts
AAU basketball tryouts
The Meade Youth Basketball Association is hosting tryouts and registration
for spring basketball.
• Tryouts for boys ages 14- to 16-years-old will be held Wednesday from
7:30 to 9 p.m. at Meade Middle School.
• Tryouts for girls ages 8- to 11-years-old will be held Wednesday from 7:30
to 9 p.m. at Meade Heights Elementary School.
• Tryouts for boys ages 8- to 13-years-old will be held March 6 from 6 to
7:30 p.m. at Meade Middle School.
For more information, go to mybawildcats.org

Flag Football
Child, Youth and School Services’ Youth Sports is now offering NFL Flag
Football through USA Football for ages 6 to 13.
Cost is $55 per player and includes an NFL-branded jersey, flag football
belt, game shorts and participation trophy.
Two practices and one game will be held each week at the Fort Meade
Youth Sports Complex.
Games will played Friday evenings.
Flag football will be played as a spring and fall sport.
For more information, call 301-677-1329 or 301-677-1179.

Spring sports
Registration for spring sports is underway at Parent Central Services, 1900
Reece Road.
Spring sports include soccer, swimming, baseball, track, flag football and
basketball.
Participants can register at the CYSS Central Registration Office at 1900
Reece Road or online at https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/meadecyms.html.
For more information, call 301-677-1149 or 1156.

Dollar Days
Dollar Days at the Lanes is every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bowlers receive a game of bowling, shoe rental, a hot dog, hamburger,
small fries, pizza slice or small soda for $1 each.

Texas Hold ‘em
Texas Hold ‘em no buy-in games are played Mondays and Wednesday at 7
p.m. at the Lanes.
Games are free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-677-5541.
For more Fort Meade sports, visit quickscores.com/ftmeadesports.

For all your varsity and intramural sports schedules,
scores and standings, visit

www.quickscores.com/ftmeadesports.

Jibber Jabber - Opinion
It’s gotta be the suits
I’m OK with the U.S. losing to Canada
in hockey and curling.
Everybody has to be good at something, and it’s not like we don’t have
basketball, football, baseball, NASCAR
(big ups to Dale Jr.), NASTRUCK, tiddlywinks, MMA, and just about every
other sport to fall back on.
I’m also cool with us losing the biathlon, ski jumping and the overall medal
count to Russia. Even though soon after
it was clear we’d have to settle for second,
a rash of vomiting and other symptoms
of sickness ran through our home.
As of Wednesday morning, some of it
is still running … literally.
However, after 16 days of Sochi, there
are two things from Team USA that I
will not accept: Making excuses and giving up.
Heading into speed skating, nobody
expected the U.S. to be the Dutch, but
with the likes of Shani Davis, Heather
Richardson and Emery Lehman, we were
expected to grab a couple of medals. So,
when the team went 0-for-Sochi, it was
fair to say they underperformed.
But what disappointed me about their
performance were the lame excuses they
gave for their failures — namely the uniforms and elevation.
Seriously, you want us to believe Under
Armour was the reason you moved around
the short track like my dad used to drive?
One of my most haunting images from
my childhood is cars piling up behind my
dad’s puke-green Chevette because he was
doing 25 in a 45, down a two-lane road.
I felt similar watching our skaters fall
tenths of a second behind, lap after lap,
until finally we went from off the medal
stand to out of the top 10. And all of that
supposedly happened because of a suit or
because Sochi is a little closer to the water
than wherever they were training?
Have they not seen the UA Commercials? bit.ly/NwWMSt And unless my
geography is wrong, doesn’t the U.S. have
every single topographical feature that we
could have used for training?
It’s not like we didn’t know for the better part of four years that the Olympics
were going to be in Sochi.
A quick Google search, or even the
globe in my office, shows that Sochi is on
the Black Sea, so even if elevation was
a problem, it seems like we could have

prepared for that
well in advance.
But apparently, it’s easier to
blame geography
or a suit than it
is to admit we
stunk, and to
Chad T. Jones,
me, that reprePublic Affairs
sents our country
Officer
worse than poor
performance.
So does packing it in.
That is exactly what our U.S. men’s
hockey team did after they lost to Canada in the semifinals.
I understand our boys being stunned
and hurt by the loss. It was clear their
matchup with Canada was the marquee
game of the tournament, and the U.S.
threw everything it had at Canada.
But its goalie, Carey Price, stood on
his head and made a proverbial Canadian Shield around Team Canada’s net.
bit.ly/1bLVRsB So again, I was fine with
the loss even though it meant I’d have to
hear my wife’s taunts for another four
years.
My issue came the next day when we
lost 5-0 to Finland in the bronze medal
game. I know bronze represents the
second best loser, but that is better than
being embarrassed by a team you are
better than simply because you had your
heart taken from you the day before.
There is no excuse for that when
national pride is on the line.
A good Canuck friend of mine, Amir
Khalifa, responded twice to my Facebook post that was similar to the second
graph of this week’s column.
“You still lost. Suck it” was his first
response the day we lost to Canada. Not
overly creative and in a way, admitted my
initial post was correct.
But then after the 5-0 flop to Finland,
he came back with, “Time for a new list
for Finland ... who will start us off ?” All
I could do was like his comment because
there was no comeback.
But taking a lesson from speed skating, maybe I should have just blamed the
uniforms.
If you have comments on this or anything to do with sports, contact me at chad.
t.jones.civ@mail.mil or hit me up on Twitter @ctjibber.

Soundoff feb. 27, 2014

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