FRA LEADERS STORM CAPITOL HILL 10 JULY 2007 FRA Provides a New Home 11 Port for USS Arizona Model 14 FRA Celebrates USCG 13 MESOTHELIOMA If you or a loved one has been diagnosed Please contact the law firm of: Bergman & Frockt with, or died from, mesothelioma, we may 614 First Avenue, Fourth Floor Seattle, WA 98104 be able to help get monetary compensation Toll Free: (888) 647-6007 from the asbestos manufacturers. www.bergmanlegal.com No charge for initial consultation. Please ask for Emily Murray. Bergman & Frockt 6110 FRA Today 1_07 v2.indd C2 12/11/06 2:00:46 PM COMMUNIcatIONS 1 NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS FRA PROUDLY FIGHTS FOR the FRA TOD Nat’l President Jerry L. Sweeney, Navy Dept. Branch 181 pay and benefits of current and Nat’l Vice President Lawrence J. Boudreaux, Hangtown Branch 275 former enlisted Navy, Marine A Nat’l Executive Sec. Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Dept. Branch 181 Y Corps and Coast Guard per- 2007 JULY Finance Officer Paul Rigby sonnel. One common ques- Junior PNP Edgar M. Zerr, Poway Valley Branch 70 tion from shipmates is “why REGIONAL PRESIDENTS doesn’t every new recruit join FRA?” New England Paul F. Loveless, Jr., Pine Tree Branch 156 Northeast Francis D. Tyson, Anthracite Branch 288 This month’s OnWatch East Coast Delbert L. Herrmann, Wilmington Branch 299 includes an article by Sgt. Southeast Tony Cassata, The Delbert D. Black Branch 117 Maj. USMC Estrada, written North Central Leon J. Zalewski, Milwaukee Branch 14 shortly before his retirement. South Central Leo V. Vance, Space City Branch 159 In this article, Estrada shares EILEEN MURPHY Southwest Charles F. Smedley, Poway Valley Branch 70 his rationale for joining an Director of Marketing and West Coast Charles R. McIntyre, San Jose Branch 140 association. “Marines have a Communications Northwest John Ippert, Pearl Harbor-Honolulu Branch 46 duty to make our voices heard in Nat’l. Parliamentarian PNP J.C. Jim Eblen, San Diego Branch 9 government,” he writes. “FRA can say the things to Congress that Nat’l Chaplain Vincent W. Patton, III, Navy Dept. Branch 181 you cannot. I’ve seen FRA in action and they have taken impor- tant messages to Capitol Hill. The more people that join a military ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL association, the more support and credibility that particular or- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa ganization will have when delivering our concerns.” This point is Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent also valid for Reservists, retirees and veterans. As with fighting any Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles Bowen battle, there is strength in numbers. RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL Perhaps it goes without saying that it takes a great team to earn the reputation FRA has. It takes dedication to the job at hand and Force Master Chief of the Naval Reserve David Pennington USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Jimmy D. Cummings respect for the shipmates. It can not go without saying, however, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force that Vince Cuthie has been an integral part of this team for a quar- Jeffrey Smith ter of a century. This month, Vince will retire from full-time em- ployment at FRA headquarters. There really isn’t any way to put into words what working with FRA TODAY MAGAZINE Vince is like. When I walked into my first meeting with Vince, Publisher FRA he was wearing a Napoleon hat and funny nose and glasses, (ala Managing Editor Eileen Murphy Groucho Marx). He remained stoic for the conversation but I Contributing Editor Lauren Armstrong couldn’t stop smiling – he set the stage for what he expected from Design and Art Direction himself and coworkers: keep a sense of humor, but take the job FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com seriously. Although Vince will continue to be an important part of Design Director Scott Rodgerson FRA, he will not be a daily presence in the building. Personally, I Production Manager Sandy Jones will miss the banter, the laughter and the incredibly strong opin- ions. His loyalty and dedication to FRA is inspiring. FRA TODAY (ISSN 0028-1409) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., Eileen Murphy is the Director of Marketing and AleXandria, VA 22314-2754. A member’S SUbscriptiON is COvered BY the member’S annUal DUes. PeriOdicals POstaGE paid at AleXandria, VA and additiOnal Communications and serves as the Managing Editor OFFICES. PUblicatiON OF NON-SPONSORED advertisinG IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT of FRA Today. Please contact her at [email protected]. CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS representatives. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER Services, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NavY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION rates. Established ’07-’08 MeMBER DRIVE 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. Patent OFFICE. FRA Administrative HEADQUarters: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754 Operation FRA (Former, Retired and Active) PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • FAX: 703-549-6610 • E-MAIL: [email protected] www . fra .O R G As the recruiting drive “Operation FRA: Former, Retired and Active” continues, please consider a way you can show your dedication to FRA. If you know someone in boot camp, give them a gift of an FRA membership to show how proud you are of their commitment to serve. 1+5B[T[G303DJH Authentic American Coins Struck from 1864-1909! Buy More and SAVE! 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