Submariner Receives Military Citizen of the Year Award
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® Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family Vol. 17, No. 41, Norfolk, VA FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM October 15, 2009 Submariner receives Military Citizen of the Year Award BY KEVIN COPELAND and teens – enabling them to take part Commander, Submarine Force Public Affairs in the sport of BMX racing. Through the ministries’ partnership with Bethany NORFOLK — Petty Officer 1st Class Christian Services, they help promote Rodney E. Buse has been selected older child and special needs adoptions as the 54th recipient of the Samuel T. within the BMX racing community. Northern Military Citizen of the Year There are more than 500,000 children (MCOY). The award is given annual- in foster care in the U.S. alone, with ly by the Hampton Roads Chamber of 120,000 of them eligible for adoption. Commerce to recognize the military cit- However, less than 60,000 of those eli- izen who has made the most impactful gible for adoption are placed in forever contribution in the area of community families. As the administrator of BMX service. Buse was formally recognized for Christ Ministries, Buse’s fundrais- at the annual MCOY luncheon spon- ing activities, and liaisons with sponsors sored by Hampton Roads Chamber of and the Department of Social Services, Commerce and held in Norfolk. are able to make some of these chil- “I was floored, because I really didn’t dren’s dreams come true. think I had a chance,” said Buse, the “My hope is that the attention received force protection assistant and staff from my selection will greatly improve anti-terrorism officer at Commander, our efforts with the ministries during Submarine Force (SUBFOR) headquar- Photo by MC1 (AW) Tim Comerford the 2010 season,” said Buse. “There are ters in Norfolk. “All the other nominees Machinist Mate 1st Class Rodney Buse thanks all the people that helped him on his way to a lot more children and teens we’d like had done so much for the community, becoming the Military Citizen of the Year (MCOY) as chosen by the Hampton Roads Chamber to help, but with our budget constraints of Commerce. The MCOY award is given to the service member who has made the most impact so being singled out and recognized is it is difficult. We’re a completely vol- in the community over the course of the previous year. very humbling.” unteer program, and there have been The honor is the highest award be- ican Diabetes Association, and the programs, the first ones that come to a few times that I’ve purchased bikes stowed by the Hampton Roads Chamber Chesapeake Bay Foundation. mind are football, basketball, baseball, and gear out of my own pocket to make of Commerce to the local military. Buse, But primarily it was his work in the and soccer, not BMX racing. I think we things happen for a kid. I don’t like a 36-year-old Terre Haute, Ind., native, BMX for Christ Ministries that he be- have forgotten that BMX racing is an telling kids no because of monetary is- was selected from among 17 nominees lieves may have put him over the edge. Olympic sport, and an American-born sues.” from U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, “I’m not really sure what was the key sport.” Buse’s positive and proactive U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy com- factor in my selection,” said Buse. “All I He is the founder and director of the approach in administrating his organi- mands in the Hampton Roads area. He can guess at this point is that it was the BMX for Christ Ministries. The non- zation, and his diligence in helping it was recognized for his charitable work idea of BMX for Christ, and how we’re profit ministry is organized to provide attain its mission, comes naturally. His with the BMX for Christ Ministries, the helping kids in an unconventional for- bikes, all safety gear, and licensing and Bethany Christian Services, the Amer- mat. When people think about sports racing fees for less fortunate children See MCOY, A11 Mullen praises ‘Powerful Legacy’ during ship commissioning President Obama accepts BY SAMANTHA L. QUIGLEY Aegis Weapons System now Georgia during military strife American Forces Press Service used aboard 100 Navy ships. last year, and Aegis ships will Nobel Prize as Meyer abhorred medioc- continue to provide air de- PHILADELPHIA — The rity as much as he cared for fense for expeditionary and ‘Call to Action’ chairman of the Joint Chiefs the Navy, and he attended the carrier strike groups around BY DONNA MILES of Staff praised the man for commissioning of every ship the world, Mullen said. American Forces Press Service whom USS Wayne E. Mey- using the Aegis platform in “Admiral Wayne Meyer’s er guided-missile destroyer since that of USS Bunker Hill brainchild has become an WASHINGTON — President was named during the ship’s in 1986, Mullen said. enduring staple of our fl eet Barack Obama said today he’ll ac- commissioning into the U.S. “It is sad, but almost fi tting, because the system has been cept the Nobel Peace Prize as a Pacifi c Fleet, Oct. 10. in a way, that the fi rst com- able to evolve, to fl ex to our “call to action” for the internation- “I can think of no fi ner missioning muster Wayne defense needs as they change al community to work together name for a warship than USS Meyer misses is that of his over time,” Mullen said. “Un- to confront common challenges, Wayne E. Meyer,” Navy Adm. namesake,” he added. derpinned by solid systems while also recognizing his respon- Mike Mullen said during the Meyer was 83 when he engineering, … its enduring sibility for U.S. security. 58th Arleigh Burke-class de- passed away Sept. 1. capabilities are speed agility “Even as we strive to seek a stroyer’s commissioning here Originally conceived as a and adaptability.” world in which confl icts are re- today. “For it is the name of match for the Soviet blue-wa- The U.S. shares the Aegis solved peacefully and prosperity is the chief visionary of the Na- ter navy, Aegis ships have weapons system with the Jap- widely shared, we have to confront vy’s surface fl eet.” become invaluable for uses anese, Spanish, Norwegian, the world as we know it today,” the The ship’s motto is “One beyond deterring Cold War South Korean and Australian president said in a brief statement Powerful Legacy,” and the late foes. navies. in the White House Rose Garden. retired Rear Adm. Wayne E. It was an Aegis ship that re- Mullen said he sees this as “I am the commander in chief Meyer can be said to have left cently patrolled at the ready immense progress to what of a country that’s responsible for Photo by MC1 Chad J. McNeeley exactly that in the Navy. Mey- off the coast of North Korea. he used to call the “1,000- ending a war and working in an- Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addresses the audience at the commissioning er is described as “the father Another supplied humani- ship Navy.” This is “a global other theater to confront a ruthless ceremony for the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile of Aegis,” for his role in lead- tarian aid to the citizens of adversary that directly threatens destroyer, USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) at Penn’s ing the development of the the former Soviet republic of See MULLEN, A11 the American people and our al- Landing in Philadelphia. lies,” he said. Obama said he was humbled and surprised to learn that he had been named to receive the Nobel Peace After 234 years, Sailors still Prize and believes the honor must be shared by all courageous peo- “Principal Hope of America’s Future” ple around the world who strive for justice and dignity. BY JOY SAMSEL He cited examples, including, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs “the soldier who sacrifi ced through tour after tour of duty on behalf of PENSACOLA, Fla. — Quoting someone half a world away,” and Thomas Jefferson’s description “all those men and women across of American naval hero John the world who sacrifi ce their safe- Paul Jones, Rear Adm. Joseph ty and their freedom, sometimes Kilkenny, commander, Naval Ed- their lives, for the cause of free- ucation and Training Command, dom.” compared today’s Sailors to that Obama is slated to reconvene legendary seaman during his key his national security team later note address at the Pensacola today for continued discussions area Navy Ball Oct. 9. described by Benjamin Franklin Ball, which was hosted by Naval about the strategy in Afghanistan Held at the National Muse- as the ‘chief weapon of American Operational Medicine Institute, and Pakistan. Among the partic- um of Naval Aviation, the event forces in Europe’, while Thomas was ‘Honoring Sacrifi ce, Em- ipants will be Defense Secretary was attended by more than 500 Rear Admiral Joseph F. Kilkenny Jefferson described Jones as the bracing Change, Continuing a Robert M. Gates, Chairman of the United States Navy military members and local dig- ‘principal Hope of (America’s) fu- Legacy’. Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Commander, Naval Education nitaries. and Training Command ture efforts on the ocean.’ According to Kilkenny, Sailors Mike Mullen, U.S. Central Com- “The American Sailor has a “The principal hope of Amer- live by different rules than other mand Commander Army Gen. long and distinguished genealo- see the undaunted spirit and te- ica’s future’.