Aloha O'kane and Wayne E. Meyer
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Fisher House hosts run What’s See page B-1 INSIDE Remembering 9/11 ROK Navy to host Learn about science See page A-2 cultural event at the library See page B-3 See page B-4 September 14, 2018 www.issuu.com/navyregionhawaii www.hookelenews.com Volume 9 Issue 36 Aloha O’Kane and Wayne E. Meyer Photos by MC1 Corwin M. Colbert Aloha means hello and goodbye: Navy Region Hawaii welcomes USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), which arrived this week to its new homeport at JBPHH, and bids farewell to USS O’Kane (DDG 77). O’Kane was commissioned in Pearl Harbor Oct. 23, 1999 and has been homeported here for nearly 19 years. It has departed for its new home, San Diego. JBPHH holds 9/11 remembrance ceremony Erin Huggins tional anthem, performed was the final speaker of by two members of the Air the day. He emphasized Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Force Band of the Pacific. that ordinary citizens Hickam Public Affairs The song and anthem answered the call 17 were followed by the years ago. At 8:03 a.m., Tuesday, Firefighter’s Prayer, the “Hundreds of first re- Sept. 11, Joint Base Pearl Security Forces Prayer, sponders rushed to the Harbor-Hickam held a the Corpsman’s Prayer, scene in Manhattan,” he small remembrance cer- and a short summary by said. “A desperate race emony at Federal Fire the master of ceremonies against time to save, res- Station Six to honor the about the terrorism that cue and evacuate as many memories of those who occurred 17 years ago as they could inside the lost their lives in the that day. burning towers. These 9/11 attacks in 2001. The attacks on the men and women were ev- The ceremony began World Trade Center, at eryday Americans.” promptly following morn- the Pentagon and aboard After the speakers all ing colors, and was at- Flight 93 left a lasting concluded their reflec- tended by approximately mark on many Americans, tions a bell was positioned 150 people. especially those who are at the front of the podi- The audience, made up first responders. Photo by MC2 Charles Oki ums. The “striking the of Sailors, Airmen, civil- Gregg Moriguchi, four fives” was performed ian employees and resi- regional fire chief for the firefihter uniform and folded merian a ret at the bae the eremonial bell by the fire department. dents, was seated in the Federal Fire Department This tolling of the bell, open bay of the fire sta- was the first speaker at emergency responders heroism that took place we try and reconcile what a firefighter tradition, is tion, with a view of the the day’s ceremony. and ordinary citizens,” at the Pentagon that day happened on that day,” a way of honoring those flight line. “The 9/11 remembrance he said. and about the quick re- Wassel said. who were killed in the Flanked by fire trucks ceremony serves to Moriguchi then intro- sponse by his boss, then “And then we turn right 9/11 attacks. and the Air Force Honor remind us of the events duced the day’s special Secretary of Defense Don- around with purpose, The last bell rang out, Guard, the attendees that occurred this day guest, Joseph Wassel. ald Rumsfeld. passion and patriotism signifying the end of were asked to begin the in 2001, and also the Wassel was in the Pen- “On days like today we to move forward and do watch and the ceremony event by standing for a countless acts of heroism, tagon when it was at- turn around and we look what we do every day.” concluded with a firing of rendition of “God Bless sacrifice and devotion tacked on Sept. 11, 2001. back and we remember, Col. W. Halsey Burks, volleys and the playing America” and the na- to duty displayed by He retold the stories of we respect, we reflect and commander, 15th Wing, of taps. MAKING IT OFFICIAL Chief eletee will offiiall beome hief pett offier at Hickam Memorial Chapel today! Pi up the Hooele net wee for photo A-2 • September 14, 2018 HO‘OKELE CPO selectees show chief pride Chief pett offier CP eletee preent their uidon for udin at CP Pride a held at the Battlehip iouri emorial on ord land Sept CP Pride a inlude event that pa homae to chiefs past, present and future. The selectees do this via mentoring opportunities, CPO heritage training and a drill and cadence competition held between chief selectees from various commands. Photo by MC2 Jessica Blackwell Ahua Reef restoration questions and answers Kathy Isobe Q. What results have you seen since dogs/cats were banned in Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs April 2016? A. In addition to restoring habitat, Q. Who is doing the restoration? a key part of protecting our native birds is minimizing threats from in- A. Restoration work is done by the JB- troduced predators. Navy Natural PHH Natural Resources Program. Resources provides trapping ser- vices for mongoose around the wet- Q. What exactly are you doing to land through a USDA contract, and in restore this wetland? 2016 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam A. Restoration at Ahua Reef is focused began enforcing an existing base pol- on providing habitat for native plants icy restricting dogs from Ahua Reef. and birds, some of which are endan- Since initiating this enforcement gered, such as the Ae‘o, or Hawaiian effort, we have seen an increase in Stilt. The first step is removing invasive numbers of foraging birds during weeds such as Pickleweed and Red Man- all times of the year, both at Ahua grove that cause reduced biodiversity Photo by Corrina Carnes Reef Wetland and the adjacent Fort and less foraging habitat for birds. Hawaiian Stilts nesting at Ordy Pond. Kamehameha Beach. After we remove invasives from an area, we sometimes see native plants tem services including flood and erosion — Waiawa and Honouliuli. The two ref- Q. How else can folks help? grow in on their own. Seeds can lie dor- control and add to the recreational value uges are managed by U.S. Fish and Wild- of our shorelines for JBPHH families. life Service and are regular nesting sites A. Having the public’s support in mant in the ground, sometimes for years, conserving our wetland species is Oahu has experienced an estimated 65 for Hawaiian Stilts, Hawaiian Coots, and until conditions are favorable for them to crucial. We have seen a lot of progress percent loss in wetland habitat since hu- Hawaiian Moorhens, all of which are en- grow. We also outplant native vegetation in use of the wetland by native birds man settlement (https://link.springer.com/ dangered. We also regularly see stilts several times a year, and some of that since enforcing the dog ban. Continue article/10.1007/s13157-013-0501-2). Pri- and coots nesting at Ordy Pond, and work is performed by volunteers. to comply with the rules and remind mary causes of this loss include devel- Ahua Reef has seen several stilt nesting Q. Why is it so important? friends. Pick up litter in the walkway, opment and spread of invasive species. attempts over the last three years, but and keep volunteering! A. In addition to providing important Main wetlands on Navy land include we have yet to see a successful nest. Nat- habitat for native plant and bird spe- Ahua Reef Wetland, Ordy Pond in Ewa ural flooding of nests is fairly common in For more information, email ashley.n. cies, wetlands provide numerous ecosys- Beach, and two national wildlife refuges a tidal wetland. [email protected]. The “Tribute in Light” memorial is in remembrance of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, in honor of the citizens who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks. The two towers of light are created by two banks of high wattage spotlights that point straight up from a lot next to Ground Zero. Photo by Denise Gould 15th MDG Airman remembers Sept. 11 Courtesy Story Bryant’s mother would the tunnel around the a man picked Bryant action to help a strug- always let him miss the subway car turn milky- up by the waist and gling mother and son Air Force Medical Service first part of school on his white from the de- carried him (and escorted in a time of crisis. From 15th Medical Group birthday, Sept. 11. bris/dust. The subway Bryant’s mother) to a that point on, Bryant In 2001, Bryant and came to an emergency coffee shop at ground knew he wanted to join As we reflect on all his mother lived in the stop at the next possi- level. To 8-year-old the military. those affected by the Bronx, New York City, ble location, and they Bryant, this man was a Seventeen years later, events of Sept. 11, 2001, and were traveling into exited with a mass of pan- real-life superhero who Bryant, according to his the 15th Medical Group Manhattan for Javon- icked civilians. had saved his life. unit, is a hard worker has a story to share from te’s 8th birthday. He and Bryant remembers He found out that the with an infectious per- one of our own; Airman his mother were riding crying as he and his man was a U.S. Marine sonality who has already 1st Class Javonte in the subway when the mother struggled to move traveling from New York earned a great reputation Bryant, an outpatient towers collapsed; he re- with the crowd towards City to Washington, within his duty section Photo courtesy of 15th MDG records technician.