Vol. 37 No. 20 November 13, 2020 BACK DOWN HOME: MEET THE NEW LUMBEE ROOTS CARABINIERI AND NAVY BOOTS COMMANDER A NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FEATURE pages 6 & 7 DON’T FEED THE STRAYS! 2 The Signature November 13, 2020 3 Direct Line Jaclyn Travis, NAS Sigonella MWR Marketing Director appy holidays, Sigonella! As we approach Hthe holiday season, we want you to know that MWR is bringing you as many festive events as possible. We all know that 2020 has been a difficult year, and while many of our celebrations will look different than in the past, we are committed to spreading holiday cheer! Keeping our community safe is our foremost priority, so all of our events will either be virtual or involve social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand sanitization. If running prior to your delicious dinner is your Thanksgiving tradition, we invite you to join our #SigTurkeyTrot, which is a virtual 5k that you can participate in with any route you choose. Just submit a photo of yourself and your time to Fitness_ [email protected], and we encourage you to share your run on the MWR Sigonella Facebook page too. December kicks off our annual Sig’s the Season, We’ve got plenty of cheer for our adults and single and we’ve worked hard to make sure that everyone Sailors too! The Liberty Center will be hosting many onboard NAS Sigonella can have something to look activities, including Cocoa on the Go (December forward to. Throughout the month of December, a 2 and 16), Taste of Home to Go (December 3, in Holiday Selfie Station will be set up in Midtown for partnership with the USO) and a Christmas Movie you to take photos at your leisure. Additionally, we’ll Marathon (December 25). The USO, Liberty Center, have Holiday Take and Make Craft Kits available for and the Children and Youth Programs are also pickup at the Library all month long. These projects, joining forces for Operation Santa Claus to deliver which will include snow globes, key chains, coasters, Christmas goody bags/stockings to all barracks decoupage, and miniature canvas art, are fun for residents on December 24. kids and adults of any age! In addition, be on the This year, the Liberty Center is also excited to lookout for more details on our Gingerbread Cookie present the Twelve Working Days of Christmas. This Crafting Kit; supplies are limited and registration scavenger hunt will start on December 9 with twelve will be required. This year, the Bowling Alley wants winners possible, then eleven winners on December in on the creative fun too, so you can pick up an old 10, and so on for every working day until Christmas. bowling pin and take it home to decorate however Clues will be split between the two bases to allow you like. All submissions will be displayed for all active duty members to participate on both bases. to see, and the public will vote to determine the But that’s not all, folks! We’ve got more prizes to winners. give out, but you need to get moving to win them. Our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is going During the Twelve Days of Christmas Virtual Fitness virtual this year, so you can tune in on December 4th Challenge from December 9-24, the MWR Facebook to watch the Sigonella Community Schools Choir page will post a new challenge every day, and every assist in this beloved tradition. We are also excited time you post your time or score, you’ll be entered to to bring a Santa Parade to Marinai on December 11. win a prize. You can also try to win during our Virtual Come see Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus, Rudolph, the Jingle Bell Jog, which will be hosted December 18- Grinch and lots of elves hand out candy canes. 20. For every mile you run, you’ll be entered to win a Those aren’t our only family-friendly Christmas prize. And if you’re more of an e-sports competitor, activities! After writing a letter to Santa, children we’ll also be hosting a PS5 Madden tournament in can drop them off in a special mailbox located at the Midtown Theater (date forthcoming). Midtown from December 7-18 and Santa’s helpers As we’ve seen many times this year, circumstances will make sure they receive a letter back. Mrs. Claus can change at a moment’s notice. We are excited to will also get in on the fun, reading some holiday celebrate Sig’s the Season with you, and we look stories which will posted to our MWR Sigonella forward to bringing you high quality events no Facebook page on December 10, 17, and 24. matter what happens. 2 The Signature November 13, 2020 3 THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Pickard Executive Officer Cmdr. Ronald Cappellini Command Master Chief CMDCM Anna Wood EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Karl Schonberg [email protected] Assistant Public Affairs Officer Megan Mills [email protected] Public Affairs Leading Petty Officer MC1 Kegan Kay [email protected] Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta [email protected] PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC2 Joshua Coté [email protected] MC2 Jacques Jean-Gilles [email protected] MCSA Triniti Lersch [email protected] CONTACT US Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily [email protected] DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001 This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via [email protected]. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers. 4 The Signature November 13, 2020 5 Name: Theresa Green Command: MWR Department: School Age Care By MCSN Triniti Lersch, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs heresa Green, a civilian working for Naval Air Station allow her to take customer service to the next level,” said TSigonella’s Children and Youth Services program Fleet Readiness Director Courtney Silvestre. “She is an as an operational clerk, has been a part of the military her absolute pleasure to have on our team, and her tremendous whole life. She grew up with a father who was active duty in spirit is recognized and appreciated by her co-workers, our the Air Force for 30 years and married her husband who is parents and the children.” also in the Air Force, Green has moved around the world Green feels the same way about her colleagues at SAC. and held an array of different jobs along the way. “Honestly, we have one of the best working environments Some of her previous jobs have been as geographically and ever,” she said. “I don’t want to leave. Everyone gets along professionally diverse as working as an Operational Clerk at and everybody enjoys being around each other.” Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska and working with Although 2020 presented many difficulties for child a medical group as the unit safety rep in Turkey. care centers, Green has helped NAS Sigonella rise to the As the ops clerk at School Age Care (SAC) with Morale, challenge. “During this pandemic, Theresa is always making Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) since November of 2018, sure that our parents are up to date and have everything they Green registers patrons, answers phone calls, and keeps need to utilize our programs and also for them to feel safe accountability of the children enrolled at SAC, along with and comfortable about leaving their children with us,” said myriad other tasks that come up on a daily basis. MWR Child Youth Program (CYP) Director Lee Papa. SAC is an MWR program for children from kindergarten “She anticipates the needs of others and is a true asset to to 12 years of age, and it provides care before and after our program.” school. The goal is to introduce children to wholesome Although her job involves a lot of paperwork, Green activities, like art, and to Sicily’s beautiful outdoors with doesn’t always stay behind the desk at a computer. She likes field trips. to help as much as she can, even if it’s not in the realm of her Green wasn’t originally looking for a job with the CYP. “I specific duties. came to sign up my kids for SAC and the woman who was “Theresa goes above and beyond her job duties as an working as the ops clerk before me was leaving,” she said. operational clerk,” said MWR CYP Youth Director, Adam “We got onto the topic of me doing this job at a CDC in D’Amico. “She is a team player and assists wherever needed. Alaska, and she said she was leaving soon and that I should Not only does she assist the parents each day, but she also go apply. The rest is history!” has a close relationship with all the youth in the facility.” Green has made such a positive impact on the SAC Her hobbies outside of work include traveling, reading, working environment that her co-workers have many good visiting the beach and playing animal crossing. She enjoys things to say about her. any genre of book and her favorite beach in Sicily is Cassibile “Theresa’s magnetic personality and passion for her job due to it being convenient and kid friendly.