Marshallese share Christmas traditions — page 3 (Photo by KW Hillis) New water filtering Sign up now for Asprin for kids with system on-line Comm. Ed. classes flu not recommended — page 4 — page 5 — page 5 Dec. 16, 2003 The Kwajalein Hourglass Editorial Letters to the Editor that the poem (I use the term loosely) by volunteering a day off and providing an Borrow-bike idea which appears on page 2 of the Nov. 14, essential service to ensure the public may solve problem 2003 issue of the Hourglass, [‘Ode to health of our community and its children. Kwajalein’] was a poem that I wrote, not Lastly, I would like to thank Karen Am- I would like to make a suggestion that E. Marsh. mann, Linda Berlind and Annie Dowell for I think could solve the bike theft prob- I wanted to thank the whole Kwajalein all of their guidance and assistance that is lems that we all hear about. community for doing so much to make the ongoing. Thanks What if we took all the old abandoned visit of the Marine Raiders a time to re- — Valerie Janikowski, RN bikes and made sure that they are in member, especially my “island sponsor.” safe working order, painted them some Dianne Atchley. color like bright yellow? We could call Good neighbors are I had an especially great time because them Borrow-bikes. of a couple of those “small world” meet- not hard to find here Then, if you came out of a place like ings. Your police chief, Kevin Dykema, who the airport or off the ferry and needed a You have a neighbor out there you need was the first person to whom I spoke on ride or did not have your bike, you could to know about. They are doing things, and entering the airfield terminal, is a former take a Borrow-bike to where you are go- God help us, they might just be infecting Bettendorf, Iowa, High School student of ing and then leave it there so someone some of us. — if we’re lucky that is. mine, and Dianne Atchley attended the else could borrow it. Christopher Grzybowski and Janey of same high school back in Davenport, This would be nice to have on Roi, Qtrs.135E are awesome people. Outside Iowa that my daughter attended! Kwaj and Meck and would add to the of the normal things that they do that add Thank the whole Kwajalein community unique lifestyle that we all enjoy. to our collective lives like loving each other; for me for “doing it up right” for the old This could be a self-help program being gracious, creative, decent and clean W.W. II Marine Raiders. I tried to convey done by the community. about themselves and their corner of the those feelings by-way-of my “poem”. — Carl Waddell world; they take the time to care for and Semper Fidelis and Gung-ho, take care of others. Raider finds Kwaj — Marine Raider Elmer Mapes Thank you Chris and Janey for finding (Editor’s note: The Hourglass regrets the error.) my clutch, returning my children’s pictures, connections my credit card, my money, and my collec- Please don’t take this as one of those Extra effort benefits tion of business cards that I didn’t realize “angry” letters. I merely wish to point out I relied on so much until they were gone. childrens’ health Thank you so much for being a good I would like to say ‘thank you’ to all of the neighbor and for reinforcing my belief that Marshallese Word of the Day parents that brought their children to the the world is still full of good people who do yio - year hospital on November 24, 2003 to have good things. You made my Christmas. TB skin testing and vision screening. I — Beverly C. Vencill am particularly grateful for all the hospital The Kwajalein Hourglass Editor’s Note: Look for part III of the staff members that assisted with the effort Sharks series in the Dec. 20 issue. Commanding Officer ...Col. Jerry Brown Public Affairs Officer...LuAnne Fantasia by Sabrina Mumma Editor .....................................Jim Bennett Buckminster and Friends Assistant Editor........................ KW Hillis Graphics Designer....................Dan Adler Reporter................................ Jan Waddell Reporter................................April Brown Circulation............................... Jon Cassel Intern.......................... Krystle McAllister The Hourglass is named for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, which liberated the island from the forces of Imperial Japan on Feb 4, 1944. The Kwajalein Hourglass is an authorized publication for military personnel, federal employees, contractor workers and their families assigned to USAKA. Contents of the Hourglass are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or USAKA. It is published Tuesdays and Fridays in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1 and using a network printer by Kwajalein Range Services editorial staff, P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555. Phone: Autovon 254-3539; local 53539. Printed circulation: 2,000 The Kwajalein Hourglass 2 Dec. 16, 2003 Dec. 16, 2003 The Kwajalein Hourglass Christmas in RMI offers unique experience By the Rev. Elden Buck available location. cides what small presents they will as told to Pat Cataldo Rehearsals don’t much resemble an throw to the audience during their Americans who observe a Marshal- American choir practice. It is common performance. lese Christmas celebration gather to see some members sleeping, others On the outer islands, chapters give memories to last a lifetime. It is an oc- conversing, and children playing nois- gifts centered around food. casion of excitement and gaiety, of sur- ily, while some people study the num- During the Sundays of Advent, prises and delights, and of generous bers and others learn from the better chapters sing following morning wor- — even lavish —gift-giving, in which sight-readers. The cacophony doesn’t ship service, as a hint of what they the whole community enthusiastically seem to disturb the director or those will perform on Christmas Day. On participates. concentrating on the music. Ebeye, one chapter or weto (section The Rev. Elden Buck, who shares his Selection of the songs is carried on of property) is chosen each Sunday knowledge of Marshallese customs in in great secrecy, but rehearsals are in December to sing at the church. this reprinted article, was Protestant not. In fact, there is exciting competi- On its Sunday, the group cleans up, chaplain at Kwajalein from 1968 until tion, and it is considered special fun decorates, and prepares food for after 1981. Before that, he and his wife, Al- when two groups can hear each other the service. This is also the day the ice, served as missionary advisers on while rehearsing. Each group is eager group’s gift to the pastor is presented. Ebeye for five years and on Kosrae for to have the best songs, and the more Sometime during the two weeks be- four years. verses, the better. Often one jebta fore Christmas, each group dresses Buck and I prepared these articles to learns 10 songs. in its uniforms and goes out, seldom help Kwajalein residents understand Early in the rehearsal schedule, the before midnight, to sing and present and appreciate the holiday activities of jebta appoints a committee to decide gifts to the iroij pastor, missionary their neighbors. upon and purchase material for uni- and other village or island dignitar- Part I forms, dresses and shirts, all made ies. Preparation for Christmas in the of the same fabric. Often, a jebta will One Sunday — usually the last Republic of the Marshall Islands be- have three or four uniforms. Sunday before Christmas — is des- gins in October, when singing groups, Part II ignated “singing Sunday,” and all or called jebta (chapters), are called Each jebta decides early — usually most of the groups sing at church. together. These groups are mostly in October — upon a theme for its It is a sort of dress rehearsal for the gathered around the landowner on presentation in church on Christmas main performance on Christmas. But whose land they live, although on Day. The themes frequently seem to the big surprises in the presentations Ebeye there are also island chapters, have little to do with Christmas — in will be kept secret until Christmas made up of people from Ailinglaplap, fact, they may be on a subject such Day. The groups have a uniform for Jaluit or Kapinmeto — the western as firing a missile — and yet, they are “singing Sunday” and another for and northern islands of Lae, Ujae, Bi- always ingeniously brought around to Christmas. kini, Wotho, Rongelap, Eniwetok and a spiritual Yuletide application. On Christmas Eve, the pastor and Ujelang. Kapinmeto means “those at Scripture verses are often repeated one or two church elders are expected the edge of the sea.” in unison, and verses of Scripture and to visit each chapter, to sample the Everyone is involved in the singing prayers are included in each chapter’s whole program, make suggestions as groups, with old people and small presentation. to propriety and see that the dances children included in the same jebta. A member is assigned to oversee are not too lively. On Ebeye, the groups may have as the building of props to carry out the At this time, the chapters draw many as 40 or 50 members. theme. The props can be elaborate straws for order of appearance. No By the time of the first rehearsal, and inventive, with moving parts, chapter wants to be first — in fact, the songs will have been selected by the break-aways, small explosive devices, later, the better.