Friday, May 25, 2018 Volume 11, Issue 20 Published for members of the SHAPE/Chièvres, Brussels and Schinnen communities Benelux News Briefs Volunteers needed MWR is in need of volunteers to assist with the World Cup Match event - Belgium vs England - June 28 at the SHAPE fest tent. Visit the Chièvres MWR page to sign up. Fitness instructors needed The SHAPE Sports and Fitness Center is looking for volunteer and freelance fitness instructors. Contact 314-423-5325 for more information. Community Themes and Assessment Tool The Community Health Promo- tion Council is surveying the Benelux for thoughts about what is important to the instal- lation; quality of life; and how to improve community health, wellness, readiness, and resil- iency. It is designed to capture the "pulse" of community mem- ber's feelings on quality of life, health, safety, and satisfaction within the Benelux. Participation in this survey is voluntary, and your responses will be kept pri- vate and confidential. Take the survey at: https://usaphcapps. amedd.army.mil/Survey/ se.ashx?s=251137455DDCC5A4. Table of Contents Remembering all victims of War in Zutendaal Lieutenant Col. Mark Allen, U.S. Embassy Representant, legal advisor Office of Defense Corporation, salutes and lays News..............................2-7 a wreath with a pupil of an elementary school in front of the U.S. monument during the WWII Remembrance Inside the Gate.............8-10 Friday, May 18, 2018 in Zutendaal, Belgium. (U.S. Army photo by Christophe Morel) Outside the Gate..........11-13 See Page 4 May 25, 2018 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Three generations of military service By U.S. Army Europe Asian Americans and Pacific Island- Corps or Naval Auxiliary Service would ers have a long history of service to be eligible for citizenship. the U.S. military. Spc. Henry Villarama Despite initial obstacles, the family is a Sky Soldier with the 54th Brigade grew stronger and the grandfather’s Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne legacy of service inspired Villarama’s Brigade, and is a proud third genera- father to join the military as well in tion Filipino-American who upholds this 1981. Col. Villarama shares, “As a young strong legacy. Filipino officer I had to be proficient in “My family has a long heritage of warf- the English language quickly to be an ighting as American soldiers,” shares effective leader. But from my culture I Villarama. “Beginning with my grandfa- had everything else: courage, discipline, ther who retired as a chief petty officer dedication and persistence.” in the U.S. Navy, my father followed in These leadership qualities are pillars of his footsteps, serving through Desert success within the U.S. military. Amongst Storm and retiring as a colonel in the the Villaramas, these characteristics U.S. Army.” From left to right: Navy Chief Petty Officer (Retired) have been passed down through three Victor V. Villarama, Army Col. (Retired) Henry F. Vil- Growing up, Villarama would hear sto- generations. larama, and Army Spc. Henry L. Villarama of the ries from his grandmother about their 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne "My son in the 173rd Airborne Brigade family’s humble beginnings and the Brigade. (Photo editing by Spc. Henry Villarama) is the continuation of our family’s con- hardships they faced in the Philippines. tribution to our great country,” says Col. She lived in a village that was bombed He made the courageous yet difficult Villarama. “This is also proof that our and occupied by invading soldiers dur- decision to leave his wife and two-year military has the capability of winning the ing WWII. It was during this occupation old son by traveling to the U.S. in the hearts and minds of a liberated country.” that their lives were changed forever. late 1950s, enlisting with the U.S. Navy. This generation’s addition to the Vil- “Life was tough for my grandparents Retired Chief Petty Officer Victor V. larama story finds Spc. Henry Villarama during the war,” explains Villarama. “The Villarama served as a cook aboard the serving as a Sky Soldier in Vicenza, Italy. mother and sister of my grandmother U.S.S. Lexington during the Vietnam It is obvious that he has inherited his were both killed by gunshot wounds conflict. Villarama’s grandfather gained family's strong lineage of leadership. incurred while occupying forces were valuable wartime experience during this He has been with the 173rd Airborne bombing her town of Santiago in the time, but he also achieved something Brigade since March 2017, a paratrooper Isabela Province. My grandfather’s town he had desired for many years. primarily serving as a 25N, or Nodal was also occupied, but thankfully no fam- He attained U.S. citizenship as a result Network Systems Operator/Maintainer. ily members were killed in the process.” of military service. Although naturaliza- Villarama also has the added respon- The occupation of the Philippines tion acts had existed previously, the Act sibility of being the Unit Public Affairs during the war stayed with Villarama’s of May 9, 1918 specifically identified Representative for his battalion, promot- grandfather, Victor, long after the war "any native-born Filipino” with three years ing their lethality, agility, and combat ended, compelling him to join the military. of service in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine readiness to the world. u To submit or subscribe, email [email protected] The Gazette is an unofficial publication published under the provisions of AR 360-1 for members of the Commander....................Col. Kurt Connell Department of Defense. Contents of The Gazette are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army or the USAG Benelux. The Gazette is a free weekly publication Public Affairs Officer.....Marie-Lise Baneton distributed via email every Thursday, except when that day is an American, Belgian or Dutch Holiday, then The Gazette is published on Wednesday. The editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided, Editor.............................Kristin Ellis approved and published by the USAG Benelux Public Affairs Office, Unit 21419, APO AE 09708. Telephone (0032) 068-275419/DSN 361-5419. Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, Staff Writers..................Rita Hoefnagels use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, Christophe Morel political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this Julie Piron equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher will refuse to print advertising from that Jessica Ryan source until the violation is corrected. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army. Submit content or story ideas to [email protected] by Monday at 3 p.m. [2] May 25, 2018 "Your daughter has cancer." Upcoming 24-hour fun run to benefit Make-a-Wish By Hanneke Mader Special to Gazette "Your daughter has cancer." These four words are a parent’s nightmare. These four words changed our lives. In September of 2015, at age seven, Rebecca was diagnosed with osteosar- coma, a bone cancer. Over the course of 10 months, Rebecca endured 32 rounds of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, including an allograft. Our daily routines of school and extra curricular activities were replaced by doctors visits and long hospital stays. We watched helplessly as the oncolo- gists put bag after bag of poison into our daughter’s little body. We held her close when she would get needles poked into her. We held buckets to catch her vomit. Our thoughts were constantly plagued by the rising medical bills, medication schedules, shots that had to be given at home, and what ifs. During this time we were approached by the Make-A-Wish organization. Make- Rebecca Mader has her wish granted as she meets Olaf at Disney World. The annual 24-hour run event A-Wish seeks to grant wishes to children in support of Make-a-Wish Foundation will be held at the main gym at SHAPE from June 1-2. (Courtesy photo) with life threatening illnesses. Rebecca was asked what her wish was and how Make-A-Wish made this trip an unfor- with him was the highlight of our whole MAW could help grant it. After spending gettable time for Rebecca and our family. trip! She was so happy! much time considering her options, Re- After a year of doctors, chemotherapy, MAW gave us entrance tickets not only becca asked to meet side effects and the constant fear and to Disney World but also to Sea World, Olaf, from the movie worry, Rebecca's wish was Legoland and Universal Studios. We Frozen. MAW decided about to come true! Our were also provided with a debit card to the best way to do day started with breakfast purchase souvenirs and snacks. Upon this was to send her delivered, followed by a lim- arriving back, we found a limousine to Disney World. ousine that took us to the waiting to take us home. The specific che- airport. After meeting the What we experienced thanks to Make- motherapies that pilot we took off for Florida. A-Wish is hard to put into words. Rebecca Rebecca received, We arrived to a rental ve- had undergone so much pain and suf- caused her to be hicle, and house to stay in fering. Our family was worn out physi- hospitalized for most at Give Kids the World, an cally and emotionally. For one week, of the 10 months of all-inclusive resort for Wish MAW took all of our cares and worries treatment.