Chef showdown Vol. 68, No. 50 www.cherrypoint.marines.mil December 16, 2010 See A5 Cherry Point to house 8 F-35B squadrons JOINT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE MCAS CHERRY POINT The Department of the Navy ap- proved, signed and fi nalized its deci- sion for basing of the Marine F-35B Dec. 9. On the East Coast, the decision will put eight operational squadrons of the F-35B at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and three opera- tional squadrons and a pilot training center at MCAS Beaufort, S.C. That would equate to up to 128 of the new aircraft at MCAS Cherry Point and up to 88 new aircraft at MCAS Beaufort. “This is great news for MCAS Cherry Point and Eastern North Caro- lina,” said Col. Philip Zimmerman, Cherry Point’s commanding offi cer. “We know that Eastern North Caro- lina is a great place to train our Marine aviators thanks to its unique and state of the art training facilities and ranges, and thanks to the fantastic support we receive from the our neighbors in the local communities.” The current schedule would begin replacing F/A-18 aircraft at MCAS PHOTO COURTESY OF LOCKHEED MARTIN Beaufort as early as 2014 and would The Department of the Navy announced Dec. 9 that Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point will serve as the home of eight squadrons begin replacing Cherry Point’s AV-8B of the new F-35B Lightning II. The F-35B stands to replace the F/A-18, AV-8B Harrier and EA-6B Prowler aircraft in the Marine Corps arsenal. Harriers as early as 2019. Top chaplain visits air station LANCE CPL. SCOTT L. TOMASZYCKI Rear Adm. Margaret G. Kibben, the chaplain of the Marine Corps; Brig. Gen. Glenn M. Walters, left; and Navy Capt. Rondall Brown, right, discuss the role of the Navy Chaplain Corps in the upcoming deployment of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) at the 2nd MAW LANCE CPL. BRIAN ADAM JONES Abby Gore tempts Santa Claus during a rendition of “Santa Baby” at the 2010 Christmas concert (Fwd.) headquarters Dec. 8. Walters is the commanding presented by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the station theater Friday. Gore leant her voice to general of 2nd MAW (Fwd.), and Brown is the chaplain the band’s spirited, exciting performance that evoked feelings of the Christmas season for young and for 2nd MAW (Fwd.). old featuring timeless Christmas songs such as “Santa Baby” by Joan Javits, “My Favorite Things” by LANCE CPL. SCOTT L. TOMASZYCKI Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin. MCAS CHERRY POINT The chaplain of the Marine Corps, Rear Adm. Margaret Local community packs theater for G. Kibben, visited Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to speak with Marine leaders and local members of the Navy Chaplain Corps Dec. 8. 2nd MAW Band Christmas concert Kibben and Capt. Rondall Brown, chaplain of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), discussed how the Navy LANCE CPL. BRIAN ADAM JONES such as “Santa Baby” by Joan Javits, “My Favorite Chaplain Corps will support 2nd MAW (Fwd.) and its up- MCAS CHERRY POINT Things” by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein coming deployment to Afghanistan. More than 1,600 members of the Marine Corps Air II, and “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin. The religious program for 2nd MAW (Fwd.) will be Station Cherry Point community fi lled the station the- If the audience had been dreaming of a white headed by Brown, who has served as a chaplain in Somalia, ater Friday for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band’s Christmas, they were rewarded in the show’s fi nale Desert Storm, Iraq and with police and fi re departments re- 2010 Christmas concert. when “snow” began falling from the ceiling. sponding to the attacks on Sept. 11. Led by Chief Warrant Offi cer 3 Robert Szabo, the Gunnery Sgt. Victor D. Miranda, the drum major “I’m excited about going,” Brown said. “I look forward more than 50 Marines in the band put their talent and for the band, said that while the 2nd MAW Band to the ministry there. That’s where I need to be. When chap- enthusiasm on display for a crowd that seemed to rel- spends much of the year preparing for and traveling lains go to the Marines, we look forward to deployment.” ish the chance to see them perform. to performances around the world, it was gratifying to Brig. Gen. Glenn M. Walters, the commanding general of The band put on a spirited, exciting performance get the chance to perform for the local area. 2nd MAW (Fwd.), said often times in deployments Marines that evoked feelings of the Christmas season for the young and old; featuring timeless Christmas songs See BAND page A9 See VISIT page A9 MCCS recognizes Cherry North Carolina governor visits Point’s warrior athletes Cherry Point, serves as guest speaker LANCE CPL. TYLER J. BOLKEN Staff Sgt. Stephanie S. Toomey, second from left, and Lt. Col. Rod Brewster, CPL. DANIEL A. NEGRETE second from right, receive the Marine Corps Community Services Cherry Point Gov. Beverly Perdue, of North Carolina, walks alongside Col. Philip J. Zimmerman, female and male athlete of the year award at the station headquarters building the commanding offi cer of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, upon exiting Dec. 6. Col. Philip J. Zimmerman, left, the station commanding offi cer, and Sgt. her aircraft at the fl ightline Tuesday. Perdue fl ew in from Raleigh, N.C., to serve Maj. Jerry L. Bailey, right, the station sergeant major, presented the awards. as the guest speaker for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly erected Fleet Toomey is a fi eld radio operator supervisor with Marine Air Support Squadron 1, Readiness Center-East Engineering Product Support Facility. and Brewster is the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing comptroller. A2 December 16, 2010 The Windsock New Bern community leaders recognize Cherry Point family CPL. DANIEL A. NEGRETE Staff Sgt. Glenn A. Staley serves salad to his sons, Hunter, Parker and Carter, at a luncheon banquet held in his honor and sponsored by the New Bern Chamber of Commerce and the New Bern Military Alliance at the New Bern Golf and Country Club in New Bern, N.C., Dec. 9. Staley, an ordnance instructor with the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training here, and his family were the Military Family of the Quarter for the fi rst quarter of this fi scal year. Staley was recognized for his personal achievements at CNATT, his involvement with the New Bern community through Liberty Christian Church and for leading a local Boy Scouts of America pack. From the Chaplain: “Happy Holidays” $1,000 donation for CMDR. CARL P. KOCH still shop at this time of year. MCAS CHERRY POINT COMMAND CHAPLAIN What’s the big deal? Aren’t there a There’s great debate going on about number of holidays being celebrated by wishing people “Happy Holidays” or people of different faiths this season? holiday outreach “Merry Christmas” Okay, maybe it’s not Isn’t Christmas just one of them? Can’t as great a debate as is going on in the po- someone, in a generous attempt to in- litical world, but it is making the news. clude people of all faiths, wish a strang- This morning I saw some pastor from er, “Happy Holidays?” Dallas talking about businesses that have Sure, I don’t celebrate Chanukah. I their phones answered by people who don’t celebrate Kwanza. I’ve not yet cel- say, “Merry Christmas.” and those who ebrated a Muslim holiday. I don’t fore- wish people, “Happy Holidays.” It’s see celebrating anything but Christian the “naughty and nice list.” Some peo- holidays, but this doesn’t mean I don’t ple won’t shop at stores that only wish want folks of other faiths to enjoy their people “Happy Holidays.” They claim celebrations. that these businesses are taking Christ And, what makes Christmas a Chris- out of Christmas or that they are denying tian holiday? Sure, it’s when Christians Christmas in some way. celebrate the birth of Jesus. But, is this The reality is there are other holidays, when Jesus was born? Most biblical like Chanukah, that take place during the scholars, while they may disagree on the “Christmas season.” And, it may come as date of Jesus’ birth, agree that it wasn’t a surprise to some people that a number Dec. 25. There are numerous histori- of Jewish people actually still shop dur- cal references to Christmas as the early ing the Christmas season. Maybe it’s the Church’s attempt to usurp the pagan CPL. DANIEL A. NEGRETE Chanukah season! But I haven’t heard celebrations of Saturnalia. This, and From left to right, Sonny M. Roberts, co-chairman of the New Bern Military Alliance, presents a $1,000 check from the alliance made out to the air station’s holiday an uproar from any Jewish groups about not biblical facts, have made Dec. 25 a outreach program to Cmdr. Carl P. Koch and Col. Philip J. Zimmerman. Koch is the people saying either, “Merry Christmas,” “Christian” holiday. command chaplain, and Zimmerman is the commanding offi cer of Marine Corps Air or “Happy Holidays,” instead of “Happy Some people get all wrapped around Station Cherry Point. The Station Chapel sponsors the program for all personnel Chanukah.” By the way, late-breaking E-4 and below who are single or married parents in need at MCAS Cherry Point to news is that there are Muslims who also See HOLIDAYS page A9 receive a gift card from the commissary for the holiday season.