The White Falcon - 23.12.1966, Side 1
U.S NAVAL STATION, KEFLAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ICELAND
Volume VII, Number 19 Friday, December 23, 1966
Christmas Greeting.
s
Christmas is a
time for hope. It
is also a season
for renewed in-
spiration from
Christ’s univer-
sal message of
peace on earth,
goodwill toward
men.
To the men
and women of
the armed forces and to their
families, Mrs. Johnson and I send
our warmest wishes for the bless-
sings of the Christmas heritage.
Many of you are serving the
cause of freedom far from your
homes and families.
Among other freedoms, you are
safeguarding the right of wor-
ship. Our prayer, the invocations
of free men, are constantly with
you.
Your courage and dedication
have earned our deepest gratitude
and pride.
As we enter the New Year, we
shall reaffirm our determination
to secure a world at peace. And
we shall hold fast to our faith in
the brotherhood of men, every-
where on earth.
Lyndon B. Johnson
President of the United States.
At this time
each year we
find ourselves re-
sponding to the
spirit of the Sea-
son, to its reli-
gious signifi-
cance and to its
promise or our
loved ones.
We also find
ourselves reviewing our accom-
plishments during the past year
and reflecting on the demands of
the future. The year now ending
has been one in which Air Force
personnel, both overseas and at
home, have made historic contri-
butions to the security of our
country and Free World. Men and
women of the Air Force every-
where have earned the high re-
spect and gratitude of their fel-
low citizens.
As another year of challenge
begins, I am sure that you will
be dedicating yourselves once
again to the defense of freedom.
I wish all of you and your
families a joyous Christmas Sea-
son and a New Year full of
achievements and satisfaction.
J. P. McConnell
General, USAF
Chief of Staff
U. S. Air Force.
As we cele-
brate the birth-
day of the Prince
of Peace and
look forward to
the opportunities
of the New Year,
each of us at the
U. S. Naval Sta-
tion Keflavik can
with modesty
and humility re-
flect on our contributions to
peace on earth and good will to-
ward men.
The year 1966 has demanded
much from the Naval Station team.
I am proud of the station’s accom-
plishments and our ability to meet
the problem and challenges that
have come to us. I am sure the
year 1967 will again require our
best efforts and unstinted devo-
tion to duty. I know that every
man aboard the station will meet
his obligations in a manner that
reflects credit on himself, on our
service and our country -— such
is the record and tradition of sai-
lors and marines.
Those of you who will be away
from your home this holiday sea-
son will find comfort in the reali-
zation of the importance of your
duties and the safety and well
being you are providing for your
loved ones. To each of you and
your families, I extend my very
best wishes for a Merry Christ-
mas and a Happy New Year.
Captain Emile E. Pierre, Jr.
Commanding Officer, Naval Station.
With the advent of this Christ-
mas season we renew our hope
for peace on earth. You, the men
and women of the Armed Forces,
at home and abroad, are the
guardians of that hope. We are
grateful for your sacrifices and
devotion to your country.
May the spirit of Christmas be
with you. May the New Year
bring the peace for which we
strive.
Robert S. McNamara
Secretary of Defense
To Marines, to all Free World
fighting-men, and to your families
may I extend my warmest wish
for a joyous Christmas. May the
promise of Cln'istmas, which
your service and sacrifice pro-
vides for all, be yours through the
coming year.
Wallace M. Greene, Jr.
General, U. S. Marine Corps
Commandant of The Marine Corps.
World's Hottest Story
Received By Teletype
Several years ago, a staff of
newsmen on a large metropolitan
daily was working the Christmas
Eve night shift when they were
alerted by the Associated Press
(AP) to stand by for a story
It was a few minutes to mid-
night when the message came
from a clacking teletype machine:
BIGGEST STORY OF THE YEAR
ON WAY.
Night reporters and rewrite
men stopped what they were doing
and crowded around the teletype.
Editors from the city and tele-
graph desks also showed concern.
A few minutes of silence fol-
lowed. Then at midnight the AP
machine began to vibrate and a
simple message appeared:
Bethlehem, 25 Dec. (AP) —
A CHILD IS BORN.
Admiral Weymouth’s
Christmas Message
The wonderful
Christmas sea-
son again cap- :
tures the hearts
of Christians as
have the days of
the Festival of
Hanukkah done
for the Jews. For
both it is a time
of deep reflec-
tion on the meaning of our lives
among men. It is a joyous time,
too, looking ahead to better ways.
We in the Iceland Defense Force
can reflect that our profession is
dedicated with good will towards
our fellow men. Well done, our
tasks are aimed at the protection
of all our fellow men throughout
the world. At this season, as in
others, we ask that we be well
guided to accomplish this.
Some of us are fortunate to be
able to enjoy this season of joy
and reflection together with our
families. But many others are se-
parated from their loved ones.
Despite this we know that the
spirit of this season will prevail
and help us to accept the labors
of our profession, knowing its
value to those loved ones, to a
grateful nation and to men of like
mind everywhere.
Rear Admiral
Ralph Weymouth, USN
Cominander Iceland
Defense Force
FORTY FEET HIGH—Bondfires light up the coastal areas around
Reykjavik on New Year’s Eve as hundreds of people gather to sing
carols and dance around the fires as they bring in the New Year
with cheer and warmth. (See Christmas in Iceland, page three)
(VISIR PHOTO)
Station Church Services,
Club Activities On Xmas
Special schedules have been set
here in observance of the Christ-
mas Season.
The birthday of Jesus will be
celebrated on Christmas Eve. The
Solemn High Mass will begin at
one minute after midnight and
Christmas hymns will be sung at
11:30 p.m. Masses on Christmas
Day are scheduled for 10 p.m. at
the Polar Club and 12:15 p.m. at
the station’s chapel.
New Year’s Day a — Holy Day of
Obligation for Catholics —- the
Masses will be held at 10 a.m. at
the Polar Club and 12:15 p.m. at
the chapel.
Confessions for Christmas Day
will be heard Saturday evening
between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and
for New Year’s Day, Saturday,
Dec. 31, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Candlelight Divine Worship
ship Services for Protestants have
been scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve and 10:45 a.m.
Christmas Day, at the Stations
chapel.
Regular Divine Worship Ser-
vices will be held New Year’s
Day and there will be no Sunday
School on these two religious
days.
The Navy Exchange Office an-
nounced certain revisions in hours
of operations. The Retail Store
will close Saturday at 12 noon
and remain closed till Tuesday.
The Commissary Store said it
will close at 1 p.m. on Saturday,
Dec. 24 and open on Tuesday at
9 a.m. Dec. 27.
Both stores will follow the same
schedule on New Year’s weekend.
The Officer’s Club announces a
special New Year’s party for Dec.
31. Reservations are requested and
should be made prior to Dec. 26.
There is a candlelight dinner
planned with music provided by
the “Americans Plus 1”. Celebrat-
ing the coming-in of the New
Year, a champagne breakfast will
be served.
The Polar Club manager an-
nounced that the “Icelandic Beat-
les” will entertain Christman Eve.
On New Years Eve, the jazz
band, the “Bluebirds”, will swing
into action while a special buffet
is offered.
Today at the NCO Club, there
is a Christmas party beginning at
7:30 p.m. with “Happy Hour” and
at 8 p.m., the “Country Gentle-
men” and the “Americans Plus 1”
will entertain personnel and their
guests.
The Special Service’s Office
said they have scheduled the folk
singing group, “The Splinter” of
Northern Arizona University.
Curtain time is at 7:30 p.m. Dec.
27, at Andrews Theater.