The White Falcon - 02.07.1976, Blaðsíða 1

• White
Volume XXXII Number 26
Falcon
Keflavlk, Iceland
July 2, 1976
Hofn to celebrate
with rededication
to democracy
€
"We hold these truths to be self-
evident that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights, that
among these are life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness..."
That familiar declaration was signed
200 years ago Sunday. It will be signed
once again this July 4 by the men of the
667th Aircraft Control and Warning
Squadron at Hofn, in what may be one of
the most significant and lasting dis-
plays of patriotism observed here for
the Bicentennial.
To those original lines, the men at
Hofn will add their own proclamation:
"Be it known to all who join this
organization that on this Fourth day of
July in the year One Thousand Nine Hun-
dred and Seventy-Six, the undersigned
members of the 667th Aircraft Control
and Warning Squadron, do hereby affirm
these truths, declared on the Fourth day
of July in the year One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Seventy-Six, to remain self-
evident. Be it known further, the
undersigned do pledge their loyalty to
these truths, so long as they do live."
Hofn First Sergeant Bill Northener
said all personnel assigned to the site
will have the opportunity to sign the
document at noon, July 4. He expects
most of the 111 men will sign it. It
will be mounted on a plaque and hung in
the site dining hall.
Other weekend activities at Hofn will
.nclude a marathon softball game begin-
.ng at midnight Saturday with E-6 and
ove against E-5 and below. Starting
pitchers will be the oldest, Msgt Don
Dunn, and the youngest, Airman Jeff
Bechtel, on the site. The game will run
through midnight Sunday. Grilled ham-
burgers and hot dogs will be served the
first two hours of the game.
There also will be an egg throw, tug-
of-war, three-legged races, football and
softball distance and accuracy contests,
a fly-casting contest, and a beauty con-
test with prizes going to the best tal-
ent, best evening gown, "Miss Congenial-
ity," and "Miss Hofn 1976."
A picnic Sunday afternoon will fea-
ture grilled steaks, barbequed chicken,
potato salad, corn-on-the-cob and cole
slaw. The senior enlisted men will pro-
vide free ice cream.
At the H-l site in Rockville, the 932
ACW Squadron will hold a picnic Saturday
for personnel assigned to the site,
k The Naval Facility plans a similar
Afternoon, with their second annual July
4 picnic for NavFac personnel and their
families. In addition to plenty of food
and drink, their will be softball games,
golf and activities for all ages.
See stories on Page 3...
The quick action of a twelve-year-
old girl is credited with saving four
lives in a fire Wednesday.
Vandals last week badly damaged
a NATO Base bus in a senseless flurry
of crime. A $50 reward has been off-
ered for the apprehension and con-
viction of offenders. Details behind
these stories are on page 3.
by TSgt. Ralph H. Bazan
Born of a desire to control their in-
dividual destinies and to cast off the
shackles of political oppression, those
early Americans set the tempo for
sculpting a lasting monument to freedom.
History reveals that democracy was
invented by the ancient Greeks, and
though successful it provided little if
any benefit for other than the wealthy
and powerful citizens. By contrast, our
colonial leaders envisioned a truly
liberal and practical form of demo-
cratic govern ment.
While the writers of the Constitution
held a number of truths to be self evi-
dent,r it remained for the general popu-
lation to consider their validity, and
to what extent they would defend those
truths against all enemies. Through
crisis after crisis, both foreign and
domestic, Americans have unfailingly
continued to support the doctrines upon
which this country was founded. The
United States has enjoyed unprecedented
growth, but more importantly, she has
matured in conscience and intellect
during these past two centuries. We've
come to recognize the fundamental dig-
nity and worth of all human beings and
are proud that we have secured justice
and greater equality of opportunity for
our citizens. Notwithstanding this
significant progress we are committed to
furthering the social order and preserv-
ing world peace.
Tabloids abound with descriptions of
the chaotic state of world affairs.
They seem bent on impressing us with the
inevitable decrease of American influ-
ence abroad and our eventual collapse
from within. The conjurers of such dis-
mal forecasts are not unique to this
age, however, for there were earlier
prophets of gloom who have attempted to
darken the spirit of liberty throughout
our history. They were proven fallible
as America emerged victorious from chal-
lenge after challenge. This generation,
too, will absorb and discard the un-
wholesome effects of internal social
conflict and external political and
economic pressure.
However far we may advance in these
endeavors, Americans can ill afford over
confidence brought on by the heady ef-
fects of cultural, or technological suc-
cesses. We are compelled to periodical-
ly examine and reevaluate national
priorities in terms of the general wel-
fare. Responsible citizens realize this
is a shared task between our elected of-
ficials and their constituency. Just as
an architect cannot single-handedly
erect a worthy structure, so too, the
nation looks to its people for a mandate
and sense of direction. Our founding
fathers with their providential fore-
sight, clearly intended that government
shall be responsive to the will of the
people, and the people should make known
their collective frame of mind.
To ponder the phrase appearing on all
U. S. coinage, helps us understand
America's great integrity...E PLURIBUS
UNUM..."One out of many". This is the
core of our durability; a nation of
sovereign states and individuals, whose
unity of purpose transcends all their
differences. Surely, herein lies the
Foundations of Our Heritage.
NATO Base
events slated
The Bicentennial will be celebrated
on the NATO Base this weekend with trad-
itional flair, and some localized sur-
prises that should be fun and exciting
for all ages.
There will be cartoons for the child-
ren, dinners for all ages, clowns and a
marching brass band. Sports events high-
light the three day week-end, and an ex-
citing holiday atmosphere will prevail
in the main area of celebration, across
the street from the youth center, where
there will be games, concessions, rides
and contests. •
The Sunday afternoon parade, which
officially opens the Bicentennial week-
end, will feature the splendor of march
music, color guards, marching units, and
the ingenuity of several floats from
various departments and commands on the
NATO Base.
The Reykjavik Sport Parachute Club
is scheduled to make two separate jumps
Sunday afternoon. The membership of this
club comprises both U. S. and Icelandic
parachute enthusiasts who are involved
with rescue operations.
In a more solemn moment, which will
recall our heritage and restate our pur-
pose and place in our country's struc-
ture, a joint-service re-enlistment is
planned for Sunday afternoon.
Sunday evening the community will re-
ga^her at hangar 885 for more food and
entertainment, featuring popular vocal-
ist Wilma Reading and the United States
band, Flight, for your dancing pleasure.
At midnight, the sky outside hangar 885
will erupt with a spectacular fireworks
display to cap the Bicentennial festival
Monday has been established as the
foul weather day. In the event of rain,
activities scheduled for outdoors Sun-
day will be moved to Monday. Events for
Monday will be rescheduled for the fol-
lowing weekend. Schedule changes will
be announced on American Forces Radio
before noon on Sunday.
Here is a day by day, detailed sched-
ule of events for the July 4 weekend:
SATURDAY
10 a.m. — Track and Field Meet begins at base gym with shot put.
11:15 High jump competition at gym.
1 p.m. — Track events: 50 yard dash on taxiway in front of bank.
1:15 — One mile run for men under 30 on taxiway
1:25 “ Weightmen's 50 yard dash, on the taxiway.
1:30 “ Children's Cartoon Carnival at Andrews Theater.
1:40 — 440 yard dash finals on taxi- way.
2:20 — 60 yard low hurdles for men under 30 on taxiway.
2:30 - 60 yard low hurdles for men over 30 on taxiway.
2:40 “ 880 yard run for men under 30 on the taxiway.
2:50 “ 880 yard run for men over 30 on the taxiway.
3:00 440 yard relay (4x110) final on the taxiway. (continued on Page 3)