The White Falcon - 26.05.1978, Page 1

National ceremonies honor
America’s freedom defenders
Memorial Day
May 29
This year Memorial Day falls on Mon-
day. Special services commemorating
America's war dead, will be held across
the United States, with a national cere-
mony centering, as it did on the first
Memorial Day, at Arlington National Cem-
etary. Wreath-laying at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier there is a symbolic tri-
bute to all of America's servicemembers
who have fought and died in defense of
freedom. It is a tribute, in Ovid's
words, of "pious affection" for the many
men and women who have served their
country in honored glory.
k The first national Memorial Day ob-
Prvance in the United States was held
approximately 110 years ago when the
Grand Army of the Republic decided in
1868 to decorate the graves in Arlington
National Cemetery, located just across
the Potomac River from Washington, DC.
The end of May was selected as an appro-
priate time because flowers were more
available at that time of year.
The crowd attending that first Mem-
orial Day at Arlington Cemetery was ap-
proximately the size of that usually
attending today's observances, about
5,000 people. Then, as now, small flags
were placed on each grave in the cem-
etery.
The 1868 ceremonies centered around
the mourning-draped veranda of the Ar-
lington mansion, once the home of Gener-
al Robert E. Lee. On that day, General
and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant and other Wash-
ington a officials presided. After the
speeches, a procession, headed by chil-
dren from the Soldiers' and Sailors'
Orphan Home and Grand Army men, wended
its way through the cemetery. Prayers
were said, hymns sung, and the graves
scattered with flowers.
By the end of the 19th century, Mem-
orial Day ceremonies were held at the
end of May throughout the nation. One
writer described the celebration in a
small Kansas town:
"I can see the procession setting
out for East Hill Cemetery, the graves
which it will presently garland with
flowers, the names cut upon the stones
reared above them. And it comes to me
as I write that I knew in the flesh
nearly all those who lie there-that I
have taken them by the hand and given
them greeting."
The beginnings of special services
commemorating the dead, go back to an-
tiquity. The Roman poet Ovid, in writ-
ing to his wife, said: "Although the
fire shall have changed my body to ashes
yet the dust will be sensible of your
pious affection."
lume 34, Number 21 Keflavik, Iceland May 26, 1978
»
Preparations underway
AWACS arrives Oct.
Naval Station Keflavik is preparing
to host one of the most modern and soph-
isticated pieces of equipment in the
United States Air Force.
"AWACS,'" which stands for "Airborne ■
Warning and Control System," is a modi-
fied Boeing 707 aircraft with the
military designiation of E-3A and,
according to Air Force sources, it is
the most revolutionary development in
airpower since the invention of radar.
The most noticeablet-eature of the
aircraft is the 30 root saucer type dome
located on top of the plane. The dome
contains an antenna which can separate
friendly and hostile aircraft; the
TIDIL-C antenna, which is used for
digital communications with supporting
Continued on Page 2
TELEPHONE MAN (right) —
Naval Station Seabee,
CE1 Ronald Cherry, in-
stals the telephones at
the 552D's temporary
maintenance spaces in
the old Hobby Shop
building. (Below) Sgt.
Joe Bomgren -right- a
and SMSgt. Larry Combs
paint the symbol of
their new squadron on
the door of-their new
office.
United States Postal Service
rate increase effective
1978 NAVY RELIEF SOCIETY fund drive chairman Lieutenant Commander Marvin D.
Cords accepts a contribution from Rear Admiral Karl J. Bernstein, Commander
Iceland Defense Force/Commander Fleet Air Keflavik. Navy personnel have
contributed $1,820 as of Tuesday; in addition, AFRS 1484 will air its Navy
Relief Society Radio-A-Thon, beginning Monday at 6 a.m. The drive ends
June 6. (photo by PHAN Kirk Fasking)
Channel 5 is here
Turn on to it Thursday
Channel Five will be turned on at
8 a.m. Thursday. The new channel will
be the third on the air at Naval Sta-
tion Keflavik. Channel Four is the nor-
mal AFRTS channel and Channel Two is the
weather channel.
Channel Five will be used solely as
an information channel. The information
to be shown is not intended to duplicate
that which is now being presented during
Community Bulletin Board.
Rather, the new channel is intended
to provide a visual display for such in-
formation items as the Enlisted Dining
Facility menu, school lunch menu, movie
schedule and some weather and driving
conditions. This listing is not com-
plete because almost all types of
official information can be aired.
Channel Five consists of a "program
wheel" with slots in which typed infor-
mation is placed. These cards rotate
in front of a fixed camera once
each seven minutes to provide a con-
tinuous feed of information. Channel
Five will extend the announcement capa-
bility for the Commanding Officer, Naval
Station by being on the air 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
Channel Five is not designed as an
entertainment channel but will be used
only as an information channel. No ad-
ditional hours are planned for Channel
Four television.
Effective Sunday at midnight, the
United States Postal Service has announ-
ced a rate increase on all postage and
fees.
The price for a first class letter
will be 15 cents for the first ounce and
13 cents for each additional ounce or
fraction up to 12 ounces. Also, all
special services fees will be increased.
There will be approximately a 37 per
cent increase overall for parcel post.
Money order fees for military pers-
onnel stationed overseas and aboard ship
will be increased from 15 to 20 cents.
Also, the maximum amount of a money or-
der has been increased from $300 to $400.
The Postal Service has requested
that all patrons continue to use the 13
cent stamps they have on hand, to be
supplemented by two-cent stamps because
the new stamps and envelopes are limited.
The Naval Station Keflavik Post Of-
fice has sufficient two-cent stamps on
order and encourages all patrons to help
by using all of your old 13-cert stamps
before purchasing 15-cent stamps.
The Base Post Office has approxima-
tely 40,000 13-cent stamps on hand which
will be sold along with two-cent stamps
to all patrons until stock is diminished.
The new rates and fees will be post-
ed at the Base Post Office, and any ques-
tions concerning this increase should
be directed to PCC Dixon at 4665 or bv
coming to the post office. Remember,,
all mail posted after midnight Sunday
must have the new postage rate. Any
mail not bearing correct postage will
be sent out postage due which is collec-
ted from the address -
Your cooperation is requested during
this time by the station postal clerks
and mail handling personnel.