The White Falcon - 25.11.1994, Blaðsíða 3

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(Quality of life benefits boosted
ashington (AFNS) — Servicemembers and their families will
enefit from a $2.7 billion boost to quality-of-life improvement
programs over the next six years.
Secretary of Defense William Perry announced the increase at
a Nov. 10 Pentagon joint-press briefing with Gen. John
Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The additional funds will be used to improve compensations,
living accommodations and community and family support, the
secretary said.
Added funding begins with a $450 million increase in the fiscal
1996 budget, and continues with an additional $450 million for
the five fiscal years after that. Perry said that was a 5 percent
increase over funds already requested by the armed services for
similar programs.
“Quality of life supports readiness. No weapons system is bet-
ter than the people who operate and maintain it,” Perry said.
“Therefore, in our allocation of resources, we put people first in
our priorities.”
Under the plan, additional funds will be used to:
— Increase the basic allowance for quarters to offset off-
base housing costs. Incremental increases could be as much as
$120 per month for some people.
— Provide a cost-of-living allowance to offset living expens-
es for servicemembers stationed in stateside locations identified
as “high-cost” areas. These areas have cost-of-living averages of
more than 109 percent of the national average. Increases could
oost some military paychecks by as much as $167 per month, but
ould average $40.
— Upgrade 10,000 military homes currently on line for clo-
sure because of a lack of maintenance funds. Additionally, 5,000
single dormitory rooms are going to be improved to provide more
privacy and other amenities.
— Increase the access to child care facilities, from the cur-
rent levels of one-half of the eligible families to two-thirds of
those needing the service — a move that could affect 38,000 fam-
ilies. Money will also be used to improve recreation centers,
reduce surcharges on recreational goods and services, and
strengthen programs aimed at preventing family violence.
New flagship for Sixth Fleet
Gaeta, Italy (NNS) — USS Lasalle (AGF 3) relieved USS
Belknap (CG 26) as flagship for Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, on
Nov. 8 in Gaeta.
USS Lasalle previously served as flagship for commander, U.S.
Naval Forces Central Command, in the Persian Gulf, where for
20 years, she was known as the “great white ghost of the Arabian
coast.” Recent upgrades improved the ship’s command and con-
trol equipment to enhance her ability to host a combined joint
task force.
The turnover ended an eight-year tour for USS Belknap, the
longest of any Sixth Fleet flagship. Prior to departing for the
United States, Belknap had left the Mediterranean just twice dur-
ing her tenure, both times to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar
to conduct diplomatic visits in Morocco and Portugal.
USS Belknap will arrive in her former homeport of Norfolk in
December for inactivation and subsequent decommissioning.
Expecting holiday visitors?
London, England (NENS) — As you plan for the arrival of visi-
tors during the holiday season, remember that Medicare and
most state health insurance programs do not cover health insur-
ance received in a foreign country. It is important that visitors
check their policies carefully before arriving overseas.
Some credit card companies and most travel agents can pro-
vide vacation medical insurance that will come to the aid of your
visitors in a health-related emergency during their travels.
For active duty members and their family members, the mili-
tary health benefits programs provide insurance, whether at
home or traveling. Think of travel insurance for non-DoD visi-
tors as peace of mind at a very low cost.
Thanksgiving Day
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By Chaplain Jerry Vintinner
Most people know the first
Thanksgiving was celebrated by the
Pilgrims in 1621 to give thanks for surviv-
ing their first winter in Massachusetts.
Many are aware that George Washington,
issued a presidential proclamation in 1789
designating a National Day of
Thanksgiving to remember that first
Pilgrim celebration and give thanks for
God’s grace during the War of
Independence.
But few know our third President,
Thomas Jefferson, stopped the practice.
fcAJthough some states observed a
Bhanksgiving Day, the date varied from
?tate to state. It was only through the
efforts of Sara Hale that Thanksgiving
once again became a national observance.
For years she struggled to reach her
goal. It wasn’t easy for her. She started her
campaign in 1828. Hale was well-known as
the author of the poem “Mary Had A
Little Lamb” and as editor of a magazine
called Godey’s Lady’s Book. She wrote
thousands of letters and met with many
national leaders and presidents. She was
politely received, but often told that a
National Thanksgiving Day was impracti-
cal and even impossible.
It took 35 years and a difficult war
before Hale could fufill her goal.
President Abraham Lincoln listened to
her plea that the North and the South
should “lay aside enmities and strife” and
observe a Day of Thanksgiving. He issued
a proclamation in 1863 making the fourth
Thursday of November the official
“National Thanksgiving Day.”
It was on the eve of another war (1941)
that Congress made Thanksgiving Day a
national holiday. At first glance, it might
appear that Americans only think of God’s
grace during difficult times.
Thanks to the persistent efforts of Hale,
the war-weary hopes of President Lincoln
and a declaration of Congress, we now can
pause as a nation to give thanks for God’s
grace. I hope you all took the time yester-
day to be thankful to God for the many
blessings we enjoy, to our family members
for their support and love, and to our
community leaders and volunteers for
their splendid efforts to make our commu-
nity a better place to live.
Someone once observed that God lives
in two places - heaven and a thankful
heart. How much more “heavenly” our
community would be if we all took some
time to be thankful.
November 25,1994
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