Virginia ABC and Sailor Jerry Partnership Benefits Wounded Veterans for Third Year

RICHMOND – In February, March and April, consumers purchased more than 25,000 bottles of Sailor Jerry rum from Virginia ABC stores. Every purchase of the spiced rum helped generate a financial contribution that benefits wounded veterans.

For the third consecutive year, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) partnered with William Grant & Sons, owners and producers of Sailor Jerry rum, to support the Aleethia Foundation. The nonprofit foundation assists injured troops recuperating at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center – Bethesda with short-term therapeutic recreation.

In addition to providing clothing, travel expenses for family members and assistive technology devices, Aleethia has been offering “Friday Night Dinners” for more than a decade. These rehabilitation therapy dinners urge injured service men and women to take a first step out of their hospital rooms and into public life together with family and other wounded veterans. Since 2003 more than 25,000 individuals have enjoyed dining out as a way to help rebuild their confidence, heal and assimilate back into a noncombatant society.

The partnership between William Grant & Sons and Virginia ABC resulted in an $8,002 contribution to the Aleethia Foundation. Since 2012, more than $23,000 has been donated to the nonprofit.

On Sept. 12, Virginia ABC Chairman Jeff Painter had the opportunity to meet some of the injured troops participating in one of Aleethia’s “Friday Night Dinners.” While at the event, Painter gave each service member a Virginia ABC challenge coin, a metal medallion commonly shared among military personnel.

 “The support the Aleethia Foundation offers injured U.S. service members and their families is commendable,” said Painter. “Being able to attend the dinner and interact with the veterans was a powerful experience.”

“Working with the Virginia ABC over the past three years has been very rewarding to the William Grant family and is important to our customers,” said Reed Davis, William Grant & Sons’ district manager of Virginia and South Carolina. “At the Sept. 12 dinner, the highlight for me was watching the attendees accept the challenge coins Chairman Painter distributed. It was a big deal to those men and women and an amazing thing to witness.”

Sailor Jerry Rum was established in honor of Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins, a member of the U.S. Navy who later became a prominent American tattoo artist, putting ink on the many service members who sought out his Honolulu tattoo parlor for nearly 40 years. The 92-proof spiced rum features a Sailor Jerry hula girl tattoo design on the label.

The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is a major source of revenue for the commonwealth, contributing more than $1.8 billion to the general fund in the last five years. The agency currently operates 350 state stores. Its Bureau of Law Enforcement oversees more than 16,000 ABC licensed establishments while the Hearings and Appeals Division considers more than 700 cases each year. The agency also provides alcohol education and prevention programs for people of all ages. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary, ABC remains committed to progress and innovation in carrying out its control, service and revenue mission.

Web: www.abc.virginia.gov

Facebook: Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

Twitter: @VirginiaABC

Search-and-Rescue Operations End for Aircrew Member

From a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command News Release

MANAMA, Bahrain, Oct. 2, 2014 – U.S. forces in the North Persian Gulf concluded a search-and-rescue operation for a missing U.S. Marine Corps aircrew member today after efforts to locate him were unsuccessful.

The Marine is presumed lost at sea.

The Marine aircrew member went into the water yesterday when the aircraft he was aboard lost power shortly after takeoff from the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island. Another air crewman also exited the aircraft at the same time and was safely recovered. He is in stable condition aboard Makin Island.

The pilot of the aircraft, a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey, was eventually able to regain control and safely land back aboard Makin Island. There were four personnel aboard the aircraft when it took off, two pilots and two enlisted aircrew. The lost Marine was one of the two enlisted aircrew who exited the aircraft when it appeared the Osprey might crash into the ocean.

U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel conducted an extensive search of the area using all available assets, which continued throughout the night and the next day.

The Osprey's crew was participating in flight operations in support of its current mission at the time of the mishap.

The Navy and Marine Corps will investigate the cause of the incident. In accordance with Department of Defense policy, the name of the Marine will be withheld until 24 hours after family member notification.

USS Makin Island, with embarked elements of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is currently on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility where it is supporting operations in Iraq and Syria, and throughout the region.

Defender Decommissioned After 25 Years of Service

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Conor Minto, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The mine countermeasure ship USS Defender (MCM 2), was decommissioned after 25 years of naval service at Naval Base San Diego, Oct. 1.

Defender was launched on April 4, 1987 and commissioned on Sept. 30, 1989.

Several of the ship's plankowners and former crew members, attended the ceremony alongside the current crew members.

Retired Capt. Charles Johnson, the commissioning commanding officer of Defender described the decommissioning ceremony as a bittersweet moment.

"She was a very good ship and I'm proud to have been there for both ends of her," said Johnson. "We'll be sad to see her go."

Lt. Cmdr. James Sordi, commanding officer of Defender, honored the plank owners that took part in the commissioning ceremony 25 years ago by having them stand and be recognized during the decommissioning ceremony.

"Today is a proud and somber day. When you decommission a ship, you think about all the hard work that Sailors have put in to this platform over the past 25 years and it fills you with great pride to have the plankowner crew here to help celebrate today," said Sordi. "It also makes you feel a little sad to know that a piece of history is going away."

Over the years, Defender has deployed to the U.S. 3rd, 6th and 7th Fleet and has earned four Battle 'E' awards and two Secretary of the Navy Letters of Commendation.

Commodore of Mine Countermeasures Squadron Three, Capt. Edmund Hernandez, described how Defender truly embodied her name.

"The Avenger class mine countermeasure ships are all named for impressive qualities we want our warships to embody. To 'defend' means to fight in order to not allow a person or thing to hurt damage or destroy someone or something," said Hernandez. "It is an apt name for a ship that performed that precise task and did it so superbly for a quarter of a century, in true sustained, superior performance."