Ombudsman Update for W/E 05/14/04

Welcome to the weekly PACAREA TACLET Ombudsman update for the week ending 05/14/04! Sorry this did not go out on Friday - I was waiting on a piece of information that I really wanted to include.     COMMISSARY NEWS: May is Commissary Awareness Month! Did you know that the commissary benefit is one of the most under-used benefits by Coast Guard families in the San Diego area? So this month, get in touch with your “inner” commissary shopper and make a trip out to 32nd Street or Miramar. There’s a lot going on during DeCA’s annual Commissary Awareness Month to help you “channel” the savings. The world’s biggest case lot sale has expanded from being held annually in September to an additional worldwide event in May. Sale schedules vary by store so use this link to check store Web pages for sale dates and hours of operation: https://www.commissaries.com/realign_maps/alpha_list.cfm. For those of you who aren’t too familiar with your inner commissary shopper, there’ll be single and new service member “show and tell” commissary tours. Commissary Awareness Month ends with a patriotic splash over Memorial Day weekend with the launch of “Savings You’ve Earned” on May 27. “Savings You’ve Earned” will help customers easily identify what’s on sale at their local commissary as soon as they walk through the door. The red, white and blue shelf signs, posters, banners and employee buttons will create excitement in commissaries worldwide and reinforce commissary savings messages. Staying connected to your commissary benefit is just a click away: MILITARY SPOUSES RULE: May 14 is designated by the Coast Guard as Spouse Appreciation Day. Below is the Official Message from CG RADM Joyce Johnson. R 081755Z MAY 03  ALCOAST 213/03 COMDTNOTE 1754 SUBJ: MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY 1. THE COAST GUARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TRADITIONALLY RECOGNIZE THE SECOND FRIDAY IN MAY AS MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY. THIS DAY IS SET ASIDE ANNUALLY TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR A UNIQUE AND EXCEPTIONAL GROUP OF WOMEN AND MEN WHO PROVIDE INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO THE MILITARY MEMBER. OUR SPOUSES PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HELPING US BALANCE OUR WORK AND OUR LIVES. 2. THROUGH THE YEARS, AS THE NUMBER OF MARRIED COAST GUARD PERSONNEL HAS INCREASED, THE WORK OF OUR MILITARY MEMBERS HAS BECOME COMPLEX AND DEMANDING. THE NEARLY 21,000 WIVES AND HUSBANDS OF MEMBERS ARE SPECIAL PERSONS WHO OFTEN PUT ASIDE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PLANS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR SPOUSES AND THE SERVICE. THOUGH THEY ENDURE FAMILY SEPARATIONS AND FREQUENT RELOCATIONS THAT MAY BE FAR FROM OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THEY CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THEIR COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, AND ENTHUSIASM. THESE SPOUSES ARE A MOST VALUABLE ASSET, HELPING OUR MEMBERS TO REMAIN DEVOTED TO DUTY. 3. TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF THESE SPOUSES, I ENCOURAGE COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE TO HONOR AND PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR SPOUSES DURING MAY. COMMAND CEREMONIES RECOGNIZING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE. EVENING ACTIVITIES MAY ACCOMMODATE THE SCHEDULES OF WORKING SPOUSES. 4. MY HEARTFELT THANKS FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS SPOUSES HAVE MADE TO OUR COAST GUARD FAMILY. 5. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED. 6. RADM JOYCE M. JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, SENDS. #4466 BT I hope all of our PACTACLET spouses and "significant others" had a terrific day and know how much they are truly appreciated by their families and the Command. The job of a Coast Guard spouse is truly the toughest one in the Guard.    MWR THIS WEEK:    As usual, there is so much going on at MWR! Click here for all the info.      VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:   The Navy’s 18th Original Bay Bridge Run/Walk is looking for volunteers! Sunday, May 23 6 AM Volunteers are needed for event set up and break down and to man water stations, sponsor booths, t-shirt pick up, race timing, and more. All volunteers receive an official four-color race t-shirt, refreshments, and an entry into the post-event drawing. Padres discount tickets to the May 31, 2004 Memorial Day game are available to all volunteers, family members and friends for $10 (a $12 value.) If you, your command, family or friends would like to volunteer, please fill out an application and check the volunteer box or contact Jennifer Gonzales at (619) 556-8406 or Jennifer.Gonzales@navy.mil.  Applications may be found at all Navy MWR facilities as well as on-line at www.mwrtoday.com.   MEMORIAL FUND:   In remembrance of DC3 Nathan Bruckenthal, a member of TACLET South (Miami) - LEDET 403 who was killed in Iraq on April 24, a memorial fund has been established by the Coast Guard MWR Office at ISC Miami. Anyone wishing to donate money, baby items (Mrs. Bruckenthal is pregnant with the couple's first child), or simply send a note of comfort should mail them to:   U.S. Coast Guard Richmond Hts MWR Rec Center 15403 SW 123 Avenue Miami, FL 33177 Attn: Bruckenthal Memorial Fund   CDR DeQuattro and MCPO Fuller attended the funeral service May 7 at Arlington National Cemetery, at which there were more than 400 people in attendance. Additionally, the Makah Tribe of Neah Bay, WA, where PO Bruckenthal met and married his wife, held a memorial service, attended by more than 200 people, to honor him and the many contributions he made to that community. For the full story on these services, please visit the Arlington National Cemetery website: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/nbbruckenthal.htm.   -------------------------------- That's it for this week! Hope everyone has a fantastic week!  Semper Paratus, Nancy Kramer PACTACLET Ombudsman 619-244-1407 (cell) 619-659-8910 (until June 1)