THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 4, 1995 TAG: 9510040620
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: In honor of the Navy's birthday, the Atlantic Fleet Band will host a free concert tonight at Chrysler Hall. The music begins at 7:30 p.m. and will feature traditional ceremonial marches and anthems. The Fleet Jazz Ensemble will perform ``Swing'' pieces in honor of the band's 50th anniversary. Also performing will be Country Current, the Navy's country music band.
THUNDERBIRDS AT LANGLEY: The Air Force Thunderbirds will fly their F-16 Fighting Falcon planes at Langley Air Force Base's Community Appreciation Day Saturday. Also performing will be the Air Force Academy Wings of Blue parachute team, an F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, a Canadian Air Force CF-18 and a MiG-15. Gates will be open to the public between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Refreshments will be on sale. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to begin their demonstration about 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
NICHOLSON COMES TO NORFOLK: The destroyer Nicholson is scheduled to arrive at its new home in Norfolk at 9:30 a.m. Friday, relocating from Charleston, S.C., as a result of the base closing there. Commanded by Cmdr. Paul E. Stanton, the Nicholson has a crew of 21 officers and 329 enlisted personnel with an annual income of more than $11.6 million. In addition, about 225 family members are transferring to Hampton Roads. The ship is named for the five members of the Nicholson family, three of whom served during the Revolutionary War and two who served during the Civil War. All five commanded ships during their careers.
LANGLEY FIGHTERS DEPLOY: About 250 members of the 1st Fighter Wing's 71st Fighter Squadron left their base at Langley in Hampton on Tuesday for Southwest Asia in support of Operation Southern Watch, the ``no-fly zone'' imposed over southern Iraq. The planned deployment is part of a troop rotation plan, the fifth for this squadron. It is replacing the 94th Fighter Squadron, which is scheduled to return later this week. The F-15 Eagle fighters that the 94th took with them remain and will be returned by the 71st in January.
HEALTH CARE CONSUMER COUNCIL MEETING: A forum concerning up-to-date medical and dental information for active duty members, their families and military retirees in the area will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Naval Air Station Theater, Building U-40. Rear Adm. Robert S. Cole will host the Naval Medical Center's Health Care Consumer Council meeting. For more information, call 322-4981.
PORTSMOUTH SAILOR HONORED: The life of George Sirian, a 19th-century Portsmouth resident and 46-year Navy veteran, is the subject of the latest exhibit at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum inside Nauticus. Opening Friday and running through Nov. 26, the exhibit features the Greek native who served three tours aboard ``Old Ironsides,'' the USS Constitution. He retired in Portsmouth and died there in 1891. He and his wife are buried there. Entry to the Naval Museum is free.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
DECOMMISSIONING: The nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Bainbridge will be decommissioned after exactly 33 years of service in ceremonies at 10 a.m. Friday at the Norfolk Naval Station. Retired Vice Adm. Raymond E. Peet, the ship's first commanding officer, will be guest speaker. Now commanded by Capt. James M. Brown, it has a crew of 500. It was initially commissioned as the world's first nuclear-powered frigate, but its designation was changed in 1975 to more accurately reflect its larger size.
- Staff report by CNB