United States Navy ~ United States Marine Corps ~ United States Coast Guard ~ United States Merchant Marine
Vol. VIII, No. 27
Colorado Springs Council
Winter 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~ HALYARDS ~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.navyleague-coloradosprings.org/
CALENDAR
Jan 8 - Council Dinner Meeting, Old Chicago, N. Acad.
Jan 9 - Board Meeting, 0830, IHOP, 8065 Voyager
Feb 6 - Board Meeting, 0830, IHOP, 8065 Voyager
Mar 6 - Board Meeting, 0830, IHOP, 8065 Voyager
Mar 12 - Council Dinner Meeting
to potential new members, as we are dependent on them
to maintain our activities. Please feel free to contact me
or any of your other exceptional Board members with
new ideas in support of the above. I look forward to
serving you and the Sea Services.
PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGES
NOSC Change of Command – Sep 11
Our good friend and supporter, CDR Tom Van Scoten,
was relieved of command of Navy Operational Support
Center Fort Carson by LCDR Colin O’Neil. Tom, we
wish you fair winds and following seas. Welcome
aboard, Colin! We look forward to a collaborative
relationship with you!
2014 President Dick Cooper
Well, Shipmates, the lookouts report sighting the
channel buoys, so the end of this cruise is near. It’s been
a pleasure being your president for most of the past four
years – a true growth experience for me. It’s been an
honor to be a member of a team that has accomplished
so much. With the support of an energetic Board of
Directors, we have accomplished quite a bit. I feel
comfortable turning over the watch to the new team of
Roy Rogers as President, backed up by Steve Bethke,
Vice President for Programs, and a great crew of other
officers. I will, of course, remain on as a Past President
and give advice when requested. But, to be clear. we
couldn’t have achieved the things we did without the
help of people like Bill Lockwood, Art Cyphers, Bunny
Blaha, and Wayne Wolfe. Thanks to all.
2015 President Roy Rogers
Navy LeaguersThanks to all of you for the vote of confidence I received
at the November 7th meeting. The Navy League has
been important to me, going back to my time as Base
Commander at NAS Fallon, NV, when they ponied up in
support of legislation we were sponsoring. Most of you
know the League functions in other critical ways in
support of our Sea Services, particularly with active duty
recognition and education of young people. It is my
goal to emphasize the key tenets of our mission while
having fun doing it. Our activity is based on an active
membership, and I encourage you to get involved in any
way you can. I also encourage each of you to reach out
Winter 2014 Halyards
RECENT EVENTS
Dick Cooper; CDR Tom Van Scoten, out-going CO of
NOSC Ft. Carson; CDR Pam Kramer (Ret), former CO
of NOSC Ft. Carson; LCDR Collin O'Neil, in-coming
CO NOSC Ft. Carson
Council Dinner Meeting – September 24
We had a great time with dozens of old and new friends
at the joint Navy League-Mile High Tailhook
Association dinner and happy hour at the Fox & Hound
Pub & Grill. Proceeds benefited the 2014 Navy Birthday
Celebration.
NMCB-17 Decommissioning – Sep 28
Sadly, a major Navy presence in our area faded when
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion – Seventeen was
decommissioned. CDR Michael Read, CEC, was the
Commanding Officer and Master Chief P. Celli, was the
Command Master Chief. Fair winds and following seas,
shipmates!
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USAA, Lockheed Martin and First Command assured a
successful event. The party was organized by members
of the Council, Mile High Tailhook Association, Navy
Recruiters, NOSC, Rocky Mountain Navy Chief Petty
Officers Association, and O’Donnell & O’Donnell Event
Organizers. Mesa Ridge High School NJROTC color
guard posted the Colors and music was provided by the
4th ID Band and DJ, AVPRO Entertainment. CS2
Drummond sang the National Anthem. More photos are
posted at http://www.navyleague-coloradosprings.org/.
Navy Birthday Celebration – Oct 3
Almost 150 active, retired and former Navy personnel
and Navy supporters had a great time at the 2014 semiformal dinner and dance at the Antlers Hilton celebrating
the Navy’s 239th birthday. Five Navy Wounded Warriors
in town for the Wounded Warrior Games were our
honored guests. The support of sponsors Boeing, ENT,
Winter 2014 Halyards
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Council Annual Meeting – November 5
At the Annual meeting, members approved a Bylaws
Amendment to move the Judge Advocate elected Board
Officer position to an Appointed Official position. Then
the Board’s recommended slate of officers for 2015 was
presented and nominations from the floor were
requested. Steve Bethke, CAPT, USN (Ret), volunteered
for the VP for Programs position and was elected. The
rest of the proposed slate was approved by the members.
(The 2015 Board is listed at the end of this Halyards.)
Past Rocky Mountain Region President, Steve Kelly,
and Dick Cooper presented NLUS Scrolls of Honor to
Bill Lockwood and Bunny Blaha for outstanding service
to Navy League and the Council.
Pearl Harbor Day Proclamation – Nov 25
Don Stratton and Jim Downing, 2 local survivors of the
attack on Pearl Harbor, joined the El Paso County
Commissioners and NL Council members as the
Commissioners unanimously issued a proclamation
recognizing Pearl Harbor Day and the surprise assault
that launched the United States into WWII.
Jim Downing (seated), Don Stratton (3rd from R)
(L to R) Rex Kramer, Steve Kelly, Bill Lockwood, Steve
Bethke, Roy Rogers
Pearl Harbor Day Observance – Dec 7
Almost 100 people gathered at the Pikes Peak Regional
Development Center to commemorate the attack on
Pearl Harbor 73 years ago. Survivors Doug Huggins and
Jim Downing were honored, Roy Rogers served as
emcee, the 4th ID Band provided inspirational music, the
Doherty High School NJROTC color guard posted the
Colors, and wreaths were solemnly laid by YNC(AW)
Juan Piper, USN; SSGT Ignatious Narcissem, USMC;
and OSC(SW) Ulises Sombarra, USN.
Veterans Day – Nov 11
Intrepid Council members, NOSC personnel, and dozens
of veterans braved the arctic blast to commemorate
Veterans Day. NOSC provided the flags.
Navy Operational Support Center Fort Carson was well
represented at the Pearl Harbor Day Observance
Dick Cooper and NOSC, CO, LCDR Colin O’Neil
Navy-Army Game Party – December 13
GO NAVY! For the 13th year in a row, Navy defeated
Army, 17-10, to the delight of Tailhook Association,
Navy League, Recruiters, and many other Navy folks.
ADM Gortney, USNORTHCOM, was our special guest!
Winter 2014 Halyards
KRDO TV interviewed PH survivor Doug Huggins
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Sea Service Programs
On behalf of NLCSC Bunny and Steve presented Sailor
of the Quarter certificates to NRD Denver 3rd and 4th
Quarter SOQs in December. The selectees are local
Division 4 and 5 Navy recruiters IT2 (SW) Conner
Budge and NC1 Thomas Gooden. BZ, Shipmates!
PH survivor Jim Downing with SSGT Narcissem,
YNC(AW) Piper and OSC(SW) Sombarra
Steve, NC1 Gooden, IT2 (SW) Budge, Bunny
WHAT’S NEW
Bob Snyder, WWII/Korea/Vietnam Army vet (center),
and 4th ID Band members
Legislative Affairs
The Navy League recently added a new method (via the
internet) to its arsenal of ways to contact Members of
Congress: CQ Roll Call Engage. Briefly, this method,
accessible on the main page of the Navy League
homepage under Legislative Affairs, permits NL
members to easily write letters to their Senators or
Representatives to make their voice heard on Capitol
Hill in support of our sea services. This gives us the
ability to quickly advocate with letters and content
provided by the NL headquarters staff that can be edited
by the user. More info is available at
www.cqrcengage.com/navyleague.
Membership
As of December, we have 88 NLUS members in the
local area with a 72% retention rate, and 34 Council
members.
Youth Programs
The 3 NJROTC units in Colorado Springs: Doherty,
Mesa Ridge and Widefield, marched in the Colorado
Springs Veterans Day Parade. The Doherty unit replaced
the Wasson High School unit when Wasson was closed,
with a doubling in the number of cadets!
Marine Corps League
Russ Miller relieved Garry “Gunny” Gibson as 2015
Commandant of Marine Corps League Pikes Peak
Detachment.
Winter 2014 Halyards
Council Dinner Meeting – January 8
Location: Old Chicago, 4110 N. Academy Blvd.
Social hour: 5:30 pm. Dinner seating: 6:30 pm.
Guest speaker: CAPT Steve Mucklow, NORTHCOM
Executive Assistant. We’ll order from a short menu. The
2015 Board of Directors will be installed. We’ll vote on
a Bylaws Amendment to discontinue council dues and to
elect USS Arizona survivor Don Stratton as a council
Honorary Member. RSVP to Steve Bethke at
stbethk@aol.com or (719) 359-3710.
Coast Guard Lunch - February 21
Location: DiCicco's Italian Restaurant, 6701 Tower Rd,
Denver. Time: 1100. Jack Hunter will ask for RSVPs
after the 15th of January.
Council Dinner Meeting – March 12
Location:
Social hour: 5:30 pm. Dinner seating: 6:30 pm.
We’ll order from a short menu.
RSVP to Steve at stbethk@aol.com or (719) 359-3710.
USS Colorado SSN-788 Updates
Sign up for the Commissioning Committee Newsletter at
this
LINK
(http://www.usscoloradocommittee.org/
dada/mail.cgi/list/SSN788News/). Be prepared to enter
your email address in order to receive the newsletter.
New Board Members
David “Roy” Rogers was appointed by Dick Cooper at
the October Board meeting to serve as VP for Programs
for the remainder of 2014 and was elected in November
by the membership as President for 2015. Steve Bethke
was elected 2015 Vice President for Programs.
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2015 President Dave “Roy” Rogers
2015 Vice President for Programs Steve Bethke (on L)
Captain (Ret) David A. "Roy" Rogers
A native of Parshall, Colorado, Roy graduated from the
University of Colorado with a degree in Biochemistry.
During his 31 year career in Naval Aviation, Roy served
in 4 different operational squadrons, completing 11
carrier deployments on 7 different carriers. His 8 years
in command included Attack Squadron 145, the Naval
Air Station at Fallon, Nevada, and OSD’s Joint
Unmanned Aerial System Test Force, which was the
basis for extensive UAS Operations in combat (5
deployments to the Middle East in 2002-2006).
Roy accrued 6300 flight hours and 1120 carrier landings
in the A-6 Intruder and FA-18 Hornet, and experienced
combat time in Operations Desert Storm, Southern
Watch, Restore Hope, the Balkans, Enduring Freedom
and Iraqi Freedom.
Roy retired from active duty in 2006 and became VP for
Strategic Initiatives for L-3’s Electronic Systems Group.
His focus areas from 2007-2013 were primarily
Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Border Security. He
recently became President, DRR Strategies LLC, a
corporate/government consulting firm. He and his wife
Kim live in Black Forest, Colorado. Roy’s goal is to be
reincarnated as one of Kim’s horses.
Captain (Ret) Steve Bethke
A native of southern California, Steve holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Physics from the University of
California, Santa Barbara and 3 advanced degrees
including an MBA from University of Colorado
Colorado Springs.
His career as a Naval Flight Officer was highlighted by
two command tours, VP-4 and RTC Great Lakes. During
his time in the Navy, he completed 3 combat tours and
multiple more detachments throughout Asia and the
Middle East. He planned and executed intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance operations including
flying combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and
Somalia. Steve retired as a Captain in the US Navy in
2012.
He is currently working in the financial services industry
while living in Colorado Springs with his wife, Rene.
Their joy in life is being grandparents for a remarkably
energetic 3 year old boy.
Welcome aboard, Roy and Steve!
2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Elected Officers
And Merchant Marines, of course!
Winter 2014 Halyards
President
Roy Rogers
roykimrogers@gmail.com
VP Programs
Steve Bethke
stbethk@aol.com
VP Membership
Bill Lockwood bklockwood@earthlink.net
VP Finance/Treasurer Art Cyphers
cypherspace65@msn.com
VP Legislative Affairs Bill Lockwood bklockwood@earthlink.net
VP Youth Programs Art Cyphers
cypherspace65@msn.com
VP Public Affairs
vacant
Secretary
Bunny Blaha
bunny_blaha@msn.com
Immed Past President Dick Cooper
rcooper101@gmail.com
Appointed Officials
Webmaster
Wayne Wolfe wayne.wolfe@gmail.com
Chaplain
Art Cyphers
cypherspace65@msn.com
Judge Advocate
vacant
Halyards Editor
Bunny Blaha
bunny_blaha@msn.com
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