USS ENTERPRISE,THE END OF AN ERA

 Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The USS Enterprise was the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. She is the 8^th Enterprise and is nicknamed “The Big E”. She’s the eleventh heaviest super carrier. The only ship of her class, Enterprise is the second-oldest vessel in commission in the United States Navy, after the wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate USS Constitution. She was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2014 or 2015, depending on the life of her reactors and completion of her replacement, USS Gerald R. Ford. But the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 slated the ship's retirement for 2013, when she will have served for 51 consecutive years, the longest of any U.S. aircraft carrier.

As of September 2010, Enterprise's home port is at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Her final deployment began on 11 March, 2012 and will be the last before her decommissioning. The Enterprise is scheduled to be deactivated on 1 December 2012.

Enterprise served this country as the tracking station for the flight of Friendship 7, John Glenn’s first American orbital spaceflight, through the Cuban Missile Crisis,Vietnam, in the Bay of Bengal, as home to the F14 Tomcats, took part in the US bombing of Libya, escorted oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, participated in Operation Classic Resolve, President George H.W. Bush's response to Philippine President Corazon Aquino's request for air support during the rebel coup attempt. The carrier enforced no-fly zones in Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor and over Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch,   Enterprise battlegroup spearheaded Operation Desert Fox, destroying Iraqi military targets with more than 300 and 691,000 lb (346 ST; 313 t) of ordnance. Enterprise took us through 9-11 and Operation Iraqi Freedom and even through dealing with Somali pirates.

The All Nuclear Task Force starring Emterprise

After her long and remarkable career of service, USS Enterprise will be decommissioned and dismantled and what’s left of her will be scrapped, but the memories of her great deeds and the great sailors who served aboard her, will live forever. Farewell USS Enterprise, God’s Speed.

J.R. MARTINEZ:HOMETOWN HERO

Did anyone call for a hometown hero? If so, I say it would be J.R. Martinez! Martinez was the winner of Season 13, “ Dancing With The Stars”. He was also chosen to be the Grand Marshall of the 2011 Rose Parade. Martinez has played the role of Brot Monroe on the TV Daytime Soap “All My Children” for the past 8 years. On the show, his character was in the Army, served in Iraq and sustained injuries. The role is perfect for Martinez because he too, served in Iraq.

 In April of 2003, Martinez was serving as a Humvee driver when the wheel of his vehicle ran over a landmine. He suffered from smoke inhalation and was severely burned over 40% of his body. He was sent to Germany for immediate care and then to Texas where he spent 34 months in the hospital undergoing 33 cosmetic and skin graft surgeries.

If that alone didn’t qualify Martinez to be a hero, how about this: While still in the hospital, he began talking to other burn victims, encouraging them and helping them begin the journey to recovery. Presently he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.  He first attended the Phoenix Society's World Burn Congress in 2008,  and was a featured speaker at the 2010 World Burn Congress. Martinez has had a fellow burn survivor, Jenna Bullen, attend taping of "Dancing with the Stars" as his guest and has taped a public service announcement with her on behalf of the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.

He is called on by a wide range of groups, including large corporations, veterans groups, non-profits and schools, and has shared the stage with the likes of global self-help guru Tony Robbins and Evangelist Dave Roever. In 2008, Martinez was honored as a "Shining Star of Perseverance" by the WillReturn Council of Assurant Employee Benefits. In 2009 Martinez was honored by the non-profit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) with the Veterans Leadership Award, given in recognition of his dedication to our nation's newest generation of veterans. Martinez has been featured in The Washington Post, People magazine, on CNN's Sunday Morning, on TV show 60 Minutes, and other major national news outlets.

I can’t think of a better role model than J.R. Martinez. His courage, intestinal fortitude, drive and concern for others makes him #1 in my book!