NAS Sigonella celebrates holidays with Midtown party By MC3 Ramon Go NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Staff NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Christmas lights décor, a wide-selection of catered dishes, live deejay and festive ambiance surrounded the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella community in the heart of NAS 1, Midtown, for the 2014 holiday party, Dec. 12. Three hundred and eight service members, families, and friends gathered to celebrate the winter-time holiday festivities with one another while dancing, eating, and enjoying entertainment that included opportunities to win a prize. “The Christmas party is so colorful and vibrant, that it helps me have an easier time dealing with my first ever Christmas away from home,” said Yeoman Seaman Apprentice Maria Barron, a prize-winner. The holiday party committee raised more than $6,000 for food and gifts to be given away at random. All throughout the night the master of ceremonies and party organizer, Navy Counselor 1st Class Gary Coumbe, kept the crowd on the edge of their seats by drawing names for prizes every 15 minutes. “Our goal for the 2014 holiday party was to fundraise $2,500 and give away 12 gifts to the prize winners, but we actually raised more than $3,700 from bake sales, car wash and a golf tournament,” said Coumbe. “The fundraise events turned out so well, including ticket sales, that we were able to give away 35 gifts.” “I’m having such a great time tonight and this is exactly what I wanted,” said the proud winner of a tablet, Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Darlene Nu’usolia. “I wanted to buy this at the store yesterday but it was too expensive, so I am very happy and grateful.” The grand prize of a $1,000 travel voucher went to Mass Communication Specialist 1st Tony Curtis. “I’m so excited! I’m going to use this on a trip to Paris with my wife,” he said. Between gift drawings, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ronan Basat, NAS Sigonella food service officer and the deejay for the party, kept the music going for the crowd on the dance floor. “The holiday ball committee started planning for this event in early October with three weekly meetings and spent an additional 10 hours a week on their roles for the party,” said Coumbe. “As the party approached, the holiday ball committee spent more and more time with preparation that led a total of more than 100 hours of work.” During closing remarks, NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Dennis gave thanks to everyone who came to the party but even more so to those who made it all happen. “I want to give praise to the organizations that made this night possible: the holiday ball committee, first class petty officer association, junior enlisted association, wardroom, Bank of America, NAS Sigonella galley, and Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. You all did a wonderful job.”
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 08:15:00 +0000