A.T. Mahan Alumni Website Blog

Dixie Chicks 5 Grammy Wins!

2007-02-13T06:27:00.000-08:00

Politics aside, Chicks worthy

12:00 AM CST on Tuesday, February 13, 2007

By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News
mtarradell@dallasnews.com mtarradell@dallasnews.com

Natalie Maines didn't mince words Sunday night during the 49th annual Grammy Awards. Upon accepting the Dixie Chicks' album-of-the-year trophy for Taking the Long Way, she retorted in her usually sly, succinct style:

"I think people are using their freedom of speech here tonight with all these awards," she said while sharing the fifth Grammy of the evening with fellow Chicks Emily Robison and Martie Maguire. "We get the message. I'm very humbled."

Ms. Maines humbled? That's a switch. But the Dallas-formed trio's clean sweep carries greater significance than mere pop-culture fodder. It's water-cooler talk, of course, but with plenty of deep subtext.

For the Chicks it caps a trying year filled with the release of a polarizing disc, a tour that struggled to sell tickets in many Southern states where they were once country music darlings, and a big-screen documentary, Shut Up & Sing, that couldn't find a mainstream audience.

The trophies officially proclaim the band as respected popular music stars, not just niche country artists. Liberal-thinking Hollywood honchos aren't solely responsible for the Chicks' landslide. Their wins may have been politically motivated, but Nashville country music-industry types who are voting members of the Grammy academy cast ballots too, including for record, song and album of the year.

I wouldn't be surprised if the same record-label suits who trumpet right-leaning artists such as Gretchen Wilson, Craig Morgan and Montgomery Gentry, to name a few, secretly supported the Chicks.

The bottom line: Great music got its just rewards, no matter what the motivation this time.

The Grammys, like all award shows, are subjective. There are usually a million reasons other than artistic merit for choosing winners. Music quality seems to frequently land last on the list of considerations. How else to explain poser R&B-lite duo Milli Vanilli's best-new-artist victory in 1989, or Celine Dion taking album of the year for her schmaltzy Falling Into You in 1996?

This time, the trophy went to deserving music. Yet too many, as a knee-jerk reaction to the Chicks, consider Taking the Long Way a political record.

It's a personal manifesto. The Chicks bared their souls in the space of a compact disc. There are songs about infertility ("So Hard"), which sisters Ms. Robison and Ms. Maguire grappled with; Alzheimer's ("Silent House"), which struck Ms. Maines' grandmother; as well as the perils of celebrity ("Everybody Knows"), motherhood ("Lullaby") and a plea for an end to violence ("I Hope").

The disc's lightning-rod track, "Not Ready to Make Nice," summarizes the aftermath of Ms. Maines' infamous anti-Bush remark in London nearly four years ago. And "The Long Way Around" alludes to it: "It's been two long years now/Since the top of the world came crashing down." "Lubbock or Leave It" deals with Ms. Maines' sudden pariah status.

Still, that's just three songs out of 14, folks. You can't create a concept record with a mere three tracks. So in the media frenzy fueled by "Not Ready to Make Nice" and its startling, imagery-filled video, the rest of the tunes got lost in the melee.

The Grammy triumphs should shed more light on the record and also fuel sales. On Ama zon.com, Taking the Long Way spiked 1,500 percent, sending it from No. 32 to No. 2. Surely all this attention will fatten the CD's 1.8 million sales figure.

Ultimately it makes no difference why the Grammy voters checked Dixie Chicks on their ballots. When the masses hear powerful music, everybody wins.

HOMECOMING 2007 02/02/2007 Update

2007-02-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

HOMECOMING 2007 August 2-5, 2007
Hyatt Regency Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Grapevine, TX

Hi! WOW! Things are REALLY HAPPENING with this event! Where to begin?
There’s LOTS of EXCITING things to share!!! Quick overview:
1. The numbers.
2. HOMECOMING HEADLINES.
3. Who are the 27 schools/groups planning ***some kind of reunion event***
4. School rankings by registrations.
5. A unique dimension of Homecoming 2007.
6. Hotel room pick-up report.
7. DISCOUNTED registration deadline is February 15.
8. Overview to Homecoming: GREAT, FUN & MEANINGFUL activities in store for YOU!
9. Homecoming 2007 Schedule (subject to change!)

*************
1. The numbers.
-92 are registered!
-2,267 are interested!
-27 schools/alumni groups planning ***some kind of reunion event*** at Homecoming 2007.The most recent schools (since the last update) now holding some kind of reunion event):Ashiya/Japan ~ Welcome!

-72 schools, bases, communities, etc. now represented among the registered!

2. HOMECOMING HEADLINES.

*TEHRAN IN FIRST PLACE!
*FORREST SHERMAN AND KUBASAKI TIED FOR SECOND!
*FUN ACTIVITIES & TOURS PLANNED!
*DISCOUNT REGISTRATION DEADLINE SNEAKING UP!

3. Who are the 27 schools/groups planning ***some kind of reunion event*** at Homecoming 2007? What is their activity?

AFCENT/AFNORTH HS = 1 registered/156 interested;
Ansbach = 2 registered/110 interested;
Baumholder = 137 interested;
Berlin = 3 registered/2 interested;
Brindisi = 31 interested;
Burtonwood (‘50’s) .= 28 interested;
Chofu = 2 registered/74 interested;
Forrest Sherman/Naples = 9 registered/91 interested;
Frankfurt (‘50’s) = No information;
Hahn = 2 registered/53 interested;
Heidelberg (‘65) = No information;
HH Arnold/Wiesbaden = 2 registered/205 interested;
Kaiserslautern (‘60’ & ‘70’s) = 3 registered/86 interested;
Karamursel = 3 registered/19 interested;
Kubasaki = 9 registered/10 interested;
Lajes = 3 registered/146 interested;
Laon = 11 interested;.
Madrid (‘65) = 7 registered;
A.T. Mahan = 2 registered/70 interested;
Mannheim = 7 registered/64 interested;
Oslo = 3 registered/9 interested;
Rhein Main Brats = 3 registered;
SHAPE = 1 registered/15 interested;
Tehran = 16 registered/276 interested;
Verdun = 8 registered/46 interested;
Woodbridge = 7 registered/37 interested.

Please note: These numbers do not add up to what the total number of people registered or those interested or planning on coming because there are many Brats and some educators who have either registered for this event or are interested that didn’t attend one of the schools mentioned above having reunions.

See those registered by going to:
www.overseasbrats.com/EventRegList.asp?event=homecoming

For a list of those interested, contact joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net .

4. School rankings by registrations. Every other report we’ll show the entire list. In alternating updates we’ll show just the Top 20.

1. TEHRAN AMER. SCH./IRAN (15)
2. FORREST SHERMAN HS-NAPLES HS/ITALY (9)
2. KUBASAKI HS/OKINAWA (9)
4. WOODBRIDGE HS/ENGLAND (8)
4. VERDUN HS/FRANCE (8)
4. MANNHEIM HS/GERMANY (8)
7. MADRID HS/SPAIN (7)
8. FRANKFURT HS/GERMANY (4)
8. KAISERSLAUTERN HS/GERMANY (4)
10. BERLIN HS/GERMANY (3)
10. RHEIN MAIN/GERMANY (3)
10. HH ARNOLD HS/WIESBADEN/GERMANY (3)
10. OSLO AMER. SCH./NORWAY (3)
10. LAJES HS/AZORES/PORTUGAL (3)
10. JONATHAN M. WAINWRIGHT ES/TAINAN/TAIWAN (3)
10. KARAMURSEL HS/TURKEY (3)
17. ANSBACH HS/GERMANY (2)
17. HAHN HS/GERMANY (2)
17. KARLSRUHE HS/GERMANY (2)
17. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND-MUNICH (2)
17. AGANA JHS/GUAM (2)
17. A.T. MAHAN ES/ICELAND (2)
17. A.T. MAHAN HS/ICELAND (2)
17. FORREST SHERMAN ES/ITALY (1)
17. CHOFU HS/JAPAN (2)
17. SAGAMIHARA ES/JAPAN (2)
17. MACHINATO ES/OKINAWA (2)
17. NAHA ES/OKINAWA (2)
17. DOMINICAN SCH./TAIWAN (2)
17. TAIPEI AMER. SCH./TAIWAN (2)
30. PACIFICA HS/CALIFORNIA (1)
30. LAKENHEATH HS/ENGLAND (1)
30. WOODBRIDGE ES/ENGLAND (1)
30. WOODBRIDGE MS/ENGLAND (1)
30. BRUSSELS HS/BELGIUM (1)
30. SHAPE HS/BELGIUM (1)
30. GOOSE BAY JHS/LABRADOR/CANADA (1)
30. W.T. SAMPSON HS/GUANTANAMO BAY/CUBA (1)
30. ORLEANS ES/FRANCE (1)
30. AUGSBURG ES/GERMANY (1)
30. BOEBLINGEN ES/GERMANY (1)
30. FRANKFURT ES/GERMANY (1)
30. GIESSEN ES/GERMANY (1)
30. KARLSRUHE ES/GERMANY (1)
30. LANSBURG ES/GERMANY (1)
30. MANNHEIM ES/GERMANY (1)
30. RAMSTEIN JHS/GERMANY (1)
30. RAMSTEIN HS/GERMANY (1)
30. RHEIN MAIN JHS/GERMANY (1)
30. SEMBACH ES/GERMANY (1)
30. WUERZBURG ES/GERMANY (1)
30. ACS ATHENS/GREECE (1)
30. KAIMUKI IS/HAWAII (1)
30. MARYKNOLL HS/HAWAII (1)
30. KINNICK HS/JAPAN (1)
30. MISAWA ES/JAPAN (1)
30. JOHNSON ES/JAPAN (1)
30. MISAWA ES/JAPAN (1)
30. WHEELUS HS/TRIPOLI/LIBYA (1)
30. AIRLINE HS/LOUISIANA (1)
30. BOSSIER HS/LOUISIANA (1)
30. GWINN MS/GWINN/MICHIGAN (1)
30. GWINN HS/GWINN/MICHIGAN (1)
30. LEO P. MCDONALD ES/K.I. SAWYER AFB/MICHIGAN (1)
30. K.I. SAWYER ES/K.I. SAWYER AFB/MICHIGAN (1)
30. AFCENT HS/NETHERLANDS (1)
30. MERCY ES/OKINAWA (1)
30. SUKIRAN ES/OKINAWA (1)
30. KHAIR-SAGALIE SCH./PESHAWAR/PAKISTAN (1)
30. LAJES ES/AZORES/PORTUGAL (1)
30. INTL. SCH. OF BANGKOK/THAILAND (1)
30. IZIMIR ES/TURKEY (1)

5. A unique dimension of Homecoming 2007. As you’ve read above, one of the unique dimensions of this event is that there are 27 schools/alumni groups that have thus far made a commitment to have their get-togethers or reunions at the same place and same time.

This means some schools/alumni groups might have as few as a half dozen present. Others could have more than 100 attending. And because of the different school reunions, this has provided a unique opportunity for quite a few people.

At one time those who lived in Laon, France went to high school in Verdun. The same happened for those (up until the mid-1970’s) who lived in Hahn, Germany and went to school in Wiesbaden at HH Arnold. That means many of those people will be able to attend two reunions.

Still there are others who happened to go to two schools holding reunions at Homecoming. Among these (and their schools in parenthesis) include:

Wendy Brower Gable (AFCENT & SHAPE);
Angela Ott Lamb (Ansbach & Berlin);
Christopher Villa (Chofu & Tehran);
Eric Manning (Tehran & Karamursel);
Barbara Freg-Carter (Educator at Naples & Woodbridge);

And we have one individual who will have THREE reunions happening at Homecoming 2007!
Ross Calvert attended Berlin High, and later served as an educator at AFCENT and SHAPE Highs!

6. Hotel room pick-up report. (As of 1/26/07)

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 = 1 room booked/5 rooms blocked
Wednesday, August 1, 2007 = 10 rooms booked/15 rooms blocked
Thursday, August 2, 2007 = 52 rooms booked/200 rooms blocked
Friday, August 3, 2007 = 57 rooms booked/300 rooms blocked
Saturday, August 4, 2007 = 56 rooms booked/250 rooms blocked
Sunday, August 5, 2007 = 4 rooms booked/10 rooms blocked
TOTAL = 180 rooms booked/780 rooms blocked (23.1% of rooms booked)

Remember: It doesn’t cost anything to reserve your room! Do that by calling 1-800-233-1234. Share that you are attending "OVERSEAS BRATS Homecoming 2007" at the Hyatt Regency Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, TX, August 2-5, 2007 to get the special rate of $110 a night for single/double/triple/quad occupancy. Normal rates are $200+ a night!

7. DISCOUNTED registration deadline is February 15. You have two weeks to take advantage of the discounted registration fee. After February 15, prices go up $10 for the comprehensive package, and $5 for the pro-rated functions.

Details at: www.overseasbrats.com/Homecoming.asp

8. Overview to Homecoming: GREAT, FUN & MEANINGFUL activities in store for YOU!

*Individual school/alumni group parties happening in the hospitality suites! More on these soon!

*Join us for the Brats Film festival either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday featuring the latest movie from the American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS) and the movie recently featured on CNN, "Brats: Our Journey Home." Meet Donna Musil, the director/producer of "Brats: Our Journey Home"! She’ll led discussions each day at the end of her documentary.
Don’t miss this chance to see the movie with other Brats --- a great experience!

*Exhibition and school/alumni group contests! Show-n-tell what is GREAT about your school/alumni group!

*FUN evening activities! Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights we have a DJ who’ll be spinning some of your favorite dance music and we’ll do karaoke, too! We also have a Brat entertainer Emmerson Edwards (Kubasaki HS/Okinawa’68) and his band doing a jam session Friday afteroon and they’ll do a concert/dance following the DJ Friday evening from Midnite to 2 a.m.! Emmerson would like to know if there are other Brat musicians who would like to come jam with them!
Email Joe at: joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net

*Mini-course sessions in an informal and Brat friendly enviornment! These include sessions on line dancing, a general session where YOU choose the topic, and a travel talk on how you can get involved with the travel industry!

*Tours are being organized for Friday and Saturday (during the days) to Dealey Plaza (JFK Museum), and a Ladies Tour that includes South Fork (The TV Series "Dallas," circa 1978-91) and the Mary Kay headquarters.

*Golf Tournament in the works! Organize a foursome from your school/alumni group! Details soon.

*Vacation giveaway contest. We got some EXCITING prizes lined up!

*Come meet the mobile memorial to your heritage, Operation Footlocker!

9. Homecoming 2007 Schedule (subject to change!)

Wednesday, August 1

Welcome to Homecoming, early birds! We have a couple activities for those who can start reunioning Wednesday night! From 8 p.m. to hopefully not too late, for those who want to help us, plan to meet the key staff in the registration area on the lower level of the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport next to the ballroom. If you see a bunch of people trying to get organized, that will be us! Come on over and get acquainted with those who are here to serve you!

And from 8 p.m. to ? we will have a special, "Brat Acoustic" session in a room TBA hosted by our Brat entertainer, Emmerson Edwards. Come meet Emmerson and join others for some fun entertainment!

Thursday, August 2

Registration & Brats Store: 9 a..m. - Noon; 1-5 p.m.; 7-10 p.m. Lower level of the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport adjacent to the Ballroom.

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. = Mini-course session: TBA. Room TBA.

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. = Mini-course session: Line dancing. Room TBA.

Noon = Alumni group/school hospitality suites become available.

1-4 p.m. = Brats Film Festival. Room TBA We have a couple movies orientated toward Brats! The first one is a short movie (15 minute) by the American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS) and what they are doing to preserve and showcase your unique heritage and how you can be involved with them! The next movie has taken the Brat community by storm which was recently featured on CNN: "Brats: Our Journey Home," a 90 minute presentation which is emceed by Army Brat Kris Kristopherson and features interviews with a number of Brats including Frankfurt-Heidelberg-Tehran alumnus, Norman Schwarzkopf!

But there’s still more! Following the movie presentations, Donna Musil, the producer/director of "Brats: Our Journey Home" will host a discussion.

Can’t make the session held today? Want to return again to see it or participate in the discussions? No problem! It will also be held again on Friday and Saturday of Homecoming! See below.

8 p.m. - Midnite - DJ Party. In the ballroom. Cash bar.

Friday, August 3

Tour Options: Tour #1 - Dealey Plaza ("The Sixth Floor Museum) and Historic Grapevine.
Visit "The Sixth Floor Museum" and Dealey Plaza where Oswald assassinated JFK in 1963. Stand at the window overlooking the grassy knoll...walk the know..visit the gift shop then head for lunch (included) in downtown historic Grapevine followed by a couple hours to visit some of the intriquing shops and the train depot. Tour departs hotel at 8:15 a.m. Returns 3:30 p.m. Cost TBA.

Tour #2 - Ladies Tour: Visit South Fort and the Mary Kay Headquarters. South Fork was made during the famous "Dallas" TV series that ran from 1978-91. Lunch is at South Fork. A visit to the Mary Kay headquarters follows. Tour departs hotel at 8:15 a.m. Returns 3:30 p.m. TBA

Registration & Brats Store: 9 a..m. - Noon; 1-5 p.m.; 7-11 p.m. Lower level of the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport adjacent to the Ballroom.

All day: Individual parties in the hospitality suites.

9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Brats Film Festival. Room TBA. We have a couple movies orientated toward Brats! The first one is a short movie (15 minute) by the American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS) and what they are doing to preserve and showcase your unique heritage and how you can be involved with them! The next movie has taken the Brat community by storm which was recently featured on CNN: "Brats: Our Journey Home," a 90 minute presentation which is emceed by Army Brat Kris Kristopherson and features interviews with a number of Brats including Frankfurt-Heidelberg-Tehran alumnus, Norman Schwarzkopf! But there’s still more! Following the movies, Donna Musil, the producer/director of "Brats: Our Journey Home" will host a discussion.

Can’t make the session held today? Want to see it again or participate in the discussions? No problem! We’ll do it again Saturday!

1:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Jam session. Room TBA. Calling all Brat musicians and those who want to start partying early! Our resident entertainer Emmerson Edwards is inviting you to join him and his band for some FUN times and GREAT music! Brats KNOW how to ROCK! Emmerson would like to know in advance if you are a Brat musician who would like to jam with them.
Email Joe at: joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net

4:30 - 7 p.m. - Exhibition and reception. Want to show-n-tell what is great about your alumni group and your Brat heritage to hundreds/possibly thousands of other Brats and Educators? Please let us know (email Joe at: joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net ) no later than July 15. Join us for the exhibition and reception! Cash bar available.

TONIGHT a GREAT evening is in store for you and your friends/classmates from yesteryear!

It begins at 7 p.m. with dinner in the Ballroom.

From 8 p.m. to Midnite we have a DJ spinning discs to some of your favorite dance tunes over the years! We got some FUN plans in store during the dance too!

Then at Midnite the partying continues! Up until 2 a.m. we’ll have a special concert featuring our resident Brat entertainer Emmerson Edwards and his back-up- band!

Saturday, August 4

Tour #1 - Dealey Plaza ("The Sixth Floor Museum) and Historic Grapevine. Visit "The Sixth Floor Museum" and Dealey Plaza where Oswald assassinated JFK in 1963. Stand at the window overlooking the grassy knoll...walk the know..visit the gift shop then head for lunch (included) in downtown historic Grapevine followed by a couple hours to visit some of the intriquing shops and the train depot. Tour departs hotel at 8:15 a.m. Returns 3:30 p.m. Cost TBA.

Registration & Brats Store: 9 a..m. - Noon; 1-5 p.m.; 7-11 p.m. Lower level of the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport adjacent to the Ballroom.

All day: Individual parties in the hospitality suites.

10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. - Mini-course session: "Bratman returns!" Come join us for a fun, entertaining session hosted by BRATMAN who knows just about anything and everything connected to Bratdom! You choose the topic! Room TBA.

11:30 a.m. - 12: 30 p.m. - Mini-course session: "Travel Talk." Want to get involved with the travel industry as your own travel agent or with the cruise industry? Come join our resident Brat expert on this subject and see what EXCITING options you have open to YOU! Room TBA.

1 - 4 = Brats Film Festival. Room TBA The final day! Once again this begins with a 15 minute movie about the American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS) and what they are doing to preserve and showcase your unique heritage and how you can be involved with them! The next movie has taken the Brat community by storm which was recently featured on CNN: "Brats: Our Journey Home," a 90 minute presentation which is emceed by Army Brat Kris Kristopherson and features interviews with a number of Brats including Frankfurt-Heidelberg-Tehran alumnus, Norman Schwarzkopf! But there’s still more! Following the movies presentation, Donna Musil, the producer/director of "Brats: Our Journey Home" will host a discussion.

One more evening of some serious partying!

It begins at 6 p.m. with a reception/cash bar. Room TBA.

Then at 7 p.m. dinner is served in the Ballroom.

From 8 p.m. to Midnite we have a DJ spinning discs to some of your favorite dance tunes over the years! We got some FUN plans in store during this time period, too!

Sunday, August 5

Registration & Brats Store open 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Continental breakfast 7 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Shut UP and Sing

2006-11-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

Though ostensibly an intimate look at the Dixie Chicks after their 2003 anti-Bush remark, the film achieves broader relevance by exploring how media, politics, and celebrities intertwine.

"Shut Up and Sing" travels with the Dixie Chicks, from the peak of their popularity as the national-anthem-singing darlings of country music and top-selling female recording artists of all time, through the now infamous anti-Bush comment made by the group’s lead singer Natalie Maines in 2003. The film follows the lives and careers of the Dixie Chicks over a period of three years during which they were under political attack and received death threats, while continuing to live their lives, have children, and of course make music. The film ultimately presents who the Dixie Chicks are as women, public figures, and musicians. -- © Weinstein Co.

See what the Critics say!
See movie trailer 1
See movie trailer 2

End of an era as U.S. forces depart Iceland for good

2006-10-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press

Published: September 30, 2006

REYKJAVIK, Iceland The United States Naval Air Station in Iceland will shut its gates for good on Saturday, ending more than half-century of U.S. military presence on this island.

Under NATO agreements, the United States has been responsible for Iceland's defense since 1951. But in March, U.S. authorities announced they would close the base, west of the island's capital.

The two countries announced this week that the U.S. will continue to defend Iceland with mobile forces stationed off the island. A package of bilateral agreements, including details of the handover of land and buildings to Iceland, and plans for security collaboration between the two countries and NATO, will be signed in coming weeks.

"We are a very special case among the NATO nations because we don't have our own defense," Icelandic Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde said at a press conference in Reykjavik. "We must now really consider defense issues much more than before — issues that accompany being an independent nation."

During the Cold War years, the base was a crucial location for tracking Russian submarines and intercepting aircraft, but by the 1990s, it had lost its strategic importance. In 1980, 120 Soviet aircraft were intercepted from Keflavik. In the past 14 years, that number has dropped to four.

The base officially opened in 1951, but American forces took over the defense of Iceland during World War II. The airport at Keflavik was used as a refueling station during the war, and as many as 45,000 U.S. service members were stationed in Iceland.

Despite the base's fading geopolitical relevance, the closure still came as a shock to some of the nearly 600 Icelanders who work there.

"Everybody knew it was reducing, but nobody expected it to happen this quickly," said Sigurbjorn Gustavsson, a 51-year-old computer specialist who worked on the base for 26 years. "I think that's what hurt everybody the most."

Six months ago, Gustavsson and other Icelandic employees heard they would soon be out of work not through their American bosses, but through the evening news.

"It's not the end of the world for us. It's how they did it that was a problem," said Thorey Marinosdottir, 30, a three-year base employee.

The young mother had only been working there for a few months in 2003 when the first layoffs began.

"You never knew if you were going to be the next to leave," she said.

Marinosdottir, like the majority of her colleagues, found other work. Many have been absorbed into the administration of the international airport, which will be taken over by the Icelandic government.

"The first people we saw were anxious and afraid," said Helga Johanna Oddsdottir, director of an employment agency to help base employees.

Like Gustavsson, many hadn't explored the job market for decades, and face lower wages than they were being paid by the military. Oddsdottir said the mood has recently changed: "The past few days, it's been different. There's no panic. There's no anxiety."

With a booming construction market and industrial projects in the pipeline around the country, demand for labor is high and unemployment is low. In Reykjanesbaer, the municipality closest to the base, Oddsdottir says the unemployment rate is about one percent.

In Reykjavik, people like Heimir Jon Heimisson are making a living by helping the Americans sell the material — like razors, Bibles, self-help books, mattresses and office furniture — that won't be going back to the U.S.

As for the institution that indirectly furnished him with a job and his customers with castoffs, Heimisson doesn't anticipate the departure will effect him.

"It hasn't done anything for me, and it hasn't done anything against me," he said. "We're vulnerable now, but we haven't done anything to anybody. We shouldn't be afraid."

REYKJAVIK, Iceland The United States Naval Air Station in Iceland will shut its gates for good on Saturday, ending more than half-century of U.S. military presence on this island.

Under NATO agreements, the United States has been responsible for Iceland's defense since 1951. But in March, U.S. authorities announced they would close the base, west of the island's capital.

The two countries announced this week that the U.S. will continue to defend Iceland with mobile forces stationed off the island. A package of bilateral agreements, including details of the handover of land and buildings to Iceland, and plans for security collaboration between the two countries and NATO, will be signed in coming weeks.

"We are a very special case among the NATO nations because we don't have our own defense," Icelandic Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde said at a press conference in Reykjavik. "We must now really consider defense issues much more than before — issues that accompany being an independent nation."

During the Cold War years, the base was a crucial location for tracking Russian submarines and intercepting aircraft, but by the 1990s, it had lost its strategic importance. In 1980, 120 Soviet aircraft were intercepted from Keflavik. In the past 14 years, that number has dropped to four.

The base officially opened in 1951, but American forces took over the defense of Iceland during World War II. The airport at Keflavik was used as a refueling station during the war, and as many as 45,000 U.S. service members were stationed in Iceland.

Despite the base's fading geopolitical relevance, the closure still came as a shock to some of the nearly 600 Icelanders who work there.

"Everybody knew it was reducing, but nobody expected it to happen this quickly," said Sigurbjorn Gustavsson, a 51-year-old computer specialist who worked on the base for 26 years. "I think that's what hurt everybody the most."

Six months ago, Gustavsson and other Icelandic employees heard they would soon be out of work not through their American bosses, but through the evening news.

"It's not the end of the world for us. It's how they did it that was a problem," said Thorey Marinosdottir, 30, a three-year base employee.

The young mother had only been working there for a few months in 2003 when the first layoffs began.

"You never knew if you were going to be the next to leave," she said.

Marinosdottir, like the majority of her colleagues, found other work. Many have been absorbed into the administration of the international airport, which will be taken over by the Icelandic government.

"The first people we saw were anxious and afraid," said Helga Johanna Oddsdottir, director of an employment agency to help base employees.

Like Gustavsson, many hadn't explored the job market for decades, and face lower wages than they were being paid by the military. Oddsdottir said the mood has recently changed: "The past few days, it's been different. There's no panic. There's no anxiety."

With a booming construction market and industrial projects in the pipeline around the country, demand for labor is high and unemployment is low. In Reykjanesbaer, the municipality closest to the base, Oddsdottir says the unemployment rate is about one percent.

In Reykjavik, people like Heimir Jon Heimisson are making a living by helping the Americans sell the material — like razors, Bibles, self-help books, mattresses and office furniture — that won't be going back to the U.S.

As for the institution that indirectly furnished him with a job and his customers with castoffs, Heimisson doesn't anticipate the departure will effect him.

"It hasn't done anything for me, and it hasn't done anything against me," he said. "We're vulnerable now, but we haven't done anything to anybody. We shouldn't be afraid."

U.S. military withdrawal end of an era in Iceland

2006-10-02T08:34:00.000-07:00

By Sarah Edmonds
Reuters
Saturday, September 30, 2006; 6:14 PM

KEFLAVIK NAVAL AIR STATION, Iceland (Reuters) - The United States withdrew its last 30 military personnel from Iceland on Saturday as it shut a naval air base that in its Cold War heyday was the sixth largest town in the island nation.

The closure leaves Iceland without home-based defences and ends a U.S. military presence that has continued, with a brief late 1940s hiatus, since World War Two.

In a low-key ceremony before a U.S. Navy jet bore the remaining base residents back to the United States, a handful of U.S. military personnel faced Icelandic police as the Icelandic and American flags snapped briskly in the wind.

Both flags were lowered, and base commander Captain Mark Laughton presented the folded Stars and Stripes to the U.S. ambassador. Icelandic police then sent their country's flag back up its flagpole to fly alone.

The island nation of 300,000 has no army of its own and while most residents sounded unworried about the lack of visible defences, some expressed concern at the swift U.S. withdrawal.

Iceland learned in March that the base was to close.

"I think that says something about what they think about defending us," said Johann Stefansson, who owns a pizza restaurant in the town of Keflavik.

U.S. officials said this was the inevitable end of the Cold War chapter in the U.S.-Icelandic relationship. The two countries have signed an agreement that includes a U.S. promise to rush to Iceland's aid if needed.

"The kind of dangers that the people ... at the base worked to counter are no longer critical in the 21st century," U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Carol van Voorst said, adding that the two nations would still work closely to combat terrorism and crime.

"If we had something of a conventional threat, I can tell you we'd be here fast," she added. "We have very mobile and agile forces now and we can move men and materiel very fast."

COLD WAR TOWN

In an interview with Reuters on Friday, Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde expressed similar confidence.

"We don't perceive a threat from any other country in the old sense," he said.

"(U.S.) fighters can get up here pretty fast," he said, then added: "Of course obviously longer than before, but still I am sure sufficient in case there is a danger."

The base on this windswept Icelandic peninsula housed some 6,000 at its peak, including military, families and local staff. From 1980 to 1991, its fighters intercepted some 130 Soviet bombers a year.

After his second summit with Mikhail Gorbachev ended in disappointment in 1986, U.S. President Ronald Reagan celebrated Keflavik's importance in a speech there.

Before Saturday's ceremony, U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Randy Weirs, commander of the Iceland Defense Force, drove through empty streets that once hummed with activity.

The base is a town in itself, complete with a primary school with a 650-student capacity, a high school, fast-food restaurants and the only baseball fields in Iceland.

Iceland is looking at ways to re-use the residential buildings, perhaps as a campus or health facility, while businesspeople are eyeing the hangars and service buildings for commercial development.

Naval Air Station Keflavik Disestablishes After 45 Years

2006-09-22T23:11:00.000-07:00

Keflavik, Iceland - Naval Air Station Keflavik conducts a disestablishment ceremony officially ending its 45 years of operations in support of the defense of Iceland. Over one hundred Sailors attended the event, representing a majority of the forces that remain of a population that once exceeded 5,000 military and civilian personnel and family members. The United States has had a military presence in Iceland since 1941, and a formal defense agreement with that nation since 1951. The Navy assumed the responsibility of running the air station from the U.S. Air Force in 1961. The base acted as a platform for several operational capabilities throughout World War II, the Cold War and in the modern arena.

From Naval Media Center Broadcasting Detachment Keflavik

KEFLAVIK, Iceland (NNS) -- Naval Air Station Keflavik (NASKEF) disestablished Sept. 8 during a ceremony officially ending its 45 years of operations in support of the defense of Iceland.

More than 100 Sailors attended the event, representing a majority of the forces that remain of a population that once exceeded 5,000 military and civilian personnel and family members. Special guests included U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Carol Van Voorst and special envoy for Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thorsteinn Ingolfsson.

Commander, Navy Region Europe, Rear Adm. Noel Preston said the base played an important role in his region’s military strategy.

“In the height of the Cold War, this was the place to be to protect against Soviet submarines. And we were successful and the NASKEF team had a great deal to do with that,” Preston said. “Now the world has changed and we are facing a war on terrorism. We are changing how we plan and prepare for this war. But what will not change is our friendship and partnership with Iceland.”

The United States has had a military presence in Iceland since 1941, and a formal defense agreement with that nation since 1951. The Navy assumed the responsibility of running the air station from the U.S. Air Force in 1961. The base acted as a platform for several operational capabilities throughout World War II, the Cold War and in the modern arena. The hangar housed rotational P-3 Orion aircraft and crews in support of anti-submarine warfare until 2004. The Army National Guard units and Interim Marine Security Forces stormed the lava fields surrounding the base during training exercises such as Northern Viking. The flight line served as a launching point for U. S. Air Force F-15 fighters.

The ceremony also marked the final moments of a transition that began in March. In preparation for the turnover, the NASKEF and tenant command team cleaned and cleared 550 facilities, and shipped 6.6 million pounds of household goods, 850 privately owned vehicles and 600 government vehicles.

“I’m in total awe of the people aboard NASKEF,” said Capt. Mark S. Laughton, the air station’s final commanding officer. “Everyone from the Sailors to the Airmen to the U.S. civilians to our host nationals who have worked this effort, have done an incredible job. And the cooperation has been simply outstanding. There are 23 tenant commands onboard the air station so it was not just a NASKEF effort. It involved everyone here and many higher headquarters elements to develop the plan and execute it.”

Everywhere from housing units, to playgrounds, to schools -- all that remains now is the memories of the vibrant community the base once supported.

A reception following the ceremony provided time for Sailors and Icelanders to spend a few last light-hearted moments together. For many, the hardest part is saying goodbye to host nation counterparts that have helped build the base’s strong legacy.

“I will really miss this place,” said Master-at-Arms 1st Class (FMF) John Richardson, who led the Honor Guard during the ceremony. “I’ve been here two years and I’ve enjoyed being here where there is great camaraderie, beautiful landscapes to photograph, and where the people are really wonderful.”

The transition is to be completed by Sept. 30.

Multiple A.T. Mahan reunions at Homecoming 2007

2006-07-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

Multiple A.T. Mahan reunions at Homecoming 2007

What? Homecoming 2007 hosted by OVERSEAS BRATS
When? August 2-5, 2007
Where? Hyatt Regency Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, TX.

I’ve signed-up, paid, and committed to attend Overseasbrats Homecoming 2007. It would be great to have a large A.T. Mahan presents so I invite all A.T. Mahan Alumni use the Overseasbrats Homecoming 2007 for their next reunion. Why?

Overseasbrats can accommodate a multiple-year A.T. Mahan reunion. Hospitality suites will be awarded for the larger groups according to Overseasbrats. Here's how it would work for us. Assign or volunteer a reunion committee for your group (i.e. early 90’s) and encourage your classmates to come. That's all you have to do. Overseasbrats already has done most of the planning.

A) We don't have to do anything with the hotel, handle money, etc.

B) You all don't have to work at registration or any of the activities unless you want to help.

C) You all don't have to plan the evening activities. All this is being taken care of.

D) A lot of our classmates live in Texas, so this will be very accessible for them.

E) For your classmates coming from out of state, they will be flying into a hub airport which means airfares will be reasonable.

F) The Hyatt Regency Dallas-Fort Worth offers courtesy shuttle service to and from the airport. This saves your classmates from having to rent a car.

G) The event would be held at an OVERSEAS BRATS Homecoming, the fourth event they have hosted of this size since 1999.

H) This is your reunion and every event is being taken care of to keep you and your friends and classmates together.

When you do decide to have your reunion at this event, know that: -They will be working with you to get people to come to your reunion;-As people register, you will know as soon as they do;-They will work hard to keep our different alumni groups together;-Those in our alumni group who are interested or planning or coming will be kept updated about their reunion and this special the event.

One of the goals the key staff (who are former Military Brats/Overseas Brats like you and me!) of this event and I have is to look out for your group so that everyone has a safe and fun time, and to do the work you would normally do at a reunion.

I) An incentive plan that will provide $$$s for snacks and goodies for your hospitality suite! The more people you can get to come to your reunion at Homecoming 2007, the more $$$s you'll receive from OVERSEAS BRATS to purchase goodies for your hospitality suite!

Information Links:
Information (Cost,events,transportation,etc)

registration

How to Locate Lost Friends

Americans walk out after Speech by Icelandic Member of Althingi

2006-07-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

IcelandReview - Online

According to Fréttabladid, representatives of the United States walked out of a meeting of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly after Dagný Jónsdóttir, a member of Iceland's parliament, criticized how the US had notified Icelandic authorities that the American base in Keflavík would be closed.

Dagný especially noted the short notice with which the American base would be closed. (On March 15, US Deputy Secretary of State Nicholas Burns phoned then Icelandic Foreign minister Geir Haarde and informed him that the US government had decided to pull its fighter jets and helicopter rescue squadron out of Iceland before October. Previously talks had been conducted at the highest level between Iceland's Prime Minister and the President of the United States. Icelandic pundits said, “At least they did not end it by sending an SMS.”)

Both Dagný Jónsdóttir and Minister of Foreign Affairs Valgerdur Sverrisdóttir are members of the Progressive party. Dagný said in her speech that the United States' behavior was not in good taste, especially considering that Icelanders had been strong supporters and allies of the US over the years.

Dagný said that she had previously taken up the matter in a committee meeting but the US representatives had shown no reaction. “I pointed out the security situation in the North Atlantic after the US had left Iceland,” Dagný says in an interview with Fréttabladid. In the final meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Dagný raised the matter again, receiving reactions from the Russians, Canadians, British and Scandinavian representatives, but there was still no word from US representatives.

“I don’t know whether it was a coincidence but as soon as I finished my speech [the US representatives] walked out of the meeting room,” Dagný Jónsdóttir said.

US military: less than 500 members expected to remain by July

2006-05-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

The removal of US military forces in Keflavík is currently in full force with less than 500 troop members expected to remain by mid-July. Some 2,500 people were living on the base in mid-March when it was announced that the troops would be moved out.
Fréttabladid sources this report today from the military’s online news journal Stars & Stripes. After mid-July, the only military members left on the base will be those considered indispensable for minimal operations, more specifically security staff and those engaged in the operations of the Keflavík airport.

End of school term moved up at Keflavik military base

2006-04-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

IcelandReview - Online: "End of school term moved up at Keflavik military base
No date has been set for the American soldiers at Keflavik and their families to leave Iceland but the end of the school term at the military base have been moved up a week, reports the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, R�V.

The base has 150 high school students and 350 elementary students. The last day of school is now set for June 7. According to the Defense Force's PR representative, Fridth�r Eydal, the last day of school was changed in order to facilitate the departure of the soldiers and their families. He said that no date had been set as to when the people and equipment will leave Keflavik, and it will not be decided until the end of the month. All clubs will be closed from May 15th and Internet connections disconnected as of June 30th.

There are 1,200 soldiers currently stationed at the Keflav�k base and about 100 US civil servants - all in all there are 2,800 US citizens living at the Keflavik base. "

Plan to withdraw U.S. forces from Iceland gets icy reception from base workers

2006-03-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

By Ben Murray and Bryan Mitchell, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Saturday, March 18, 2006

RAF MILDENHALL, England — Sigurjon Hafsteinsson is mad. Not to mention worried about his financial future.

Days after the U.S. government announced plans to withdraw its military forces from Iceland, Hafsteinsson is one of nearly 900 locals employed by the American military who wonder about their job prospects.

“What we are mostly concerned about is that it was such a surprise,” Hafsteinsson said. “They said there were going to be ongoing discussions.”

On Thursday, U.S. officials informed Icelandic officials about the plan to withdraw its forces, which make up the only military presence in the country.

The decision affects around 3,000 U.S. military members, dependents and civilian employees at Naval Air Station Keflavik, home to a helicopter rescue squadron, a hospital, various support units and a rotating quartet of fighter jets from England.

The move has left a raft of unanswered questions for both Americans and Icelandic locals who live in, work at or depend on the northern outpost. A lack of official information has only exacerbated the problem.

“Nobody let us know nothing,” Hafsteinsson said. “They are just telling us that they are leaving and that we are going to be unemployed. It’s just not the right way to do it.”

Fridthor Eydal, spokesman for the U.S. military contingent in the country, the Icelandic Defense Force, said no specific decisions have been made on exactly who would go, or when.

Eydal confirmed that “the fighter unit and the helicopter rescue unit will be withdrawn,” before October, but said potential talks between the two governments about the final status of the base have prevented the announcement of specifics.

The fighters that patrol the skies above Iceland are based out of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England. Those planes will cease to rotate into Iceland, according to 48th spokeswoman Capt. Beth Horine.

The impact of the drawdown will fall on the more than 700 members of the Air Force’s 85th Group and 540 Navy personnel at NAS Keflavik, plus the nearly 100 U.S. employees and around 1,700 family members.

Eyedal said he did not have a breakdown of how many personnel in some affected units would be moved, such as the 56th Rescue Squadron, home unit of the station’s rescue helicopters.

Those helicopters, since their arrival in the early 1970s, have helped save the lives of about 310 people in the icy waters and rugged terrain around the base, according to Eydal.

The base could not say how many of the 592 local hires or 250 Icelandic contract workers would be retained after the withdrawal, leaving some employees to fear the worst: a total shutdown and across-the-board firings.

“I think it will be a catastrophe,” said Gudbrandur Einarssor, chairman of a Keflavik trade and office workers union with about 120 workers on the U.S. base.

Keflavik, a community of about 11,000 people, can’t accommodate nearly 900 unemployed workers on such short notice, he said.

“It was a complete surprise,” Einarssor said of the American announcement. “We thought that it would be coming, but not this fast.”

Given two years’ notice, the community might have been able to find work for such a large number of people, but six months is not enough, he said.

“They will not have any work when they come back to town,” Einarssor said of his workers.

Two schools in Iceland to close amid troop cuts

2006-03-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

By Scott Schonauer, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Two Defense Department schools in Iceland will close at the end of this school year due to plans to withdraw U.S. forces from the country.

The Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe has recommended the closure of the Alfred T. Mahan Elementary and Alfred T. Mahan High schools in Keflavik, said Dennis Bohannon, a DODDS spokesman in Germany.

Diana Ohman, director of DODDS-Europe, made the recommendation to the Department of Defense Education Activity after the U.S. State Department announced last week that the military would remove Air Force fighter jets and a rescue helicopter squadron from the military base in Iceland this fall.

DODEA is expected to approve the request, according to a news release. Bohannon said a final decision could come in about two weeks.

The closure of the schools adds to the growing list of Defense Department schools shutting down after this school year. Earlier this year, school officials announced plans to close Gelnhausen and Sportfield elementary schools in Germany at year’s end, and combine grades six through 12 at Hanau High School next year. Babenhausen and Bad Nauheim elementary schools also are scheduled to close at the end of the year because of troop cuts and transfers in Germany.

In Iceland, there are currently 509 students — including 349 pre-kindergarten through 6th grade students — enrolled in the two schools. All of the students will transfer out of the Keflavik area with their families as part of the troop changes.

School teachers and administrators will be eligible for similar positions within DODDS-Europe or other DOD schools across the globe, a release said. The two schools employ 40 elementary teachers, 26 secondary teachers, two principals, one assistant principal and 15 support personnel, according to DODDS-Europe. The Keflavik schools opened in 1951.

Shocked at Iceland decision

2006-03-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

I am a firefighter/emergency medical technician for the U.S. military at Keflavik, Iceland. I have been working for the U.S. military for more than 11 years as an employee and for a contractor on the base for 15 years.

It was strange hearing the news when the Icelandic foreign minister announced that the military was pulling the fighters and rescue helicopters out of Iceland. The presence of the military here reflects in many ways our economy, but I understand that the need for the planes is more in other locations such as Iraq. However, I am disappointed in the way things were done.

There were ongoing meetings among Icelandic and U.S. officials. It was the Icelandic people’s understanding that ongoing talks were scheduled and it was up to us to come up with some kind of conclusion.

But U.S. officials announced the final decision had been made by the Pentagon, and the planes and rescue squadron will leave.

My understanding, after having read the defense agreement, is that the two nations have an obligation to each other, and that the United States has broken that obligation after 51 years of good relations. The Icelandic people find it hard to believe that a great friend and ally could do such a thing.

My hope is that President Bush will take action and change this so we can forget this ever took place.

May God bless America.

Sigurjon Hafsteinsson
Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland

President Bush pulls US forces out of Iceland

2006-03-16T21:49:00.000-08:00

IcelandReview - Online:

Sadly 2006 will be the last graduating class at A.T. Mahan High School.

Well I can't really say I'm surprised that Bush would drop a bomb like this. That’s his diplomatic style - my way or my way. President Bush continues to alienate our foreign allies and with only a 34% approval rating in the United States he’s also on bad terms with most Americans.

In the 1951 Iceland - US Treaty the basic agreement said that Iceland would not to form their own military force and that the United States will defend the Icelanders by maintaining an armed force on their land.

The cold war has been over for years and Iceland is no longer a strategically important to the United States. I agree that an American forces downsizing in Iceland was inevitable but I think to completely pull out of Iceland is wrong because it breaks this longstanding treaty.

Iceland doesn’t have an armed force or an air defense with little hope of being able to maintain one and for Bush to pull the plug during negotiations is viciously undiplomatic especially with Iceland poised to pay a bigger share of money to keep the US military there.

The main reason Bush gave for breaking the treat was the US forces were "stretched" and required elsewhere. Perhaps if Iceland had a big oil reserve his thinking would be different.

Our website has new look!

2006-03-05T14:22:00.000-08:00

It was time for an extreme makeover, well at least the home page. I hope you like the new look.

I also made some other less conspicuous changes. The message board was deleted because it was rarely used by anyone and I got tried of continually deleting the spam accounts. I did install an internal shout box that doesn’t require registration.

Also I deleted the outdated photo album. I also removed most of the photos to free up space. I have many of these photos hosted at webshots.com see them here. I installed a new album. If you have photo to share contact me and I’ll assign you an account.

Lastly I have plans to upload the 1973 and 1974 yearbooks in the near future. These will be in scanned and save as a PDF file. I’ll let you know when I get these uploaded.

Who is this Woman?

2006-02-17T23:27:00.000-08:00

The 2006 Winter Olympics is here. My favorite Winter Olympic event is the ladies singles ice skating. I have a weakness for beautiful women with athletic jumping ability and the grace of a ballerina.

I think my interest started with the 1992 gold medal win by Kristi Yamaguchi. Then who could forget the soap opera Tonya Harding conspiracy to harm competitor Nancy Kerrigan in 1994? Nancy took the Olympic silver that year as Tonya whined. I almost quit watching ice skating.

But in the 1998 grace returned to ice skating. 15 year old Tara Lipinski jumped her way to Olympic gold upsetting Michelle Kwan. In 2002 Michelle again was upset when Sarah Hughes took the gold.

I was hoping Michelle Kwan could win the gold this time around. No one deserves it more. However she had to withdraw due to injury. My next choice would be the dazzling talented Sasha Cohen but I’ll also be rooting for Kimmie Meissner and Emily Hughes. I look forward to watching them perform.

Oh the woman in the picture above?

That is Tara Lipinski. She hasn't skated for years. She has been busy pursuing an acting career. She has an upcoming guest appearance in TV sitcom "Malcom in the Middle". Her episode will air on April 2nd. Here is her IMDB Information

1998 - Tara takes the Gold
Tara Lipinski - Skating Highlights

--> 1998 U.S. Olympian, ladies’ figure skating gold medalist at age 15 (youngest gold medalist in Olympic Winter Games history)
--> Youngest ladies’ world champion in history at age 14 (1997)
--> Won three consecutive medals at the U.S. Championships (1996,1997 and 1998), winning the title in 1997 (youngest skater to do so in U.S. history)
--> Two-time winner of the Champions Series (Grand Prix) of Figure Skating final (1997, 1998)

Brats: Our Journey Home

2006-01-28T04:29:00.000-08:00

Where are you from? Umm...Somewhere, nowhere. How do you answer that question if you are a brat?

“Brats: Our Journey Home” is a feature length documentary about growing up as a kid in the armed forces. The documentary by Donna Musil tells a story about our unique hidden American subculture, but most importantly it tells us something about ourselves. It has interviews, commentaries, film clips, home movies clips, and still pictures to help tell the story. Kris Kristofferson, a brat himself, does an excellent job narrating and his music is heard several times during the documentary. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, also a former brat, shares some of his insight and stories.

The heart of this documentary is the dozen or so “brat” interviews. When the “Brats” start telling their stories there is an instant connection because the experiences they share are the same as yours and mine. Almost all brats can relate to the stories of living on base, living oversea, moving all the time, losing friends, and then having to make new friends.

At first I thought “Brats: Our Journey Home” was a story made for telling the civilian world about what it was like growing up in the armed forces. After watching it however I believe it’s mainly a documentary for us "brats". Inserted between the brat interviews and stories are commentaries by author Mary Edwards Wertsch, psychotherapist Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman, and West Point sociologist Dr. Morten Ender. The commentaries from these individuals offered some eye opening insight on why we “Brats” are like we are – some good things and some not so good things.

The first time I watched this documentary I thought some of the brat stories seemed to be little bit on the negative or dark side. A couple of the brats mentioned that they had alcoholic parents, another brat tried to commit suicide four times as a teenager, and another brat told the story about how she was raped by a serviceman on base when she was a young girl. Were our families really that troubled or dysfunctional? After some self-reflection and recollection I accepted the fact that growing up as brat wasn’t all roses. Brats however are resilient and we move on. During the ending credits each of the individuals I mentioned above with the troubled childhoods are shown apparently leading successful and happy lives as adults.

This DVD is available for purchase at www.bratsourjourneyhome.com
I recommend this documentary; I think it’s good for the soul. You will probably need to watch it more that once to soak in all the information. I watched it three times in two days.

In this documentary it’s mentioned that since none of us really have a hometown, basically “hometown” to a brat is a "state of mind". I like to think that when brats get together at reunions, wherever that may be, we are home.

Order the DVD Now for $29.95

A Little Trip to Heaven in Iceland?

2006-01-16T19:42:00.000-08:00

“A Little Trip to Heaven” is a movie directed by Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur and stars Peter Coyote, Forest Whitaker, Jeremy Renner, and Julia Stiles

In this movie an insurance investigator HOLT (Whitaker) is sent to the small town of Hastings, Minnesota to try and piece together the mystery surrounding a dead body with a million-dollar life insurance policy, the beneficiary ISOLD (Stiles) who hides a mystifying past, and her strange husband FRED (Renner).

So what is so special about this movie other than it has an Icelandic director? Well for one the movie was shot almost entirely in Iceland but the main reason it's special is because part of the movie was shot at A.T. Mahan High School with 80 students from A.T. Mahan Elementary and A.T. Mahan High School participating as extras. If you watch the movie trailer closely you will get a glimpse Whitaker walking down the A.T. Mahan High School hall as the A.T. Mahan student extras transit between classes.

Does this look like Minnesota to you?

The movie hasn’t been distributed in the United States (yet) however it has been shown at the Toronto International Film Festival last September and it opened in Iceland theaters on December 26th, 2005. The movie will screen at the Sundance Film Festival, Jan 19-29, in Park City, Utah. Then general release in the U.S. is expected to follow.

The critic reviews are mixed however almost all of them mention that the movie is surreal, dissonant, but pretty. Wow --- Imagine that!

Links: See the Movie Trailer and other movie information here. Also make sure to check out the pictures Julia Stiles took in Iceland posted at her official website! She took some good pictures.

Iceland New Year's

2005-12-29T12:15:00.001-08:00

A report from the The White Falcon

One of the most magical nights of the year is the night when the old year changes into the new. Bonfires on New Year's Eve have been lit in Iceland since the late 18th century. In this century the custom of "sprengja út árið", "blowing out the year" has been observed by detonating fireworks, and many families spend a small fortune on them. It is usually a night of great merriment, with the family spending the first part of the evening together. However, dances start a little before midnight and young people usually go to a dance.

(Photo by: LI2 Luke Basset)

For a long time bonfires and Elf dances have been the main celebrations in Iceland on New Years Eve.

The oldest example of a New Year’s bonfire is from 1791 when students from Hólavallaschool in Reykjavík lit a fire on Landakotshill where the Catholic Cathedral is located today. The bonfire was there so that people could see it from miles away.

In the latter half of the 19th century the custom of a New Year’s bonfire spread throughout the country along with torch parades.

Around this time people started to have Elf dances because of the people’s belief in Elves, the Elf dancing took place on the pond (the lake in the city of Reykjavík). When people were dancing and dressed like elves they sang some songs. Many of those songs are well known and Sæmundur Eyjólfsson calls one of the most popular songs “Elf Dance”. Here is the first verse:

There is joy in every hill,
everybody loudly sings.
This last Christmas night we will
celebrate with elf - begins.

The darkness is beautiful,
when filled with mystic songs.
Singing loud and dancing
and joyful, all night long.

The first elf dance dates back to 1871. One of the best-known scenes on New Year’s Eve is the Elf Ride that could be seen because the elves were moving that day from one location to another. More likely is that on Christmas and New Year’s Eve people went to church and then you were able to see a group of people moving around in the dark mistaking them for elves. Because the elves chose to move that day the lady of the house would clean the farm and put light in every corner to drive out the shadows. After all the cleaning was done it was supposed to be more effective if the lady of the farm walked around the farm saying:

Come, whoever wants to come, stay, whoever wants to stay, go, whoever wants to go, without harm to me and mine.

Burning lights were left on thru the night and for a long time it was considered very important to leave at least one light burning on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

There are many stories about the hidden people visiting farms on those days when only one person is home. Both on Christmas and New Year’s Eve people attended church and someone was left behind to take care of the farm. When the hidden people came they entertained themselves by eating the food, drinking the wine, singing, dancing and playing music.

When this was happening, it was very important for the person taking care of the farm to take no part in the fun with the hidden people, but just wait until morning and then by surprise try to scare the hidden people with the sentence; Thank God, morning is coming! or something similar. When the hidden people heard that morning was coming, they rushed away and forgot to take all their belongings with them. If that happened, the person who stayed at the farm was allowed to keep everything that belonged to the hidden people and usually that was a lot.

Other stories say that often the lady of the house decided to stay home on Christmas or New Year’s Eve when all the others went to church. Actually she was one of the hidden people herself and was only able to pay her hidden people family a visit in the hidden people world once a year and only that night.

It has been common belief in Iceland that elves move on New Year’s Eve, that night was chosen for sitting out on crossroads in order to be in their way. The elves cannot get past the man sitting on the roads and therefore make him all kinds of offers, gold and treasures. If the man keeps silent all thru the night the treasures will remain his. Few came unscathed from lying on crossroads. The best-known story is of a man who had persevered almost through the night despite offers of gold and silver. Shortly before dawn an elf woman finally came along with a ladleful of hot drippings, which to him was the most delectable kind of nourishment. When this happened, he could not help glancing at the ladle and uttering the words that have since become an adage for those giving in to temptations:

Seldom have I passed up drippings. Thereby, he lost all the treasures and half his wisdom to boot and he remained strange for the rest of his life.

Icelandic Yule Lads

2005-12-25T13:34:00.000-08:00

Icelanders have not one, but thirteen Santas, or Yule Lads. These lads are not related to Santa Claus in any way. They are descendants of trolls and were originally used to scare children. In the last century, however, they have become a lot friendlier.

They often make appearances at Christmas dances, which are very popular among Icelandic children. Children (adults are of course welcome to join them) dance around a Christmas tree and sing carols. The highlight of the dance is when one of the Yule Lads joins the celebration and dances and sings with the kids and usually gives them a goody bag before he leaves.

Pot Licker is the 5th of the Icelandic Yule Lad to make his journey from the montains and he arrives on the 16th of December.

Spoon Licker is the 4th of the Icelandic Yule Lad to make his journey from the montains and he arrives on the 15th of December.

The day after Christmas the first yule lad returns to the mountains. Then they leave, one by one, until the last one leaves on January 6th, the last day of the Christmas season.

Source:

Season Greetings

2005-12-21T11:37:00.001-08:00

Today the "sun stands still." Winter solstice occurs across the Northern Hemisphere. Solstice is Latin for "sun standing still."

The sun doesn’t actually stand still however it is the shortest day in the year for daylight in our hemisphere. This is especially true in Iceland where you will find only about 4 hours of daylight today.

On the bright side the days start getting longer tomorrow.

Winter Solstice has all kinds of meanings throughout the world depending on your religion, culture, or beliefs. Celebrations date back for at least 5,000 years.

From Iceland comes the legend of the sinister and gargantuan Yule Cat, who, it seems, is ready to eat lazy humans. Those who did not help with the work of their village to finish all work on the autumn wool by Yule time got a double whammy -- they missed out on the Yule reward of a new article of clothing, and they were threatened with becoming sacrifices for the dreaded . This tidbit from a lovely Web site on Yule in Iceland, complete with a poem on the Yule Cat.

No matter how you celebrate this time of year I wish to extend all A.T. Mahan Alumni and families "Season Greetings".

The 13 Yuletide Lads

2005-12-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

Thirteen days before Christmas the Yulemen begin to arrive at farms and in towns. These 13 brothers are strange creatures, part troll and part prankster in human form.

Actually, they are much meeker today than they were in former times, when according to Icelandic lore, they could be quite dangerous. Their father and mother, Grýla and Leppalúði, were terrible trolls who caught and ate disobedient children. Even the family cat was a monster.

On Christmas Day it searched out any child that didn't get a new piece of clothing for Christmas and ate, if not the child, at least his ration of Christmas food. The Yulemen played pranks on people and stole from them.

Each had his special Christmas preference--food, or candles for example - and a distinctive way of getting his hands on it which was reflected in his name.

Today's prosperity has softened the lads a bit and now they are good-natured boys who come bearing gifts.

They used to dress in warm woolen clothes in tones of black white gray and brown. These days they sometimes put on red suits, which they claim are their best clothes. The night before the first Yuleman arrives (December 12th) there are suddenly little shoes on the windowsills of the bedrooms of all Icelandic children. The reason for the shoes is that the children know that if they have behaved well, they can expect the Yuleman to sneak a little treat into the shoe while they are asleep.

If they have not behaved well, however, they may find only a potato or nothing at all in the shoe when they wake up. Sometimes the children leave a little something in the shoe for the Yuleman to find - a sausage for "Sausage Snatcher" or maybe a candle for "Candle Beggar".

Source: www.jolahusid.com

Will the Keflavik base cease to exist?

2005-10-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

In 1949 Iceland was one of the founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). At the request of NATO a 1951 agreement was sign between the United States and Iceland basically stating the United States will provide the armed forces and defense for the Icelandic people.

From the fifties to the late eighties the Keflavik base was a major deterrence and the first line of defense from the Soviet threat by sea and air. However because of the end of the Cold War downsizing of the Keflavik base was certain. Under Clinton administration during the 1990’s the Icelandic government and United States successfully negotiated a reduction of forces and aircraft but agreed to leave a smaller number of forces and aircraft there permanently.

In May of 2003 without warning the Bush administration announced plans to further decrease the U.S. forces in Iceland by pulling out the remaining F-15’s, rescue helicopters, and refueling tanker planes within one month. Iceland strongly opposed the plan arguing the aircraft are essential to its air defense and a symbol of the U.S. commitment to defend the country. With the help of the NATO Secretary General the plans were postponed and put on hold for further discussion.

However over 2 years later the future of the base is still uncertain.

There have been 2 or 3 high level meetings since 2003 to discuss the future the base. These have been closed door meetings so information is scarce. But indications are the meetings haven’t gone well. In a meeting this week in Washington D.C. the Icelandic delegation walked out apparently not happy with the latest proposal from the U.S. delegation as reported by Iceland Review.

Iceland Review and other sources indicate from previous meetings the U.S. wants Iceland to subsidize part of the defense cost. I assume Iceland is willing to do this however I do know Iceland doesn’t want the base or number of aircraft to be any smaller than it already is. Iceland’s position is if the U.S. puts out the aircraft they might as well just shut down the base. I wish I knew but I have no idea what the latest U.S. proposal is.

I can think of many other countries the U.S. could withdraw their forces from but Iceland shouldn’t be one of them. Iceland has been a long time ally of the United States. Their government supported the Iraq war when many European countries didn’t. Iceland has also contributed to peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan. They also will contribute millions of dollars in humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Iraq.

Iceland doesn’t have an armed force or an air defense with little hope of being able to maintain one. Iceland has come a long way economically since the 1950’s and has one of the world’s highest standards of living so helping subsidize part of the defense cost would be reasonable. The bottom line is Iceland paid their dues by allowing the U.S. to create a first line of defense on their land to protect primarily the U.S. interest during the Cold War. The base is already downsized and is the home of only four F-15 fighter planes. In the sprit of the original 1951 agreement we need uphold our end of the agreement and protect our friends the Icelandic people.

Alumnistreet.com Updated

2005-10-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

I recently extended the hosting package and domain name for alumnistreet.com until November 2011 so don’t fear having the A.T. Mahan alumni site disappear anytime soon. Hopefully the A.T. Mahan schools will still be around in 2011.

Although -- Some of you may have noticed the website was down for a couple of days. My host suspended my account apparently because the blog script and related database I had on the site was being spammed so bad it loaded down their server. Long story short they unsuspended my account so I could log-in and remove the problem so all is good.

On a related note I made a few small changes to the site on the home page by adding a feed to this remotely hosted blog. I also added a Iceland news feed and made some other small changes. Bless.

Google Earth

2005-10-15T01:57:00.000-07:00

I downloaded the free verson of the Google Earth tool which puts satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips. I zoomed in to the base in Keflavik and captured these images. Pretty cool huh? Top one is the high school, the second one the base.

Click for full size image

Click for full size image