Days before 85 4-H
youth were scheduled to visit Cherry
Point Marine Air Station in Havelock, tensions were growing toward
imminent war in Iraq. It looked as if the trip might be cancelled.
But Col. Eugene Conti, commander of the Naval
Air Depot (NADep), took personal responsibility for the group and
kept the trip on schedule. March 14-15, the 4-H Youth Council from Cooperative
Extension’s Southeast District held a meeting on the base,
only days before war broke out in Iraq.
Their tour included remarks from Conti, who gave the youth NADep coins
— a reward coveted by Marines, said Stacy Morgen-Demer, 4-H agent
from Craven County, who helped arrange the visit. The coins are given
to Marines by Marines for exceptional services.
Morgen-Demer’s husband, 1st Lt. Dana Demer, a U.S. Marine based
at Cherry Point, has been deployed to Kuwait. She said he keeps his
coins with him at all times.
“It was so amazing
to be able to be there, considering what was going on in the world,”
Morgen-Demer said. “I wanted the kids to get an idea of what it
means to be a U.S. citizen and to see the diversity of the U.S. military.”
The youth activities took place at the base’s Officer’s Club
and the Hancock Lodge. The group conducted business, including officer
elections, and took a tour of NADep, which included a video presentation
on Operation Enduring Freedom, the prelude to the Iraqi war.
“The 4-H’ers had
a great time,” said Bridget Kirk, Duplin County 4-H agent, who
is in charge of 4-H officers for the Southeast District. “I think
they were really impressed, especially when they toured the depot.”
The Marine base is playing
an important role in the war, testing, repairing and designing aircraft
used in Iraq, Morgen-Demer said.
Both the youth and the 15 adult leaders involved in the program were
impressed with the opportunity to be on the base at such a critical
time for the U.S. military. Morgen-Demer said the trip would not have
been possible without the help of Sgt. Bradley Shaver, a Marine sergeant
with Joint Public Affairs.
—Natalie
Hampton
