Also in our first issue were change of command ceremonies for Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s Electronic Attack Wing, as Capt. Christopher Shay took the reins and Capt. Peter Garvin became the leader of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10. The Lancers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 came home and creative cooks battled each other during NAS Whidbey’s second annual Culinary Arts Competition.

Also in April, we met Tomomi Feldhues, who had to evacuate Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami and we introduced LS1 Christopher Cady from Naval Base Kitsap, who was a finalist for Military Father of the Year.

Midway hero Harry Ferrier recounted his memories of the Battle of Midway and work began on the new Navy Federal Credit Union building.

We rounded out our first month with a look at the return of “the Whale,” as a Douglas A-3 Skywarrior returned to NAS Whidbey in preparation for a future static display and Cmdr. Mark Stockfish assumed command of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 2.

May

The first week of May began with a fitting tribute to a winning Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps; we took a look at how Navy personnel help other Armed Forces through the Individual Augmentee program; and military teens sailed off on a San Juan Island adventure.

From 1963 to 1967, NAS Whidbey’s Seaplane Base was home to the USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13) — we talked to Wes Westlund about his time on the Sally; Cmdr. Brett Mietus took command of Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 and Cmdr. Gregory Sleppy became the new commander of VP-1 in two separate ceremonies at NAS Whidbey.

Also in May, members of the Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League packed up care packages for active duty Navy personnel and the Veterans Resource Center in Freeland shared its hopes of healing area veterans’ invisible wounds. We also met members of the Tired and Retired Civil Service Ladies of NAS Whidbey, who gathered for their annual meeting in May at the CPO Club in Oak Harbor.

June

Our first June issue featured a look at several Memorial Day observances, which included a parade and celebration in Coupeville, flag-planting at local cemeteries and Memorial Day services in Oak Harbor and Coupeville; and World War II veteran Jim Lotzgesell shared memories of his time as a Navy pilot.

Old Glory graced the cover of our next issue as we looked at some of the traditions associated with Flag Day; the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit and the Navy Operational Support Center saw Cmdr. Charles Murphy and Cmdr. Brian Collier, respectively, take command; Navy personnel paid tribute to those who fought in the Battle of Midway; and the Navy Wives Club of America said goodbye to its longtime home at NAS Whidbey’s Seaplane Base.

The Garudas of VAQ-134 returned to NAS Whidbey Island in June, completing the squadron’s first carrier deployment in 16 years; and Navy and Air Force pilots recounted their time on the Ho Chi Minh Trail to members of the Association of Naval Aviators.

As June came to a close, we saw a Bremerton sailor receive the 2011 Military Fatherhood Award; members of NAS Whidbey’s MARS/amateur radio station participated in the annual American Radio Relay League’s Kids’ Day; and we peeked into some of the training techniques used at the Aviation Survival Training Center on NAS Whidbey.

July

The biggest event of July was, of course, the public Centennial of Naval Aviation celebration on July 29, but there were several other happenings of note:

Seaponies took over NAS Whidbey Island’s Youth Center for a performance of “The Little Mermaid” by the Missoula Children’s Theater for our July 1 edition; for the first time in 19 years the Wizards of VAQ-133 completed pre-deployment workups on the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74); and NASWI’s WIC office provided vouchers to eligible personnel for its farmers market program.

The first squadron at NAS Whidbey to transition from the EA-6B Prowler to the EA-18G Growler, the Scorpions of VAQ-132, returned from an eight-month expeditionary deployment in early July; Cmdr. Peter Milnes took over as leader of Electronic Attack Weapons School at NAS Whidbey Island; and Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 took part in 2011 Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercises in Malaysia.

Harry Potter fans were rewarded in mid-July with a sneak peek of the final movie in the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2;” Col. Bradley Close became the new leader of Marine Aviation Training Support Group 53; and the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) navigated the waters by Fort Casey State Park as it left for deployment to the western Pacific Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

August

Our first issue in August featured a recap of the Centennial of Naval Aviation; and founding members of VAQ-133 gathered for a reunion in Oak Harbor during Centennial weekend.

Summit Assistance Dogs in Anacortes announced its plans to launch an assistance program for veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Cmdr. Matthew Kennedy took over as commander in charge of Fleet Support Unit 10 and the ceremony also marked the retirement of Cmdr. Stephen Ruscheinski after 20 years in the Navy; the Lancers of VAQ-131 also saw a change of command, as Cmdr. Stephen Flaherty took over as commanding officer.

The Maj. Megan McClung Memorial Run drew a good crowd to NAS Whidbey Island in August, with over 225 participants; VP-40 sailors assisted in the rescue of a small boat near Guam; and Cmdr. Jason Vogt took the reins of command at NASWI’s Naval Ocean Processing Facility.

A scale model replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was on display at the Swinomish Casino in Anacortes for several days in August; radio-controlled jets took to the skies over NAS Whidbey’s Outlying Field near Coupeville; and the Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League said farewell to its president, Tom Tack, who moved on to work with the Northrup Grumman Corporation in New York.

September

In September, the 10th annual military appreciation picnic at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor saw a terrific turnout as families enjoyed food and fun; VAQ-139, the Cougars, returned from a seven-month deployment on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76); and area fire departments teamed up to host a moving 9/11 memorial service at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island celebrated its 69th anniversary on Sept. 21; VAQ-129 hosted a ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Sentinel Memorial Fountain on the Seaplane Base; and the Patriot Guard Riders shared their reason for participating in their rolling honor guard.

Also in September, the OHAC of the Navy League joined forces with Whidbey Island Bank to honor the Scorpions of VAQ-132 with an appreciation night and local author Trudy Sundberg shared details of her new book about USMC hero, Lt. Presley Neville O’Bannon.

October

In October we got a sneak peek at the Navy’s new Child Development Center on Regatta Drive in Oak Harbor and NAS Whidbey Commanding Officer, Capt. Jay Johnston shared his ‘state of the station’ address with Navy League members.

A new group, the Oak Harbor Hispanic Heritage Committee, made up of active duty and reserve sailors, planned a Latin night at local restaurant Mi Pueblo to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Also in October, Marines from MATSG-53 put their muscles to work helping move and lay carpet for the Island County Business Expo and the Navy Exchange on the NAS Whidbey Island Seaplane Base celebrated its grand re-opening.

The Fighting Marlins of VP-40 hit a major milestone which we told you about in October, surpassing 275,000 mishap-free flight hours and Navy personnel took time out of their busy schedule to share a tour of their city within a city with folks from the Association of Washington Cities.

November

In November we shared the story of Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Michael Amersbach, an Oak Harbor native, who helped deliver water to a drought-stricken island nation in the South Pacific.

Quilters on the Rock shared their art with us, as we explored the American Hero Quilts project and its tangible gifts of love.

Veterans were honored in a special ceremony at Oak Harbor High school on Nov. 11 which featured a video of survivors of the Battle of Midway; WWII Army Air Corps pilot Joe Moser shared his amazing survival story with the Association of Naval Aviators; and we shared the celebration as Marines of MATSG-53 celebrated the 236th birthday of the Corps.

A dual ceremony featured in the Nov. 25 issue told the story of the change of command ceremony for the Zappers of VAQ-130, whose leader, Cmdr. Robert Coughlin, was relieved of duty and then retired after 20 years of service. Cmdr. Richard Vaccaro is now at the helm. Members of the Marine Corps League talked about their upcoming Toys for Tots toy drive; and Capt. Jay Johnston gave his “state of the station” address to members of the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

December

The Veterans Resource Center in Freeland announced it was closing the doors of its community center, but remaining active as an information and referral center for area veterans; the Wizards of VAQ-133 changed command while at sea — Cmdr. Christopher DeMay is the new squadron leader; and we shared the news that Dakota Creek Industries of Anacortes will build a research vessel for the Navy.

VAQ-129 put together a moving tribute to honor the memories and the survivors of Pearl Harbor, holding a

wreath-laying ceremony at the Seaplane Base marina; the Skywarrior Theater on NAS Whidbey hosted a sneak preview of the new George Lucas movie “Red Tails,” which tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII; and we met a former Whidbey Island man who now makes mischief in Fremont — Mischief whiskey, that is.

The annual Navy League-Rotary Club awards for sailor and Marine of the year were announced in December. Shore Sailor of the Year, AT1 James Conkey, Sea Sailor of the Year, AWO1 Christopher Shephard and Marine of the Year Staff Sgt. Joseph Napolitano were honored at a luncheon Dec. 9; and members of VP-40 and VAQ-141 all came home in time for the holidays.

As the year wound down, we shared the story of VP-40 sailors giving a helping hand to Santa by providing gifts to the Life Skills class at Oak Harbor High School; Navy Band Northwest put lots of Oak Harbor area residents in the Christmas spirit with its annual holiday concert; Cmdr. Gregory Byers assumed command of the Garudas of VAQ-134 on board the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70); and finally, the Yellow Jackets of VAQ-138 arrived back at NAS Whidbey Island just in time to celebrate the holiday with their families. All in all, a very good way to end the year.