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1DCMi l i tary.com/magazine DCMilitary MAGAZINE |JULY/AUGUST 2015


CONTENTS

A DELICIOUSLYSIMPLE WAY TO

SUPPORT VETERANS

FUN (& IMPORTANT)STUFF TO DO

PAYING FORPRIVATE SCHOOL

4

WHYLIFE INSURANCEMAKESSENSEATANYAGE

6 9

GREEN KNIGHTSpromoting motorcyclesafety, mentorship andcommunity service

10 D.C. MUST-DOS

12

GIRL MEETS GOAT.Adventures in Annapolis

10

14

A SURVIVAL GUIDEFOR MOVING TO D.C. CHOOSING

A PRIVATE SCHOOL

16 24

VETERANS CORNER:AIR SHOW RESUMES,

SALUTE TO WOMEN VETS

2022

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Thank you all forreading DCMilitaryMagazine and callingand emailing us withgreat feedback! It’sso exciting to hearfrom our readers andeven more excitingto hear that you

like what you are reading. As a matter offact, we are getting requests from peoplewho want to subscribe and have it mailedto their homes. Sorry to say we are notquite there yet, but we hope to be able tooffer that in 2016. You can always find themagazine online at www.dcmilitary.com,in the box on the home page labeled DCMilitary Magazine. The Magazine tab at thetop will take you to the page that showsall the issues we have published so far, soplease share!I hope you will enjoy this issue, since thereis a lot of great information. Please emailme at [email protected] and let meknow what you think of our stories. Youcan also let us know if there are storiesyou want us to write about.The Sept./Oct. issue will have more greatstories for you. Alice Swan, our militaryspouse columnist, will interview DeanieDempsey, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey’s wife,on their transition to civilian life, as ourchairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, leavesservice. Do you have a special-needs childand dread moving every time new ordersfor a PCS arrive? We will cover howparents can help special-needs childrenas they move. Have you ever been to theMaryland Renaissance Festival? We willdo a feature on the festival and other funevents in our calendar section.As many of our military service membersleave service, they are a bit reluctant togo back to college and use their Post9/11 GI Bill or other education benefits.Veterans Upward Bound is a group thathelps military service members prepareto return to college and get a degree tomove on in civilian life. We’ll let you knowhow they help.There will be many more stories we arestill working on, but I wanted to give youa peek into the next issue. Please keepletting us know what you think aboutDC Military Magazine by calling us at301-921-2800 or sending an email [email protected] you want to advertise in ourmagazine, please call us too!We would welcome your support.

Until next time,

Maxine MinarExecutive Editor

Welcome

BY JIM MAHAFFIE

here are almost a thousand private elementary,middle and high schools serving nearly 170,000students in the metro area, includingMarylandandNorthernVirginia, according to a search byPrivate School Review, a NewYork-based orga-

nization that provides free, detailed profiles of privateday schools across the U.S.Costs of these schools vary widely, but, as is typ-

ical in our upscale city and its environs, they averagesome of the highest tuition fees in the country.Theaverage tuition cost of $21,855 a year is one of thehighest nationwide, andMaryland’s average tuition is$11,576 andVirginia’s is $12,368, according to Pri-vate School Review.There’s hope for parents daunted by those costs.

The National Association of Independent Schools(NAIS), in its 2014–15 survey of private schools,reports that 22.5 percent of students receive finan-

PAYING FORPAYING FORPRIVATE SCHOOLPRIVATE SCHOOL

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DIGITAL VISION/THINKSTOCK


cial aid. But it will take patience anddiligence to obtain aid, from any ofmany possible sources.The Madeira School in McLean,

Virginia is an exclusive girls-onlyschool that may seem unaffordablefor most military families.The com-prehensive cost of attendingMadeiraas a boarding student in 2015–16is $56,191, according to Directorof Enrollment Management MaryHerridge. But Herridge also said,“Madeira offers a robust finan-cial aid program that helps make aMadeira education a possibility formany families. Over 27 percent ofMadeira students are receiving ei-ther a need-based or merit-basedfinancial award.The average grant is$32,000.”“Madeira can be an excellent

choice for military families, as eachstudent has a choice between beinga day student or a boarding student.For families in transition, Madeira’sresidential program can provide aconstancy in the student’s life, therebyenabling her to have a full high schoolexperience,”Herridge said.AtGonzagaCollegeHighSchool,

a premier Catholic college prepara-tory school and the largest, all-boysschool in the District, admissiondecisions are need blind, accordingto Andrew Battaile, dean of admis-sions and financial aid.That meansthat the school doesn’t look at yourfinancial circumstances as part of itsadmissions criteria. “If a young manis accepted here, we’ll do our best tohelp themwith financing.They don’twalk away because they can’t affordGonzaga,” he said. “I tell everyone toapply for aid.”Applying for aid from a school

usually means filling out the Parents’Financial Statement (PFS) form,which the school admissions officesneed to determine aid awards. Morethan 2,000 schools use the PFS to as-sess financial needs of parents apply-ing for aid, according to NAIS. Fac-tors affecting aid include income, butschools may often take into accountthe number of kids a family is enroll-ing at the school. Some schools havefinancial aid programs that offer free

tuition to admitted students whoseincome is below a certain threshold,too. Individual schools all determinethe amount of financial aid based onavailable funds they have available.The best source of information

about financial aid for private schoolsis the schools themselves.There’s a fi-nancial aid officer at every school, soyou should start there to see whereyou stand for merit aid and need-based scholarships. Private schoolsmay offer options such as tuitionpayment plans, education loans andsibling discounts.There may be spe-cial scholarships. Battaile said thatGonzaga offers a scholarship espe-cially for sons of military families.The LCDR Erik S. Kristensen ‘90,USN,Memorial Scholarship Fund isnamed for a Gonzaga graduate andmember of the elite Seal Team 10who died in Afghanistan.Pay attention to your GI Bill ben-

efits, too. Since 2009, service mem-bers have had the option of transfer-ring some or all of the benefit to theirdependent children.Transferabilityregulations covering Post-9/11 GIBill benefits are complex, but thismay be an option for paying for atleast some of private school tuition,room and board.Your unit or branch of servicemay

offer scholarships, aid and funding as-sistance.The Military Family Schol-arship ProgramAct creates a scholar-ship program to provide all childrenof veterans and activemilitary person-nel the option to attend the school oftheir parents’ choice.Just getting started with a fam-

ily? Coverdell Education SavingsAccounts allow you to save up to$2,000 a year per beneficiary in tax-free accounts that can be used forprivate school tuition.There are many opportunities for

financing, but it takes diligence andresearch to find and apply for them.

Your unit or branchof service may offerscholarships,aid and fundingassistance.

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6 | DCMilitary MAGAZINE DCMi l i tary.com/magazine JULY/AUGUST 2015

DCMilitary Magazine is published by DCMilitary,a Civilian Enterprise media company serving 13military installations and the Pentagon in Maryland,Washington, D.C., and Virginia. DCMilitary is locatedat 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877.Telephone: 301-921 2800.

DCMilitary Magazine has a circulation of 110,000printed by offset as a civilian enterprise bi-monthlymagazine for installations within the national capitalregion.

The publisher is a private firm in no way con-nected with the Department of Defense. Opinionsexpressed herein are those of the contributors tothis marketing publication, and they are not to beconsidered an official expression of the Departmentof Defense. The appearance of advertisements inthis publication does not constitute an endorsementby the Department of Defense of the products orservices advertised.

Maxine Minar, executive editor and president([email protected])

Tiffany Arnold, managing editor

Lorraine Walker, designer

Alice Swan, On the Homefront columnist

Karen Finucan Clarkson,events and calendar columnist

Chuck Lucas, retired U.S. Air Force ChiefMaster Sgt., Veterans Corner columnist

Contributing WritersEllen Ternes, Jim Mahaffie, Julia LeDoux

Send press releases and editorialsubmissions to [email protected].

John Rives, publisher and sales executive([email protected])

Tom Forsey, sales account representativePrince George’s County, Maryland andWashington, D.C. ([email protected])

Kelley Kennedy-Lapping,sales account representativeNorthern Virginia and Washington, D.C.([email protected])

Ryan Ebaugh, sales account representativeHome builders, real estate and apartments([email protected])

JamesConstantine, sales account representativeWelcome Guide customers([email protected])

Jennifer Trinch, sales account representativeWelcome Guide customers([email protected])

For advertising information, call 301-921-2800.

COVER PHOTO: DIGITAL VISION/THINKSTOCK

Editorial Note:A photograph featured on page 10 of the May/June 2015edition of DC Military Magazine (“Final Honor: Guards pre-serve legacy of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”) was takenby Karin Markert. You can find her work at KLMarkertPhotography, www.klmarkert.smugmug.com.

nmy eight years in the life insurance industry, I’vetaken great pride in providing financial advice tothousands of military service members and theirfamilies for USAA. It’s an honor to serve thosewho answered the call to serve our country—anexperience I also share. Previously, I served in theU.S. Air Force and was probably like many of youearly on in my military career. However, life threwme a curveball and my plans to dedicate 20 yearsto the Air Force ended abruptly a few years aheadof schedule. I’ll have more on that later.The point is that life comes at you quickly re-

gardless of your age, and making good [omittedextra space] financial decisions while time andflexibility are your allies can make a huge impactwhen that changes. Life insurance probably isn’tvery high on your list of considerations, and I don’tblame you,but I truly believe it should be. I’ve beenwhere you are and understand the skepticism thatlife insurance could be a wise investment this earlyin your life. In my time at USAA I’ve heard it all,but I want to address the most common reserva-tions, and why they’re not as clear cut as you think.

“I already have ServicemembersGroup Life Insurance.”

I want to be perfectly clear: I believe that everyU.S. military member should have a life insurancepolicy, in addition to the fantastic benefit thatSGLI provides.This is regardless of age, militaryoccupation or marital status. No exceptions.But perhaps an even greater benefit a supple-

mentary policy can provide is guaranteed insurabil-ity. As a servicemember, you likely know someonewho has experienced a significant injury or othermedical issue.You must also know that ultimatelyyour military career will end, and your SGLI cov-erage will end with it.As I alluded to earlier, my Air Force career

ended for medical reasons in 2005 after about 12years of service.After several years of near constant

deployments, I was physically and emotionallyspent.When I arrived home, I struggled with inju-ries I suffered while downrange.You know the story from here: My life became

a whirlwind of personal and financial issues thatweighed heavily on me.On top of that, the medicalissue that ended my military career would make itimpossible to buy life insurance for nearly a decade.If you value your SGLI benefit in any way, you

need take action to ensure you can keep that ben-efit in place. Had I purchased a small, term pol-icy before I deployed, I would have been able tokeep that policy after I was medically retired withno change in price. I would not have to rely onVeterans Group Life Insurance, with its increasingexpense, and I would not have to worry I may notbe able to afford it in the future.That small policy,coupled with the group life insurance I have withmy employer, would likely have met my family’sneeds for some time.

“I don’t have a spouse, kids or a houseso I don’t need life insurance.”

Even if your family hasn’t grown beyond one,can you imagine a future where it does? Do yousee yourself having a spouse? Children? If so, hav-ing a policy in place now could meanmore flexibil-ity later as your life progresses.

WHYWHYLIFELIFEINSURANCEINSURANCEMAKES SENSEMAKES SENSEAT ANY AGEAT ANY AGE

GUEST COLUMN

BY KENNY SUTTON, USAA

I

PHOTODISC/THINKSTOCK


Recently, a good friend narrowlyavoided a terrible traffic accidentwhile coming home from work.Afterthe initial shock wore off, he contem-plated how fast life can change. Hereflected on the fact that very recentlyhe and his wife put wills in place andincreased their life policies. Whenwe discussed it later, he told methat as scary as the experience was,he did feel a sense of peace that hadthe worst-case scenario occurred, asafety net was in place to take care ofhis family’s financial needs.He was proud of the fact that he

had not only thought of doing thesethings, but more importantly, he hadactually taken action. His words tome summed up my feelings exactly:“Love your family twice. First, tellthem.Then do something about it.”If you love someone, or ever might,take action now and get an addi-tional policy in place.There are pol-icies available now that can offer thekind of flexibility that can be valu-able to those starting out. Benefitslike USAA’sTermLife Event Optioncan increase as you get married, havekids or purchase a house, and yourneeds change.

“It’s too expensive.”For many service members, and

particularly those who are youngerand in the earlier phases of adult-hood, cost is a major factor. Theprice of a privately [omitted hyphen]owned life insurance policy is basedon two things: age and health.Wecovered health earlier, but when itcomes to age, it shouldn’t be a sur-prise that the younger you are, theless expensive it is to obtain a policy.While you might feel your cash

would be better spent elsewherebecause you are young, healthy and

without any significant obligations,consider this: Life insurance willnot be any cheaper for you than it istoday.For example, a 20-year-oldwould

pay an average of $12 a month for a$100,000 USAA level term policy,but someone who waits until theyare 40 could pay as much as $50 amonth, possibly more for the samepolicy.You can always revisit cover-age and increase it as your budgetand circumstances change.TheTermLife Event Option mentioned earlierallows you to add coverage after aqualifying life event for an averagecost of $10 to $20 month with noadditional underwriting.Buying early can provide flexibil-

ity that you might need later in yourlife while locking in a lower rate forthe life of the policy.One of the things I miss most

about serving as an NCO was theopportunity to learn from those withexperience and the pride I felt whenI was able to pass that knowledge on.I learned the value of having a life

insurance policy the hard way. No,obtaining a supplement to SGLI willnot prevent your death, but it canprovide insurability, peace of mindand perhaps most importantly, itcan be the most profoundly impact-ful decision you make for those youleave behind—the people you love.

Kenny Sutton is a director ofproduct management withUSAA Life Insurance Com-pany. Prior to transitioning tocivilian life, Sutton served 12years in the U.S. Air Force.

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BY JIM MAHAFFIE

t’s a warm June morning in Georgetown,and the line is several deep at the counterat Dog Tag Bakery. One-time U.S. Armylinguist and translator Sham Hassan is tak-ing orders for breakfast croissants, fritta-

tas, muffins and scones, all made on site. In thekitchen, 20-year U.S. Navy veteran Joe Zarek ischecking the contents of his ovens.Besides the breads and quiches, the bakery

supports Dog Tag Inc., a nonprofit that offersa six-month fellowship for disabled veteransthrough Georgetown University’s School ofContinuing Studies. Here at Dog Tag Bakery,workers like Hassan and Zarek are also taught torun a small business, in addition to business andstaff management, product creation, customerservice, marketing and operations.“Sham Hassan started as a barista as one of

our first employees when we opened the bakery,”said CEOMeghan Ogilvie. “As he learned moreabout the fellowship program and the opportu-nities for networking and learning about civilianworkforce opportunities, he knew it was some-thing he wanted to pursue. He applied and wasaccepted into our second class of fellows.”

More than 100 veterans applied for the fel-lowship’s first class in 2014, and 10 were se-lected, said Simone Borisov, director of develop-ment. “All of them were categorized at least 50percent disabled by the Department of VeteransAffairs, and that’s a big part of our mission.”TheDogTag work-study program combines veteraneducation with the experience necessary for vet-erans to succeed post-duty as civilians. “We’re all

about bringing people to a happy place to inter-act with veterans,” Borisov said.“As the word continues to spread about our

mission and our business expands, we have seena surge in interest for our fellowship program,”said manager Justin Ford, who also is a veteran.Zarek described his bakery work as his “ex-

ternship.” “I’m planning on opening my ownbusiness and this is an important part of the pro-cess,” said Zarek, a combat-disabled veteran ofboth Gulf wars. Program fellows all work at thebakery, and it also employs other veterans andveteran spouses. Recent graduates are startingtheir own businesses and working on master’sdegree programs.Located in the heart of Georgetown at 3206

Grace St. NW, next to the Chesapeake and OhioCanal National Historical Park, Dog Tag fea-tures a state-of-the-art bakery and classroomspace. Bright and beautifully renovated, the dogtag chandelier hangs over a side table. It’s madeup of 3,500 individual dog tags, each inscribedwith a personal message. Each tag represents adonation to the cause: honoring servicemen andservicewomen who have fallen in the defense ofour nation.

A Deliciously Simple Way toSUPPORT VETERANS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELISE MAHAFFIE

Located in the heartof Georgetown, DogTag Bakery serves

regulars and visitorsall day longwith

fresh baked goodsmade by veterans.

Dog Tag Bakery serves cakes, pies, breads,muffins, scones and more. A work-studyprogram combines veteran education with

the experience necessary for them to succeedpost duty as civilians.

I

-DOG TAG BAKERY CONTINUED ON 19 -


iving inWashington, D.C. provides accessto a host of historic sites, museums andmemorials. But nearby is a destination thatoffers a glimpse into our country’s earlypast, where you can learn how our nation

conquered the seas, walk in the footsteps of theFounding Fathers and see the democracy theydreamed of establishing at work each day.It’s all found in Annapolis, Maryland—the

state capital and home of the U.S.NavalAcademy.Sitting at the mouth of the Severn River and

Chesapeake Bay, this delightful port city is theperfect getaway for a day or a weekend. And youdon’t have to be a seaman to appreciate Annap-olis’ charm, as this Army spouse learned on a re-cent visit.Between the town’s cobbled streets, 18th cen-

tury buildings, active harbor, busy government

center and the gleaming granite halls of the NavalAcademy, it may be hard to decide where to startyour tour. Susan Steckman, of the Annapolis &Anne Arundel County Conference &Visitors Bu-reau, provided suggestions for making the most ofyour time in Annapolis.“For first time visitors, we always encourage

people to get out on the water,” Steckman said.There are a variety of tour operators located at theCity Dock area, including: a 40-minute narratedcruise of the Annapolis Harbor and past the Naval

Academy aboardWatermark’s Harbor Queen; atwo-hour cruise aboard the wooden schoonersWoodwind andWoodwind II or the Spa Creektour aboardWatermark’s Miss Anne.Families with young children might consider a

cruise with Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake— a 75-minute tour complete with water cannonsand buried treasure search, according to Steckman.Next on Steckman’s list of must-sees is the

Maryland State House. “It’s the oldest state housein continuous legislative use in the country andis the only state house to have also served as ournation’s Capitol building when Annapolis was thecapital from November 1783 to August 1784,”Steckman said. According to Steckman, GeorgeWashington resigned his commission as com-

You don’t have to be a seaman toappreciate the charm of Annapolis

GirlMEETS GOAT.ADVENTURES INANNAPOLIS.

.

ON THE HOMEFRONT

BY ALICE SWAN

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-ANNAPOLIS CONTINUED ON 21 -

PHOTOS BY ALICE SWAN

The statue of Navy Bill, the U.S.Naval Academy’smascot, wel-comes visitors near the Gate 1

entrance to the academy.

A replicaWrightBrothersModel B-1airplane hangs in

Dahlgren Hall at theU.S. Naval Acad-emy, representingthe early days ofnaval aviation.


WELCOME TO PLEBE SUMMERWhile most recent high school graduates are relishing their last bit of freedom beforestepping into the next phase of life, 1,200 of their peers will be enjoying a differentkind of summer break. These are the plebes of the U.S. Naval Academy, who eachInduction Day—July 1 this year—say goodbye to civilian life and begin their four-yearexperience asmidshipmen.According to Naval Academy officials, the plebes endure a tough, seven-weektraining period called Plebe Summer to introduce them to academy life. They’ll beroused from bed at 5:30 a.m. with reveille, followed by a day full of physical training,meal formations, memorization, academy andmilitary instruction, all ending in thesinging of the Naval Academy almamater before lights out at 10 p.m. Plus, they mustkeep their uniforms and rooms shipshape in order to pass the frequent inspectionsby a leadership team of upperclassmen. Naval Academy officials said that duringthis time, the plebes have no access to TV, movies, the Internet or music, and haverestricted access to cell phones. They are permitted to make only three calls duringPlebe Summer.But the plebes aren’t completely on their own. “Local families sponsor midshipmenand open their homes up to them for a place to relax while they are on local leave,”said LeoMehalic, a Naval Academy spokesman. At the end of the sevenweeks,thosewho survive will be welcomed into the Naval Academy ranks as fourth-classmidshipmen. They’ll also receive awarmwelcome from their new community ofAnnapolis.How’s that for a summer vacation?

PHOTOS BY ALICE SWAN

TheMarylandState Houseopened in1772 andstands onthe highestpoint inAnnapolis.

A cruise onAnnapolis’waterwaysprovides somegreat viewsof the city andthe U.S. NavalAcademy.

Protests are acommon sight atLawyers’ Mall,which is outsidetheMarylandState House.

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12 | DCMilitary MAGAZINE DCMi l i tary.com/magazine JULY/AUGUST 2015| DCMilitary MAGAZINE DCMi l i tary.com/magazine JULY/AUGUST 201512

promotingmotorcycle safety,mentorship and

community service

GREEN KNIGHTS



BY JULIA LEDOUX

or members of the Green KnightsMilitary Motorcycle Club Chapter 20,riding a motorcycle isn’t about look-ing “cool” while tooling around on thearea’s highways on two-wheels.It’s about mentorship, camaraderie,

giving back to the community and, most impor-tantly, staying safe on the road.“Our primary focus is to promote safety,” said

Dave Abildgaard, the chapter’s vice president.Chapter 20 of the Green Knights Military

Motorcycle Club was founded at Andrews AirForce Base in 2006, what is now known as JointBase Andrews. The club is open to all Depart-ment of Defense personnel, including activeduty and retired service members, and has ap-proximately 200 members, including a four-stargeneral and an instructor from the U.S. NavalAcademy. Members live anywhere from FortMeade, Maryland, to Quantico,Virginia.The club itself was formed in the late 1990s

on McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey inresponse to a rise in motorcycle-related deathsamong 18- to 25-year-olds who were serving inthe Air Force. “It was an effort to mentor, leadand guide these young folks and redirect theirthinking into smarter driving habits,” said ChrisOrbits, president of the local chapter.The effort spread throughout the Air Force

and soon encompassed other branches of thenation’s armed services. The club has approx-imately 112 international chapters. The localchapter was designated the Green Knights Mili-tary Motorcycle Club Chapter 20 because it wasthe 20th club that was formed, Orbits said.Orbits and Abildgaard said some new mo-

torcycle riders think they are invincible and re-

turn stateside from a deployment wanting thebiggest, baddest motorcycle they can find.

“They think `I survived combat, I can sur-vive this,’” Orbits said. “That decision makingprocess needs to be tweaked. I’m not saying it’swrong. I’m saying it needs to be tweaked.”The local chapter hosts various instructional

classes and rides throughout the year for bothnew riders and those who have more experience,they said. Riders with all types of motorcycles,including sport bikes, sport touring bikes andcruisers are welcome.“Motorcycles don’t kill. People and their

decisions kill people,” Abildgaard said.Motorcyclists who dodge in and out of traffic

or do wheelies while on the road give other ridersa bad name, Orbits and Abildgaard said.“For me, when they go down, I don’t have

a lot of sympathy for them,” Abildgaard said.“That is one of our biggest challenges is to getthose folks (who do that) to ride with us.”

Orbits, who is also a motorcycle safety in-structor, agreed.“I’ve done my fair share of investigating

motorcycle accidents,” he said. “Most aredue to high speed or their inability to controltheir bikes.”In addition to promoting safety, mentorship

and camaraderie, members of Chapter 20 par-ticipate in Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle rallythat draws thousands of bikers to Washington,D.C., during Memorial Day weekend.They rideto focus attention on the plight of America’s pris-oners of war and those missing in action.“Last year, during Rolling Thunder, we

cleaned the entire (KoreanWarVeterans Memo-rial),” Orbits said. “It took 17 people two hoursto clean it.”“We literally scrubbed that with brushes,”

added Abildgaard.The group provides escorts for buses carry-

ing Honor Flight veterans who are visiting me-morials of the wars they fought.“The thing that really means the most to our

chapter is the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home insouthern Maryland,” Orbits said.Orbits said residents of the home are delighted

to see his group, and Chapter 20 members areequally happy to spend time with those who pavedthe way for them.“They want to come out, they want to see the

bikes, they want to talk about our careers, theircareers,” he said.

For more information on the GreenKnights Military Motorcycle Club,

visit the club’s website atgreenknightsmmc.org.

F

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GREEN KNIGHTS MILITARYMOTORCYLE CLUB

Members of the Green Knights toured Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and posedfor a picture along the historic battle site.

Chapter 20members participate in theFaces ofValor USA ride and help raise fundsfor those injured and for the children of

those killed in the performance of their duty.

Every year, Chapter 20 plans at least oneride along the scenic Skyline Drive.


BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON

teeped in history and awash in culture,Washington, D.C. has much to offermilitary families. Whether stationedwithin the District of Columbia — atthe NavyYard or Marine Barracks —

or at the region’s edge — at Marine Corps BaseQuantico or Fort George G. Meade — militaryfamilies are a short drive or train ride fromsome of the nation’s most popular attractions.How best to take advantage of your time in thearea? Consider the ideas below and be sure totouch base with your installation’s Morale,Wel-fare and Recreation office, which often offersdiscounted admission.

1 Sightsee like a touristStretching from the U.S. Capitol to the Lin-

coln Memorial, the National Mall is home to12 museums, nine monuments and memorials,and a dozen gardens. It can take days to explorethe 1.9-mile mall.A pair of comfort-able shoes is es-sential, even if youchoose to ride thenew DC Circulatorbus. With 15 stopsaround the mall andbuses arriving every10 minutes, the DCCirculator is conve-nient and inexpen-sive: $1 paid with aMetro SmarTrip cardlets you hop on andoff for two hours. Ifthe weather is nice,pack a picnic lunch, asfood can be pricey, andbring along a Frisbee.

2 Explore another cultureFramed by the iconic Friendship Arch at

7th and H Streets, the District’s Chinatownis a compact shopping and dining destina-tion. An annual winter parade — with a tra-

ditional Chinese dragon dance, kung fu demon-strations and live music — marks the ChineseNewYear.More than 170 nations have embassies in

D.C. and each May dozens of them open theirdoors to the public as part of Passport DC.The annual program offers a rare look insidethe embassies and provides an opportunity toexperience the cultural heritage and nationaltraditions of different countries.Each year, the Smithsonian Folklife Festi-

val showcases the history, geography, food andculture of a particular country. This year it isPeru. Held outdoors on the National Mall, thefestival takes place during the last week of Juneand first week of July.

3 Celebrate a holidayFew other cities mark Memorial Day or In-

dependence Day the way D.C. does. The an-nual Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally, paradedown Constitution Avenue, wreath laying at Ar-

lington National Cemetery, and concerton theWest Lawn of the U.S. Capitol areamong the events commemorating thosewho died in the service of our country.A Capitol Fourth is a free, 90-minute

musical extravaganza on theWest Lawncelebrating the nation’s independence. Arousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812

Overture complete with live can-

non fire caps off the evening concert and servesas the soundtrack for the spectacular fireworksdisplay on the National Mall. Not one forcrowds? Take a boat cruise or book a room at ahotel with a rooftop view to catch the fireworks.D.C. also is a great place to celebrate Easter

with an egg roll on the South Lawn of theWhiteHouse, Halloween by trick-or-treating alongEmbassy Row, and Christmas with tree-light-ing ceremonies on the Ellipse and grounds ofthe U.S. Capitol.

4 Tour a Civil War battlefieldNot even Ken Burns’ documentary can

compare to standing on a Civil War battle-field, bearing witness to the brutal battles thatdefined America’s deadliest war. Beginningin 1864, battles raged around Washington,D.C., which served as command central forPresident Lincoln until his assassination 150years ago. Some of the most significant werefought within a few hours drive. From Gettys-burg, Pennsylvania — where Lincoln deliveredhis unforgettable address following a deci-sive Union victory — to Appomattox, Virginia— where the Army of Northern Virginia sur-rendered, signaling the end of the war — thestory of the War Between the States has beenpreserved for generations. Closest to D.C. arethe partially restored Fort Stevens, site of theonly battle in the District and where, accordingto some accounts, Lincoln was fired upon; Ma-

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nassas and Bristoe Station battlefields in Vir-ginia; and Antietam and Monocacy battlefieldsin Maryland.

5 Experience the PotomacRunning 383 miles from the Allegheny

Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, the Po-tomac River has served as a source of com-merce and recreation. From thundering fallsto placid shallows, the river contains one ofthe deadliest stretches of white water — the14-mile Potomac River Gorge — in the East-ern United States. For the more adventurous,there’s white water rafting, which is as close asMather Gorge, just 20 minutes from downtownD.C. For those who prefer a more sedate riverexperience, there are kayak and canoe rentalsin Georgetown and National Harbor. Paddleboats are available at National Harbor and theTidal Basin. A dinner, moonlight, canine or pi-rate cruise is another fun way to experience thePotomac. Those who prefer not to be out onthe water can experience the river’s power andmajesty at Great Falls Park in Virginia and theChesapeake and Ohio Canal National Histori-cal Park in Maryland.

6 Take in a Sunset Paradeor military tattooFor nearly six decades, the U.S. Marine

Corps has been paying tribute to those whose“uncommon valor was a common virtue”through Sunset Parades at the Marine CorpsWar Memorial, modeled after the infamous

photo of theWorldWar II flag raising on MountSuribachi, Iwo Jima. The Tuesday evening pa-rades, which run through Aug. 11, featuremusic from The Commandant’s Own, a drumand bugle corps, and precision drill by the Ma-rine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.

Twilight Tattoo is an hour-long, live-actionmilitary pageant featuring soldiers from the3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army Band’sPershing’s Own, Old Guard Fife and DrumCorps, and U.S. Army Drill Team. It is per-formed every Wednesday on Whipple Field atJoint Base Myer Henderson-Hall in Arlington,Virginia through Aug. 19.The Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks

in Southeast Washington, D.C. features musicand precision marching. The ceremony, whichstarts at 8:45 p.m. every Friday through Aug.28, has become a universal symbol of the pro-fessionalism, discipline and esprit de corps ofthe United States Marines.

7 Attend a professional sporting eventWhile there hasn’t been a Super Bowl,

World Series, Stanley Cup or Larry O’BrienNBA Championship Trophy winner from D.C.in many years, most of the professional teamshere are competitive. And, local teams have starpower, such as Alexander Ovechkin, BradleyBeal and Bryce Harper. Nationals Park and theVerizon Center are a stone’s throw from Met-rorail stations and FedEx Field is just undera mile from the nearest station. And, if D.C.sports don’t thrill you, there are the BaltimoreOrioles and Ravens.

8 See a show or concertWhether you prefer a musical, comedy or

drama, you’ll find it in D.C.The John F. Ken-

U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. TEDDYWADE

Soldiers assigned to the 3rd InfantryRegiment, also known as “The OldGuard,” march acrossWhipple Fieldduring a Twilight Tattoo on Joint BaseMyer-Henderson Hall, Va., May 22,2013. During the event, Army Chief ofStaff Gen. Ray Odierno presented theOutstanding Civilian ServiceMedal toGary Sinise of the Gary Sinise Founda-tion; Ryan Blanck of the Center for theIntrepid; Kathleen Gagg of the Got YourBack Network; Ken Fisher of the FisherHouse Foundation and Deborah Tymonof the NewYorkYankees.

- 10 THINGS CONTINUED ON 26 -

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ashington, D.C., is an excitingplace—history, lots for things kidsand families, good food, militaryservices. But living and workingin D.C. can be very different from

sightseeing.These insider tips from military per-sonnel and spouses can help you prepare foryour move to the D.C. area.First, some local lingo. “D.C.” is short for

District of Columbia, but when you live here, italso can mean the large area that includes neigh-boring counties in Virginia and Maryland.TheBeltway, Interstate 495, is a 64-mile loop thatencircles the area and is the region’s main artery.The District of Columbia and a few suburbs areconsidered “inside the Beltway.”The rest of theD.C. area sprawls “outside the Beltway” and iswhere most people, including many members ofthe military, live.

Traffic and More TrafficThere’s no getting around it, D.C. traffic is

tough. It’s a shock to many military coming herefor the first time, said Ric Licardo, a retired Ma-rine gunnery sergeant and Realtor who workswith many enlisted clients. “When you look at

the map and see that Leesburg is only 15 milesfrom the Pentagon, you think it’s close,” Licardosaid. “It’s a rude awakening to find that the traf-fic can make the commute an hour or more eachway on a good day.”Air Force spouse Lyndy Rohe lives in Vir-

ginia, 20 miles from her husband’s Pentagonjob and even farther from her job in D.C. “Thetraffic is impossible to gauge. Especially in yourfirst month, give yourself an extra hour to goanywhere in the city,” Rohe said.Army Maj. Matt Gillespie commutes 70

miles from northern Maryland to the Pentagon.“If you’re going to commute, invest in satelliteradio and a GPS,” Gillespie said. “I use the driv-ing time to catch up on news, listen to books.”The upside of commuting here are the good

public transportation options in many areas,including the Metrorail, commuter buses andtrains, carpools, and high-occupancy vehiclelanes. Check with your command or employeron mass transit compensation.

Location, Location, LocationHousing prices can be a sticker shock. The

closer you live to D.C., the more you’ll pay torent or buy, and the less space you’ll get, saidChuck Bryant, a retired Army colonel who isnow a Realtor who helps military clients find

housing. “Washington is the most expensive.Maryland is generally less expensive than Vir-ginia,” Bryant said.

Prices go down the farther you go outsidethe Beltway. “When assigned to D.C., you haveto really take into consideration your circum-stances when choosing a place to live,” Gillespiesaid. “Some places that you like because they areclose may not have good schools or may simplybe too expensive.”Rohe said that while they are getting more

house for their money farther out, “The drivetime can be the difference between making it toyour kid’s baseball game or not.”Jen Baltazar is a former Army captain who

commuted 30 miles when she arrived in thearea, but recently moved closer to the District.“You have to set your priorities,” Baltazar said.“What’s most important to you, size or location?I had space and a big yard, but I lost a lot of timeto commuting.”Navy Reserve Lt. Cmd. Ashley Hockycko,

who was until recently an active-duty aviator,is now a full-time parent of two young childrenwhile her husband serves a tour at the Pentagon.Hockycko said they decided to pay more to liveas close as possible to her husband’s work. “Itcosts more money, but my husband didn’t know

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what his hours would be, and he wanted to beable to spend time at home,” Hockycko said.Location is important for singles, too. “The

suburbs are getting better with things to do,” saidBaltazar, who is single, “but you’re better off liv-ing close to D.C. if you want good access to asocial life.”Another tradeoff to living outside of D.C. is

the cost of gas. “Gas and car maintenance addup,” Gillespie said.

SchoolsPublic schools, especially in Virginia and

Maryland, do well in national rankings. Rohesaid the schools were their top priority whendeciding where to live. “You can find out alot about individual schools on websites likeGreatschools.com, and on a school’s Face-book page.”When you find a school you like, she said, be

sure you’re in the school’s zone. “You can live amile from the school you want, but actually be inanother school’s zone.”Bryant, whose family lived a lot of places

during his Army career, said the area’s schoolshave a “lot of special programs you don’t find ina lot of other places,” from programs for specialneeds students to magnet programs for scienceand arts.Rohe said she liked that her children’s schools

had a lot of military kids and special programsfor military students and spouses. But, the Min-nesota native cautioned, “Schools here close forsnow a lot. Have a snow day plan especially ifboth parents work.”

Kids and DogsThere are also lots of programs in the D.C.

area for younger children, but there can be longwaiting lists for preschool and day care, even inbase Child Development Centers and church pro-grams. Day care prices and baby-sitting also maybe higher than in many other areas of the country.“In Virginia Beach, we paid $10 to $12 an

hour. Here, it’s $15 to $20 an hour,” Hockyckosaid. For information on just about anything for

kids in the D.C. area, she recommends the web-site kidfriendlydc.com.Then there are the pets. Be sure to ask land-

lords if pets are allowed, and, said Baltazar,who has two dogs, research pet services in yourarea. “You can’t go home at lunch here to walkyour dogs.”

Lots to DoD.C. has city monuments, museums, Civil

War battlefields, hiking trails, water sports andsports teams, all within an easy drive. “There areso many entertainment and cultural activities inthe D.C. area,” said Gillespie, “and you’re withina couple of hours of great beaches and state andnational parks.”Many things, like the Smithsonian and Na-

tional Zoo, even concerts in the Kennedy Centerlobby, are free.The D.C. area is also loaded withgood places to eat, all types of food and priceranges. “You’ll never get to everything on yourbucket list,” Rohe said.

Military Melting PotUnlikemanymilitary towns, theD.C. area has

excellent military medical care facilities, commis-saries, and exchanges throughout Maryland andVirginia.Most area universities have evening pro-grams open to members of the military.There’s also a sense of military community.

“The area is a melting pot of military,” Bryantsaid. “When you come here, you’re sure to knowpeople. It’s an extended family of military.”Licardo grew up in a military family and

moved around as a Marine. “This isn’t likeplaces where you’re the only military,” he said.“We have a strong community in the D.C. area,including American Legions andVFWs that giveback a lot, to everyone from private to general.”“It’s an area used to a transient population,

so people are really welcoming to newcomers,”added Bryant. “It’s a great place to make friendsfrom all walks of life.”Said Gillespie: “An assignment to D.C. is a

fantastic networking opportunity to make con-nections with other service members and civil-ians that can be a great resource for the future.”

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFOREMOVING TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

- Talk to your friendswho are already here.

- Visit before you decidewhere to live.

- Set your car radio to stations that givefrequent traffic updates.

- Buy an E-ZPass andMetro SmarTrip card.

- Online sources: Greatschools.com,DCmilitary.com, NationalMilitary FamilyAssociation, militaryfamily.org,Kidfriendlydc.com, wmata.com forMetro/bus schedules, basewebsites,spouse Facebook pages.

- Visit the monuments at night—fewerpeople, beautiful sights

- Lots of places havemilitary discounts.

“It’s agreatplaceto makefriendsfrom

all walksof life.”

DIGITALVISION/THINKSTOCK



1051056


The business opened in November 2014,founded by Father Richard Curry, a professor ofCatholic studies at Georgetown University, andConnie Milstein, a local real estate entrepreneur.The program’s goal is to help disabled veteransreturning home from Iraq and Afghanistan easeinto productive civilian lives.They opened DogTag to make sure vets would have marketableskills. Both have worked with disabled popula-tions for years, said Borisov, and both are avidbakers. “All our cookie recipes are originallyfrom Connie,” Borisov said.Georgetown Unviersity’s School of Contin-

uing Studies offers a business administrationcertificate program for disabled veterans throughclasses and working at DogTag. All proceeds goback into the education program. Even the cof-fee is fromCompass Coffee, aWashington,D.C.-based business started by former U.S. Marines.“Our number one priority is ensuring that

our model inWashington, D.C. is a success andeasily replicable,” Ogilvie said. “Though ourconnection to Georgetown University, we havegiven a lot of thought to expanding through theJesuit university network.We’re looking forwardto growing DogTag so that we can serve veter-ans, caregivers, and spouses nationwide.”

To learn more about Dog Tag Bakery,visit www.dogtaginc.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELISE MAHAFFIE

The Dog Tag Chandelier is made up of 3,500 individual dog tags, each inscribed with a personalmessage for servicemen and servicewomen who have fallen in the defense of our nation.

1051489

DOG TAG BAKERY, CONTINUED FROM 9 -


1051624

Andrews Resumes Air ShowJoint Base Andrews is scheduled

to resume its popular air show, Sept.19–20. The show will feature theThunderbirds, the Air Force’s pre-mier aerial demonstration team.Theair show had been an annual eventat the base for more than 50 years.Fiscal constraints canceled last year’sprogram. “The show marks the re-turn of the largest military event inthe Nation Capital Region,” saidCol. Brad Hoagland, Joint Base An-drews commander. The weekendprogram will also feature a myriadof attractions on the ground, in-cluding static displays of modernand vintage/legacy aircraft, the U.S.Air Force Honor Guard and U.S.Air Force Band.This is the only ap-pearance of theThunderbirds in thegreater Washington area this year.The flying unit, based at Nellis AirForce Base, Nevada, was formed in1953 and this year will perform 71performances at 39 locations. Thisis the 33rd year the unit has flownthe F-16 Fighting Falcon. The ae-rial demonstrations include about40 maneuvers, featuring formationflying and solo routines.The show,including the ground ceremony, lastsabout one hour.

Circle the DateRetireeAppreciation Day will be

observed Saturday, Oct. 27, at JointBase Anacostia-Bolling.The annualevent alternates between JBAB andJoint Base Andrews. Activities willbe centered at the Bolling Club,starting with a health fair offered bythe 579th Medical Group at JBAB.Annual influenza immunizationsare scheduled for the health fair.

Ballroom presentations will provideinformation on a variety of subjectsof interest to the military retirementcommunity.The Bolling Exchangeand Commissary are also expectedto provide special sales incentives.

Salute to Women VeteransOne of five national salute to

women veterans events conductedby the Department of Veterans Af-fairs is scheduled in Washington,D.C., on Sept. 22. Events providean overview of services and bene-fits available to women veterans.Staff from theVA, local communitysupporters and agencies that assistwomen veterans are expected to at-tend. Other cities hosting events areSt. Petersburg, Florida; San Diego(Oceanside), California; Houston;and Minneapolis/St. Paul.Womenrepresent about 9.2 percent of thetotal veteran population.There arean estimated 2 million women vet-erans. For more information, visitwww.va.gov/womenvet.

Surcharge Pays OffThanks to the commissary sur-

charge – the 5 percent added toevery customer’s receipt – the mil-itary communities at Naval Sup-port Activity Annapolis; Fort Polk,Louisiana; Maxwell Air Force BaseGunter Annex, Alabama; and NavalSubmarineBaseNewLondon,Con-necticut, had replacement storesopened in 2014, to the tune of $62million. Surcharge funds paid theconstruction costs.The surcharge isnot a tax. Surcharge dollars go backinto stores, paying for the construc-tion of new and replacement stores,renovations, maintenance and re-pairs and store equipment. In 2014,the surcharge budget was $290.4million. The surcharge is factoredinto the overall commissary shoppersavings of 30 percent.The surchargehas been 5 percent since 1983, andcannot be changed without congres-sional approval.

Tricare Covers Most RequirementsMost Tricare plan options meet

Affordable Care Act requirementsfor minimum essential coverage(MEC). However, people who loseTricare eligibility, or transition to anew type of Tricare coverage, needto know their options so they avoidany penalties for not having mini-mum essential health coverage.TheAffordable Care Act’s MEC re-quirement means most Americansneed to have basic health care cov-erage, or pay a penalty fee. Thosewho are eligible for premium-freeTricare Standard meet the act’sMEC requirement. This includesactive-duty service members, re-tirees and their families.Those whoqualify forTricare For Life and pur-chase Medicare Part B also meetMEC requirements.Those who areonly eligible for premium-based

coverage, such as Tricare YoungAdult, Retired Reserve and ReserveSelect, must purchase one of theTricare options (or have other qual-ifying health coverage) in order tomeet the MEC requirement.Thereare several reasons people can loseTricare coverage, such as separatingfrom military service or stop payingfor coverage. They may be eligiblefor transitional benefits, such asTransitional Assistance Manage-ment Program or Continued HealthCare Benefit Program. However,these programs only last betweensix and 18 months.Those who loseTricare coverage for any reason areencouraged to explore additionalhealth coverage options, includingthe Health Insurance Marketplaceat www.healthcare.gov.

More Burials at ArlingtonArlington National Cemetery

plans to open “an additional 27,282burial opportunities” in 2016. Ex-pansion of the present cemeterywill be to the north, on 27 acres,bordering Joint Base Myer-Hen-derson Hall. Additional expansionto the south is planned in 2018 inan area adjacent to the Air ForceMemorial, along Columbia Pike.The site was formerly occupiedby the Navy Annex.The cemetery,opened during the Civil War, at-tracts some 4 million visitors annu-ally. Nearly 300,000 veterans andtheir dependents are buried there.More than 20 funeral services areconducted daily.

Annuitant’s DeathEligibility for the Survivor Ben-

efit Plan annuity pay ends with thedeath of the beneficiary. Promptreporting of a deceased militaryannuitant’s death to the Defense

Air Show Resumes at JBA, Salute to Women Vets

VETERANS CORNER

BY U.S. AIR FORCE CHIEF MASTERSGT. CHUCK LUCAS, RETIRED

PHOTO BY RICK CHAVEZ


Finance and Accounting Service(DFAS) is required.This can helpavoid possible financial hardshipto surviving family members orexecutors, who will be requiredto return any unearned paymentsof the decedent’s annuity pay. Toproperly report the death of anannuitant, call DFAS at 800-321-1080. A copy of the annuitant’sdeath certificate showing cause ofdeath should be sent to DFAS U.S.Military Annuitant Pay, P.O. Box7131, London KY 40742-713 orFAX to 800 982-8459.The finan-cial institution receiving paymentsshould also be notified. In addition,notification of death should alsobe reported to Social Security at800-772-1213; the Defense Enroll-ment Eligibility Reporting System(DEERS) at 800-538-9552 andVeterans Affairs at 800 827-1000,if the decedent was receiving De-pendency Indemnity Compensa-tion. Bank Account ChangesIf you’ve switched bank ac-

counts and need to have your mil-itary retired pay deposited to yournew account, you can make thechange online or by mail to theDefense Finance and AccountingCenter (DFAS). To avoid disrup-tions in payments, do not close yourold bank account until after youhave received your first payment inthe new account. Allow 30-45 daysfor the change to take effect. Theeasiest way to change your directdeposit bank account is myPay, theonline account management systemfor military members and retirees.Log in at www.mypay.dfas.mil andclick on “Direct Deposit.” If youcan’t use myPay, retirees shouldsend their new bank account in-formation to: DFAS, U.S. MilitaryPay. P.O. Box 7130, London KY40742-7130; annuitants to DFAS,U.S.Military Annuity Pay, P.O. Box7131, London KY 40742-7131.

Compound AlertThe Defense Health Agency has

alerted Tricare beneficiaries of re-

cent aggressive and deceptive mar-keting practices of compoundingpharmacies. Some pharmacies pre-pare medications for patients whoneed different kinds or strengthsof medications than are availablein commercial products. Pediat-rics, for example, is a big area forcompounding, a spokesman said.Some compounding pharmaciescharge unsupportable costs forthese products, he added. DefenseDepartment costs for compounddrugs skyrocketed from $5 millionin fiscal 2004 to $514 million infiscal 2014. In the first six monthsof FY 2015, DoD costs exceeded$1 billion. Tricare patients arecautioned if callers ask for SocialSecurity or Tricare numbers. Tri-care has no need to call patients forthis information.While Tricare hasbeen monitoring compound activ-ity for several years, the aggressiveoutreach began this year. Tricareresponded with 30,000 letters to

patients who receive compounds tomake them aware of its concerns.

Same Sex BenefitsIn consultation with the De-

partment of Justice,Veterans Affairsis providing guidance to same-sexmarried couples on the benefits andservices to which they are entitledunder current laws and regulations.The Supreme Court overturnedthat section of the Defense of Mar-riage Act which governed the defi-nitions of “marriage” and “spouse”for federal agencies. VA has devel-oped guidance to process claimsand applications for same-sex mar-ried couples. It is processing allclaims and applications involvingsame-sex marriages. A new websiteprovides information to help veter-ans and beneficiaries understandthe eligibility requirements. Go towww.va.gov/opa/marriage or call 1800 827-1000.

mander-in-chief of the ContinentalArmy in the Old Senate Chambers ofthe state house, and it was here thatthe Continental Congress ratified theTreaty of Paris, officially ending theRevolutionary War. The state houseis open for visitors from 9 a.m. to 5p.m., Monday through Sunday. Alocal tour company offers free guidedtours on weekends. Outside the cap-itol is Lawyers’ Mall, where you’lloften see people protesting, practicingtheir rights to free speech.Walk down the quaint streets lead-

ing away from the state house and youcould be following the paths taken bythe Founding Fathers as they wentto their boarding houses or homes.Steckman said that all four Marylandsigners of the Declaration of Indepen-dence had residences in Annapolis.All four residences still stand today;three are open to the public: theWil-liam Paca House and Garden (signerWilliam Paca), the Charles CarrollHouse (signer Charles Carroll) andthe Chase-Lloyd House (signer Sa-muel Chase). Information on visitinghours can be found at the VisitorsCenter on 26West St.Military families might want to

put a lunchtime tour of the U.S.NavalAcademy at the top of their list, Steck-man said. “Individuals who visit theNavalAcademy at noon during the ac-

ademic year get to watch the midship-men in noon formation before theyhead into Bancroft Hall for lunch,” shesaid.The formation includes a colorguard and a band.The best place to start your Naval

Academy tour is from theArmel-Left-wichVisitor Center, according to LeoMehalic, an academy spokesman.The visitors center offers guidedwalking tours of the campus withstops at Bancroft Hall, Naval Acad-emy Chapel and the Crypt of JohnPaul, and the U.S. Naval AcademyMuseum, where the story of Ameri-ca’s Navy comes to life.Visitor centerhours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondaythrough Saturday, March throughDecember.The visitor center closesat 4 p.m. in January and February.For a unique dining experience, havelunch at the Drydock Restaurant inthe academy’s Dahlgren Hall, with itsfull-size replica of aWright Brothers’Model B-1 airplane.If there’s time for shopping or a

quick meal before heading home,Steckman recommended strollingalong Main Street, Maryland Avenue,West Street and State Circle. “Mary-land Avenue is a hidden gem that in-cludes antique shops, trendy stores,The Annapolis Bookstore, Galway BayIrish Pub and Restaurant, and muchmore,” Steckman said.

ANNAPOLIS, CONTINUED FROM 10 -

PHOTO BY ALICE SWAN

Often called the Father of the United States Navy, John PaulJones lies in an elaborate crypt under the U.S. Naval Acad-emy Chapel.


FUN (& IMPORTANT) STUFF TO DOJuly

Quicken Loans NationalPGA Tour

July 30–Aug. 2Robert Trent Jones Golf Club1 Turtle Point DriveGainesville, Va.Tee times posted the day beforetournament play begins703-754-4050tigerwoodsfoundation.org/events/national/home

Redskins Training CampJuly 30–Aug. 162401West Leigh St.Richmond, Va.Times varyredskins.com/news-and-events/training-camp

August

Military Concert SeriesAug. 1–29, Saturdays7–8 p.m.165Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.877-628-5427nationalharbor.com

Citi Open, The Capital TennisTraditionAug. 1–9Rock Creek Park Tennis Center4850 Colorado Ave.NW,Washington, D.C.202-721-9500citiopentennis.com

Friendship Firehouse FestivalAug. 1. Time to be announced.107 S. Alfred St.Alexandria, Va.703-746-3891alexandriava.gov/FriendshipFire-house

Movies on the PotomacAug. 2–30, Sundays6–8 p.m.165Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.877-628-5427nationalharbor.com

LiveMusic on the PlazaAug. 7–28, Fridays7–8:30 p.m.165Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.877-628-5427nationalharbor.com

DC Beer WeekAug. 9–16Event locations and times varydcbeerweek.net

Montgomery CountyAgricultural FairAug. 14–22Montgomery CountyAgricultural Center501 Perry ParkwayGaithersburg, Md.301-926-3100mcagfair.com

Comcast Outdoor Film FestivalAug. 21–23Gates open at 5 p.m.; festivitiesbegin at 5:30 p.m.850 Hungerford DriveRockville, Md.filmfestnih.org

Maryland Renaissance FestivalAug. 29–Oct. 25, weekendsand Labor Day10 a.m.–7 p.m.1821 Crownsville RoadAnnapolis, Md.800-296-7304rennfest.com

Movies on the PotomacAug. 6–27, Sundays6–8 p.m.165Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.877-628-5427nationalharbor.com

September

Epicurience VirginiaSept. 4–6. Event timesto be announced.Morven Park17263 Southern Planter LaneLeesburg, Va.epicvirginia.com

LiveMusic on the PlazaSept. 4, 18, 257–8:30 p.m.165Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.877-628-5427nationalharbor.com

Virginia Scottish GamesSept. 5–6Great Meadow5089 Old Tavern RoadThe Plains, [email protected]

National Book FestivalSept. 510 a.m.–10 p.m.Walter E. Washington Conven-tion Center801Mt. Vernon Place NWWashington, D.C.202-707-8000loc.gov/bookfest

Labor Day Capitol ConcertSept. 63–11 p.m.U.S Capitol, West Lawnwashington.org/dc-events/labor-day-capitol-concert

Prince George’s County FairSept. 10–13Rosecroft Raceway6336 Rosecroft DriveFort Washington, Md.301-952-0270countyfair.org

Military Concert Series:Celebrating Air Force HeritageSept. 11–12Airmen of Note, 7 p.m. Fridayand Saturday; Celtic Aire, noon,1, 2 and 3 p.m. Saturday165Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.877-628-5427nationalharbor.com

48th annual MarylandSeafood FestivalSept. 12–13Sandy Point State Park1100 E. College ParkwayAnnapolis, Md.mdseafoodfestival.com

39th annual VirginiaWine FestivalSept. 12–13

COMPILED BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSONPHOTODISC/THINKSTOCK


11 a.m.–6 p.m.Great Meadow, 5089 Old TavernRoad, The Plains, Va.540-253-5000virginiawinefest.com

MCB Quantico Car ShowSept. 1210 a.m.–2 p.m.Daly Hall Parking Lot2079 Barnett Ave.Quantico, Va.Free for spectators;fee to show car703-784-4262quantico.usmc-mccs.org

Annapolis Craft Beer& Music FestivalSept. 12Noon-6 p.m.Navy-Marine CorpsMemorialStadium550 Taylor Ave.Annapolis, Md.theannapoliscraftbeerandmusic-festival.com

14th annual Arlington Police,Fire & Sheriff 9/11 Memorial 5KSept. 126 p.m.Register by Sept. 6arlington911race.com

Nation’s TriathlonSept. 13Olympic Race: 7 a.m.; SprintRace: 9 a.m.West Potomac ParkOhio Drive SouthwestWashington, D.C.nationstri.com

Washington RedskinsHome OpenerSept. 131 p.m.FedEx Field1600 FedExWayHyattsville, Md.redskins.com

Anne Arundel County FairSept. 16–20General’s Highway/Route 178Crownsville, Md.410-923-3400aacountyfair.org

Charles County FairSept. 17–20Charles County Fairgrounds8440 Fairgrounds RoadLa Plata, Md.301-932-1234charlescountyfair.com

- FUN CONTINUED ON 25 - STOCKBYTE/THINKSTOCK

1051629


BY JIM MAHAFFIE

hen they arrived to theirnew posting in Bethesda,Maryland, James McKee,who is an Army officer, andhis wife sent one of their

daughters to The German School. Theirgoal is always the highest-quality schoolsfor their four children. This prestigiousprivate school in Potomac, Maryland. alsooffers German language immersion fortheir youngest. “We own a home in Ger-many and foresee returning someday,” saidMcKee.“We want a multi-language family,and my older kids speak German well.”Reasons for sending a son or daughter

to a private school are often the same formilitary parents as they are for civilians.Above all is likely the cost and quality.But other practical requirements includespecial needs, religious or military com-ponents, instructional model, convenienceand transportation. Is boys- or girls-onlyeducation important? Music, sports, sci-ence and math?There are typically smallerclass sizes and lower teacher-to-studentratios than at public schools. Faculty is usuallyhighly qualified. There may be more personalleadership andmentoring.Many offer faith-basedcurriculums and religious structure, as well. Inthe metro area, there’s plenty of opportunity forAdvanced Placement and International Bacca-laureate programs in private schools, too.TheWashington, D.C. region is rich with pri-

vate school choices, for every grade.These rangefrom extremely prestigious college-prep educa-tion to excellent schools with religious affiliationsto education choices such as Montessori orWal-dorf schools.“My first question to any family interested

in Gonzaga is if they are familiar with us,” saidAndrew Battaile, dean of admissions and finan-cial aid at Gonzaga College High School, a pre-mier Catholic college preparatory school and thelargest, all-boys school in the District. “Have youdone a basic amount of research and are familiarwith our mission and values as a Catholic Jesuit

school? I would hope they are familiar and onboard with our mission, and want align to aligntheir future options and their values.”Consider the school and your future. Many

schools in the area typically feed students intoothers, such as Mater Dei School in Bethesdainto Georgetown Preparatory School in NorthBethesda.You should also consider the option ofboarding your son or daughter, as a deploymentor short-term posting may require it, rather thanuprooting a child for a less-than-permanentmove.You certainly know the challenges of new posts

and deployments. On average, military childrenwill move at least twice during their high schoolyears, and most will attend six to nine differentschools between kindergarten and 12th grade,according to the National Military Family Asso-ciation in Alexandria,Virginia. Kids have to saygoodbye to friends and adjust to new homes, rou-tines and schools.There can be roadblocks withcurricula and requirements, but the InterstateCompact on Educational Opportunity for Mil-

itary Children was designed to elimi-nate some of them for public schools.An agreement among states, the Com-pact offers uniform treatment for mil-itary children moving to new schooldistricts. But private schools still havetheir own standards and requirements.Battaile said he sees military fam-

ilies regularly but that Gonzaga onlyoccasionally accepts sophomores andjuniors, making it even more difficultfor fast-transitioning military familieswith children of those ages. The en-trance exam is only given in Decemberand January, as well, and there are nomid-year admissions. “We do as muchas we can for military families. I knowtiming can often be out of their controlbut when they call, I’ll clear the decksand make it happen if I can.”“We’re very familiar with the par-

ticular issues of military families, andwe understand the service those fam-ilies provide and what they sacrifice,”said Battaile. “We know timing is oftendifficult when orders come in. But I’m

here to help as best I can, and we will suggestother schools if we can’t help a family.”“One other thing I will do for military fam-

ilies is that I’ll connect them with another mili-tary family here so they can talk peer to peer toother people who know the ups and downs ofprivate school choices for children of the mili-tary,” said Battaile.When you arrive at your short list, that’s when

you need to know that both you as parents andyour son or daughter feel comfortable with thechoice and see yourselves at the school. Manyschools will allow your child to shadow a student,attend classes and even stay overnight in a board-ing school.The most important advice is to plan ahead.

Most private schools make admission decisionsfor the following school year by January of thecurrent year, says the Private School Review. Sostart your search early, plan your visits early, andput in your applications early.

CHOOSING APRIVATE SCHOOLW

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The Great Frederick FairSept. 18–26Frederick Fairgrounds797 E. Patrick St.Frederick, Md.301-663-5896thegreatfrederickfair.com

2015 Joint Base AndrewsAir ShowSept. 18 (Department of Defensecardholders only) and Sept. 19(general public)Gates open at 9 a.m.;performance times varyJoint Base Andrews, Md.www.andrews.af.mil

AT&T Nation’s Football ClassicSept. 18Robert F. KennedyMemorial Stadium2400 E. Capitol St. NEWashington, D.C.nationsfootballclassic.com

13th annual Alexandria KingStreet Art FestivalSept. 19–2010 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10a.m.-5 p.m. SundayKing Street

Alexandria, Va.http://bit.ly/1MIowMs

13th annual Korus FestivalSept. 19–20The Plaza at TysonsCorner Center1961 Chain Bridge RoadMcLean, Va.703-354-3900korusfest.org

Colonial Market & FairSept. 19-209 a.m.–5 p.m.GeorgeWashington’sMount Vernon3200Mount VernonMemorial HighwayMount Vernon, Va.703-780-2000mountvernon.org

The Annual DowntownHyattsville Art FestivalSept. 1911 a.m.–5 p.m.Shoppes at Arts DistrictHyattsvilleBaltimore Avenue (Route 1) andJefferson Streethyattsvilleartsfestival.com

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nedy Center for the PerformingArts, National Theatre and WolfTrap National Park for the Per-forming Arts bring in Broadwaytouring companies and mountlocal theatrical productions. JiffyLube Live, Merriweather Post Pa-vilion, Strathmore and Wolf Traphost concerts from contemporaryand vintage performing artists.Children’s theaters ImaginationStage and Adventure TheatreMTC are renowned for their pro-ductions, as are several local the-aters, including Arena Stage, Fol-gerTheatre, OlneyTheatre Center,SignatureTheatre, StudioTheater,Woolly MammothTheater, RoundHouse Theatre and ShakespeareTheatre Company. Don’t want topay full price?VisitTicketplace.orgor Goldstar Events, Inc. (goldstar.com/washington-dc/events) fordiscount tickets.

9 Visit a nearby CityAcross the river from D.C. is

Old Town Alexandria. This beau-tifully preserved historic district,George Washington’s adoptedhometown, is a must for foodiesand fashionistas. Further south inVirginia lies Richmond. Originallya colonial settlement, Virginia’scapital is a hub for history, culture,shopping and recreation.Annapolis is not just the state

of Maryland’s capital but Amer-ica’s sailing capital, according tothe local conference and visitorsbureau. With more 18th-centurybuildings than any city in the U.S.,Annapolis calls itself a museumwithout walls. In Frederick, Mary-land, Civil War-era buildings sitalongside unique specialty shops,galleries, museums and theaters. Itis, according to the local tourism

council, “where hip meets historicevery day.” Further north is Balti-more, which despite recent unrest,has much to offer. Its Inner Harboris home to the Maryland ScienceCenter and National Aquarium.The city’s Fells Point neighbor-hood is known for its architectureand nautical nature, and LittleItaly is a pasta-lover’s delight.

10 Explore the exurbsBeyond the urban fringe lies

horse and wine country, nestledin the rolling hills of both Virginiaand Maryland. Steeplechase racesand polo are among the eques-trian sports to explore in Lou-doun County,Virginia, which alsois home to the Upperville Colt &Horse Show. Founded in 1853,it is the oldest such show in the

U.S. Not far away, in Middleburg,Virginia is the National SportingLibrary & Museum, which is ded-icated to preserving, promotingand sharing the literature, art andculture of equestrian, angling andfield sports.Held in the heart of Montgom-

ery County’s horse country, thePotomac Hunt Races is an annualtradition, celebrating the sport ofsteeplechase racing. Adding to thethrill of thundering hooves areactivities such as pony rides andmounted police demonstrations.Maryland — home to the Preak-ness Stakes, the second jewel ofthe Triple Crown — is known forits prominent horse breeders andsprawling, bucolic horse farms.The state recently certified 35 of770 licensed stables as Horse Dis-covery Centers, where people of all

ages and experience levels are wel-comed into barns to learn abouthorses in a friendly and knowl-edgeable environment. Thereare three each in Frederick andMontgomery Counties and one inPrince George’s County.From stunning views to fine

dining and family fun, Virginia’swineries offer a range of experi-ences. Loudoun County featuresfour clusters of boutique wineriessprinkled throughout its bucoliccountryside and Fairfax Countyis home to two. Maryland has di-vided the state into seven wineregions, each with trails to fol-low. The Antietam Highlands andFrederick Wine Trails feature fivewineries a piece, Patuxent has nineand Chesapeake has 15.

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Navy-Air Force Half Marathon& Navy 5 MilerSept. 207 a.m. Online registration closes11:59 p.m. Sept. 1315th Street NW, between Con-stitution Avenue Northwest andMadison Drive NorthwestWashington, D.C.Late registration available at theRunner’s Expo & Packet Pick-upas long as space is [email protected]

Capital Home ShowSept. 25–2710 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Satur-day; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. SundayDulles Expo Center4320 Chantilly Shopping CenterChantilly, Va.capitalhomeshow.com

Landmark Music Festivalfor the National MallSept. 26–2711 a.m.–10 p.m.West Potomac ParkWest Basin Drive SouthwestWashington, D.C.landmarkfestival.org

2015Washington DC Tour de CureSept. 26Freedom PlazaPennsylvania Avenue Northwest,between 13th and 14th StreetsWashington, D.C.202-331-8303 ext. 4538bit.ly/1JRibR6

9/11 Unity WalkSept. 2712:30–4 p.mEmbassy RowWashington, D.C.911unitywalk.org

The Color Run 5KSept. 279 a.m.–noon165Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.877-628-5427nationalharbor.com/event/color-run-5k-2

Turkish FestivalSept. 2711 a.m.–7 p.m.Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest,between 12th and 14th StreetsNorthwestWashington, D.C.turkishfestival.org

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