Navy

The U.S. Navy Country Current will perform in concert Monday at 6 p.m. at the Hagerstown Community College Alumni Amphitheater. Country Current is a seven-member country-bluegrass group under the direction of guitarist and vocalist Master Chief Musician Wayne C. Taylor. Touring the country each year in support of Navy recruiting, they have performed with Brooks and Dunn, Charlie Daniels, Toby Keith and Kathy Mattea. They also have appeared at the Grand Ole Opry, the Wheeling Jamboree and the Academy of Country Music Awards show.

Bartlett to address Navy intelligence graduates WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, R-Md., is scheduled to give the keynote address to graduates of the Naval School of Intelligence in Dam Neck, Va., today. Bartlett is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and its Subcommittee on Military Personnel. "Our national security needs have dramatically changed, but are perhaps more, not less, challenging in the post-Cold War world," Bartlett said in a news release.

WILLIAMSPORT - Williamsport High School graduate Patrick White will perform when the U.S. Navy's Country Currents Band performs Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in the band shell at Byron Memorial Park. White, who joined the Country Currents Band in January 1995, plays fiddle and mandolin and is a vocalist. A native of Williamsport, White toured the United States with the Hazel River Band. In addition, he is the chief in charge of the Music in the Schools trio. White is a 1989 graduate of Williamsport High School.

After more than 30 years in the U.S. Navy, Master Chief Doug DeVault retired in ceremonies at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. A 1974 graduate of Williamsport High School, DeVault is the son of Nancy DeVault and the late Ray "Bill" DeVault. He enlisted in 1975. A veteran of several deployments while on active duty and in the Naval Reserves, DeVault continued his education and earned his bachelor's degree in management information systems from Park University. DeVault served as a senior enlisted leader for the chief of Naval personnel from 2001 until his retirement in August 2006.

SMITHSBURG - For at least 20 years, Washington County has not had anyone carrying the title of Miss Washington County Fire Prevention. But this year, Jennifer Barciz has been tapped for the position and will compete this summer in Ocean City, Md., with her counterparts from other Maryland fire companies. A member of Smithsburg Emergency Medical Services, Barciz said she got interested while attending a Maryland State Firemen's Association convention in Ocean City. "I saw these young women in sashes getting awards," Barciz said, prompting her to look into what it was all about.

Rock to the beat of the Cruisers The U.S. Navy's rock band, the Cruisers, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at City Park band shell in Hagerstown. The concert is free. The Cruisers feature five of the Navy's most dynamic performers. Under the direction of vocalist, chief musician John L. Fisher, the Cruisers rock ensemble is the newest specialty unit of the U.S. Navy Band. The group takes its name from the Navy's multi-missioned ship, the cruiser. The ensemble will play classic rock, rhythm and blues, and today's top 40 hits.

Navy Seaman James M. Ridgely, son of Pamela K. and Orville L. Ridgely of Funkstown, is halfway through a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, homeported in Norfolk, Va. Ridgely is a 2001 graduate of South Hagerstown High School and joined the Navy in September 2001.

Even though the Navy didn't play a role at Antietam, re-enactors portrayed members of the James River Squadron, a Confederate Naval Artillery unit. Lloyd and Leni Glassbrook of Byron, Calif., wore the blue uniforms of the squadron with which they have been involved for the last seven years. The couple hadn't yet developed an interest in Civil War history when they lived in Hagerstown 12 years ago, they said. Lloyd Glassbrook, 53, who works for the U.S. Department of Energy, was lucky to be in town on business this weekend.

The recognition was 60 years in coming, but the Marine receiving it was no less proud. Still trim and fit in the U.S. Marine Corpsuniform he had custom-made in Okinawa in 1966 on his way to Vietnam, retired Capt. Robert “Bob” Glausier, 80, proudly wears the Gold Star he finally received for combat action in the Korean War. It is the second combat action award he has received. Still, Glausier is hesitant to make much of his latest recognition. “Bob is awfully modest.

A Sharpsburg man planting trees at his Powell Road home Thursday unearthed a live Civil War-era shell that authorities later disposed of by setting it off at a neighboring farm. “When I saw it I knew what it was,” J.D. Taylor Jr. said. “It was the second one I found here. “It was some kind of experience.” Taylor said he at first thought he hit a rock with his steel shovel while digging in his yard about a mile from Antietam National Battlefield sometime between 8:30 to 9 a.m. He pushed the shovel under the object, which was five or six inches deep, and knelt to pry it out. The Maryland State Fire Marshal's office said in a news release that the object was a 3-inch Federal Navy Schenkl that had not been fired and had an intact fusing mechanism.

Jean William Showe, 96, born July 2, 1916, in Hagerstown, Md., passed away peacefully Thursday, March 7, 2013, in Severna Park, Md. A longtime resident of Pines-on-the-Severn in Arnold, Md., he was preceded in death by his wife of more than 60 years, Esther Showe. He was the beloved father of Linda (Mike) Baker of Bowie, Md., and beloved grandfather of Craig Baker of Galion, Ohio, and Courtney (Stephen) Kenney of Chicago, Ill. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

When George Bernardino needed something in the U.S. Navy clinics he ran over the years, all he had to do was sign a requisition. Bernardino is not in the Navy anymore. Two weeks ago, chosen from a slate of 56 applicants, he took over as public health administrator for the Jefferson County Health Department. Now when he wants something that exceeds his budget, he'll fill out grant applications. “Finding the funds to improve things will be my biggest challenge,” he said. Bernardino, 39, retired in August, ending a 20-year Navy hitch, almost all as a hospital corpsman.

Mackenzie Riford, a native  of Hagerstown and a member of the U.S. Military Academy's marathon team, will be part of the team that runs the ceremonial game ball from West Point to Philadelphia for the 113th Army-Navy football classic scheduled for Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. The 19-member cadet team will accept the game ball at approximately 7 p.m. Thursday during the bonfire activities. The team will depart West Point, passing through several towns and cities during the two-day run to deliver the game ball for opening ceremonies at 2 p.m. This year marks the 84th time the Cadets and Midshipmen have met in Philadelphia for this longstanding rivalry.

A retirement celebration for retired Chief Warrant Officer Richard F. Jordan of Hagerstown was held Aug. 26 at American Legion Post 183 on Putty Hill Road in Parkville, Md. Jordan was recognized for more than 70 years of service to the state and nation. His military career began when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April 1942. He served on cruisers, destroyers and at various Naval bases in Navy communications during World War II and the Korean War. In March 1951, he entered the Maryland Army National Guard, serving in many leadership positions.

The Hagerstown Community College Alumni Association will host the U.S. Navy Commodores as part of its annual Red, White and Blue Summer Concert Series on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 4:30 p.m., at HCC's Alumni Amphitheater. The band features 18 of the Navy's premier jazz and big band musicians playing under the direction of Senior Chief Musician Philip M. Burlin. Since the band's founding in 1969, the Commodores have played with a variety of well-known jazz musicians, including Ray Charles, Louie Bellson, Terry Gibbs, Bruce Johnstone, Bob Mintzer, James Moody, Clark Terry and Eugene "Snooky" Young.

The recognition was 60 years in coming, but the Marine receiving it was no less proud. Still trim and fit in the U.S. Marine Corpsuniform he had custom-made in Okinawa in 1966 on his way to Vietnam, retired Capt. Robert “Bob” Glausier, 80, proudly wears the Gold Star he finally received for combat action in the Korean War. It is the second combat action award he has received. Still, Glausier is hesitant to make much of his latest recognition. “Bob is awfully modest.

Retired Commander USN, Jay H. Wilkinson, 70, of 6 Grouse Wing Court, Biltmore Lake, N.C., entered into rest at 12:02 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, at the John F. Keever Jr. Solace Center in Asheville, N.C., following a short illness. He was born Nov. 23, 1941, in Waynesboro, Pa. He was the son of the late John S. Wilkinson, who was raised in Fayetteville, Pa., and Elinor (Perreida) Wilkinson, who was raised in Hawaii. He lived his early life in Waynesboro. Mr. Wilkinson graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 1959 and received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1963.

Hagerstown Community College announced that the final concert of the Red, White and Blue Summer Concert Series has been canceled.  The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters, originally scheduled to perform on Sept. 22, have canceled the concert due to a conflicting engagement at the White House.

Decades from now when Jeremy Harbaugh reflects on his life journey, he will probably remember one day in particular that set him on the right path. It was the day he decided to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Harbaugh was a sophomore at Smithsburg High School when he developed an interest in becoming a midshipman, he said. His parents, Steve and Carmen Harbaugh, had visited the military college as chaperones on a field trip with his younger brother and sister. "They returned home excited and told me I needed to take a trip to Annapolis," he said.