Pacific briefs: USO, Skype to provide Thanksgiving calls home

United Service Organizations and Skype will connect over the Thanksgiving holiday to offer overseas servicemembers video-telephone calls to families back home.

Times and dates for the Military Connection calls vary depending on location.

USO locations participating include Camp Humphreys, South Korea; Yokosuka and Sasebo naval bases in Japan; Kadena Air Base and camps Hansen and Schwab on Okinawa; Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii; and Guam.

For details, visit www.skype.com/go/uso.

Military’s top officer honors DODEA teachers

Three Department of Defense Education Activity teachers from the Pacific were recognized by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, at a Pentagon ceremony Wednesday.

The annual Teacher of the Year program highlights the roles DODEA teachers play in students’ lives and the contributions they make to the quality of life for military families, DODEA officials said.

District Teachers of the Year from the Asia-Pacific region were Seth Renquist from Kadena Elementary School, Okinawa; Cover Stephenson of Osan American Elementary School, South Korea; and Juana Aguon from Guam High School.

Swine flu vaccine to be distributed on Okinawa

The U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa and Kadena’s 18th Medical Group will hold a walk-in H1N1 flu vaccination clinic at Keystone Theater on Kadena Air Base on Monday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The immunization is currently available for the following groups only: pregnant women, children ages 6 months to 35 months, and children 3 to 5 years of age with underlying medical conditions as identified by a health care provider.

The vaccine it will be distributed to other groups as additional doses become available. Upcoming vaccination clinics will be announced on AFN and in base newspapers.

Yokosuka cultural exchange center opens

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Capt. Daniel Weed and Yokosuka City Mayor Yuto Yoshida opened the doors Wednesday to a new cultural exchange center on base.

The center is designed to help Japanese and Americans learn more about each other through special programs and classes, officials said. It’s on the first floor of Club Alliance and is open to the public 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Sailors to eat for free on Thanksgiving

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Yokosuka’s USO and Clear Vision organization will host a free Thanksgiving meal for single and unaccompanied sailors at Sharkey’s in Club Alliance at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The event will feature a talent show and prizes.

For more information, call DSN 243-7647.

Base to host Native American ceremony

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The base will host a ceremony commemorating Native American Heritage Month at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Officers’ Club. The event will feature two guest speakers. Uniforms are required for servicemembers.

For more information, call DSN 243-9085.