Tag Archives: uss whidbey island

Pope Blesses US Sailors and Marines

Sailors and Marines from the USS Whidbey Island were able to visit Rome in January and received a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI while there.

The group traveled from Naples to Rome to attend Pope Benedict’s weekly Wednesday general audience at Vatican City.

The pope welcomed groups from all over the world and then specifically mentioned the U.S. service members. “I also greet the group of Sailors and Marines from the United States and accord to you and your families God’s abundant blessings.”

Not all of the troops were Catholic, but Read more

The US Military and Christmas Around the World

A few examples of the US military’s commitment to supporting its servicemembers through their religious celebrations:

At Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, a Christmas Eve candlelight service was the “culminating event over the month of celebration.”

US Army Chief of Chaplains MajGen Donald Rutherford presided over a Christmas Eve Catholic Mass at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Norton Schwartz Read more