Americans, Italians unite to fight against cancer

Cancer survivors walk during the Survivor’s Lap of Aviano’s third annual Relay for Life event April 27 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. More than 2,600 volunteers gathered at the event, all working toward a common goal: fighting against cancer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez)

Americans, Italians unite to fight against cancer

Staff Sgt. Jamie Wright supports her friend currently battling cancer, Bruna Zondona, during Aviano’s third annual Relay for Life event April 27 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Zondona is an Italian citizen from Aviano and has worked at the 31st Security Forces Squadron military working dog kennels for the past 25 years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez)

A simple request

Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Craver, 31st Fighter Wing command chief, jokes around with his daughter on the porch of his house. For 18 years, his daughter has associated the military uniform with that of safety, security, dignity, trust and respect. However, with more than 700 sexual assaults reported across the Air Force in 2012, the uniform can be a fearful reminder that their brothers or sisters in arms assaulted them. (Courtesy Photo)

Get prepared, drive safe

Motorists are encouraged to begin preparing their vehicles for the upcoming winter months to help offset the aggravations and minimize the risks associated with driving in the winter. In Italy, motorists are required to have snow tires or snow chains on board all vehicles effective Nov. 15 through March 31, 2013 when driving on most of the autostradas.

Historic tale of two cities

Officially named the Church of Our Lady, most now know this historical landmark as the Matthias Church, named after the 15th century renaissance king. (courtesy photo)

U.S., Bulgarian Airmen repair parks, build bridges during Thracian Star 2012

U.S. Air Force members rake and clean debris from a soccer field April 22, 2012, in Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria. More than 150 U.S. and Bulgarian air force members volunteered their off-duty time to refurbish playground equipment and build a soccer field at a village playground. Volunteers cleaned and painted playground equipment and raked, supplied new goals, cleaned and laid grass seed down in a field. U.S. Air Force members are deployed from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base in support of Thracian Star 2012, a bilateral coalition training exercise geared towards strengthening partnerships and improving interoperability between NATO allies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katherine Windish)

U.S., Bulgarian Airmen renovate hospital during Thracian Star 2012

Airmen 1st Class Ron Arcino and Demario Reid, (front), paint a door frame in St. George's University pediatric surgery ward April 21, 2012, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. More than 60 U.S. and Bulgarian air force members volunteered to renovate the children's ward during their off-duty time from the Thracian Star 2012 exercise being conducted at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base. The volunteers cleaned, painted and decorated 11 post-operation rooms in the wing. Both Arcino, an ammo technician with the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Reid, a support equipment maintenance crew chief for the 31st Munitions Squadron, are based out of Aviano Air Base, Italy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katherine Windish)

U.S., Bulgarian Airmen renovate hospital during Thracian Star 2012

Staff Sgt. John Tapper, (front), 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintainer from Aviano Air Base, Italy, paints a door in the St. George's University pediatric surgery ward April 21, 2012, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. More than 60 U.S. and Bulgarian air force members volunteered to renovate the children's ward during their off-duty time from the Thracian Star 2012 exercise being conducted at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base. The volunteers spent two days cleaning, painting and decorating 11 rooms in the ward. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katherine Windish)

U.S., Bulgarian Airmen renovate hospital during Thracian Star 2012

Bulgarian air force Sgt. Dean Genov paints a door in St. George's University pediatric surgery department April 21, 2012, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The hospital has one of only two pediatric surgery departments in the country. U.S. Air Force members deployed from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base, Bulgaria for the month-long Thracian Star 2012 exercise, spent their off-duty time working alongside Bulgarian air force members to clean, paint and decorate post-operation rooms in the children's wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katherine Windish)

U.S., Bulgarian Airmen renovate hospital during Thracian Star 2012

Doctor Margarita Stefanova, St. George's University chief pediatric surgeon, introduces volunteers to one of the pediatric department patients in appreciation for renovating part of the hospital's pediatric wing April 22, 2012, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. U.S. Air Force members are deployed from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base in support of Thracian Star 2012, a bilateral coalition training exercise geared towards strengthening partnerships and improving interoperability between NATO allies. More than 60 U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force members spent two days cleaning, painting and decorating 11 post-operation rooms in the pediatric surgery ward. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katherine Windish)

On the graze

A local sheepherder carries a lamb back to the flock as his sheep dogs follow him March 22, 2012 in a field outside of Aviano Air Base. Sheepherders move from town to town every 2-4 days and in the summer they move the flock into the mountains to graze. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver)

Rock on

Shaun Morgan, lead singer for the band Seether, performs for more than 870 Aviano Team members March 23, 2012, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The hard-rock band visited Aviano as part of a USO tour through Italy and Turkey (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver)

Rock on

Fans cheer for the band Seether during a performance March 23, 2012, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The three-person rock band from South Africa visited Aviano during their USO tour through Italy and Turkey. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver)

Rock on

Shaun Morgan, lead singer for the band Seether, plays for more than 870 people March 23, 2012 at Aviano Air Base, Italy, The three-person rock band from South Africa visited Aviano during their USO tour through Italy and Turkey. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver)

A look back in time

From left, the Prefect of Pordenone, Dr. Pierfrancesco Galante and Col. Luca Cappelli, commander of the “Pagliano e Gori” airport, look at a series of photos portraying the Aviano airport throughout the past 100 years. The photo exhibition is open through Oct. 23 and is located at Palazzo Gregoris in Pordenone, Italy. (Courtesy photo)

What a hit

Members of the band “Direct Hit," perform for Aviano community members Sept. 15 in the Aviano town square. Direct Hit is one of USAFE's popular music ensembles and delivers high energy performances representing the professionalism of the men and women of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver)

What a hit

Staff Sgt. Rachel Trimble, lead vocalist for the band "Direct Hit," sings during a performance Sept. 15 in the Aviano town square. Direct Hit is one of the United States Air Forces in Europe Band's popular music ensembles and delivers high energy performances representing the professionalism of the men and women of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver)

What a hit

The band "Direct Hit," one of the United States Air Forces in Europe Band's popular music ensembles performs in the Aviano town square Sept. 15. Playing hits from the 60's and beyond, Direct Hit features a dynamic horn section, talented vocalists and a hard hitting rhythm section. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver)

USO hosts Sesame Street event for Aviano families

The United Services Organization recently hosted a Sesame Street Muppets event at the Aviano School. The Muppets put on a show geared towards helping children cope with the challenges of a parent's deployment. The tour has performed more than 372 times on 96 military bases around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Armstrong)

Parent Co-op gives parents a break

Quinn Losse, son of Latisha Losse, plays at the Parent Co-op, making Father’s Day cards with the other children June 16. The Parent Co-op is an unfunded volunteer-run child development center that offers child care in exchange for volunteering at the center. A parent can choose any day of the week to volunteer and earn up to four days of free child care for that same week, depending upon the number of children they have. The program runs 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katherine Windish)

ACT nabs honors in European military's Oscars equivalent

Members with the Aviano Community Theater pose for a photo during the annual TOPPERS awards show April 30 at Heidelberg, Germany. The TOPPERS is the European military's equivalent to the Academy Awards. (Courtesy photo)

AADD saves lives

Air Force illustration by Staff Sgt. Nadine Barclay

31st FW gets scary, futuristic, freaky

Dressed as a ringmaster, Airman 1st Class LaVel Sterling, 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs photographer, welcomes visitors to the "Public Affairs Freak Show" during the annual Trunk-or-Treat on Capt. Gori Road Oct. 30. The 31st FW/PA Freak Show received first place for the best trunk contest. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes)

31st FW gets scary, futuristic, freaky

Staff Sgt. Christopher Gapetz (left), 31st Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management craftsman, and Staff Sgt. Kerstin Pieren, 31st CES structural journeyman, play Back to the Future's "Doc Brown" and "Marty McFly," respectively, during the annual Trunk-or-Treat Oct. 30 on Capt. Gori Road. The 31st CES Emergency Management received second place for the best trunk contest. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes)