PAPILLION PLAYERS

The U.S. Navy Band, Horizon, performs at Shadow Lake Towne Center, one of many performances during Omaha Navy Week, in Papillion, Neb., Aug, 27, 2009. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Gary Ward

SAVING LIVES

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks with nearly 300 plant workers after taking a tour of the MC-12 production facility in Greenville, Texas, Aug. 31, 2009. The MC-12 is a medium-altitude manned special-mission turboprop aircraft designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance which will be deployed in theatre in support of coalition and joint ground forces. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen

RAID TRAINING

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Tony J. Desselle leads Marines to a collection area as a MV-22 Osprey takes flight after transporting Marines during a raid course on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 19, 2009. Desselle is a rifleman assigned to Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alex C. Guerra

EVENING OSPREY

A MV-22 Osprey soars into the sky, escorting Marines after successfully completing a company size raid during a raid course on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 19, 2009. The Osprey crew is assigned to Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 162, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and the Marines are assigned to Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alex C. Guerra

MC-12 LIBERTY

A worker briefs Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on the MC-12 Liberty aircraft during a tour of the production facility in Greenville, Texas, Aug. 31, 2009. The MC-12 is a medium-altitude manned special-mission turboprop aircraft designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance which will be deployed in theatre in support of coalition and joint ground forces. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen

HELPING A HERO

Retired U.S. Marine Capt. Dan Moran, his wife Teal, and their two children Trey and Macy, take a photo with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates outside his new home built by Perry Homes and Helping a Hero in Cypress, Texas, Aug. 31, 2009. Helping a Hero is a nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted homes for severely wounded servicemembers injured in theater during the war on terror. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen

KEY CEREMONY

Surrounded by family, and with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to his left, retired Marine Capt. Dan Moran, center, receives the key to his new home in Cypress, Texas, Aug. 31, 2009. Moran's home was built by Helping a Hero, a nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted homes for severely wounded servicemembers injured in theater during the war on terror. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen

VILLAGE VOICES

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class William Lowry sits with a villager during a census patrol to discuss possible reconstruction projects in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 18, 2009. Lowry is assigned to Company D, 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau