Commander says naval base security requires balance

Maintaining security while allowing business as usual on a military installation requires walking a fine line, the Midwest's Navy commander said after a Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday.

Rear Admiral Anthony Gaiani briefly addressed security at Great Lakes Naval Station near North Chicago in the wake of a shooting that claimed the lives of 13 men and women last week on an Army post in Fort Hood, Texas. Gaiani was taking part in a Veterans Day ceremony at the College of Lake County in Grayslake.

Gaiani is stationed at Great Lakes, which is the Navy's only boot camp and has many technical schools. An estimated 40,000 recruits are expected to graduate to become sailors this year.

"I will say security is always a balance between trying to find the right level of security and keeping our bases secure and still being able to operate a base," said Gaiani, commander of the 16-state Navy Region Midwest. "And that is always under review, and it is now."

Tuesday's Veterans Day ceremony included a keynote address by Gaiani, patriotic music from the Great Lakes Navy Band, a 21-gun salute and placement of a memorial wreath.

Gaiani said military families also deserve recognition on Veterans Day. He said he's been impressed how wives of Great Lakes sailors have kept families together while their husbands are mostly away in war.

"In many ways, our families are veterans, too," Gaiani told the crowd of about 200 in a CLC auditorium.

Another speaker was Mitch Bienvenue, who served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1983 to 1987 and attained the rank of sergeant. He said he made an unsuccessful attempt to return to the Army Reserve as an officer.

"I believe military folks are some of the highest caliber people around," Bienvenue said.

Gaiani said Veterans Day should be a time to celebrate and honor those who served the United States in war and peace.