Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni commanding officer, Col. Michael A. O’Halloran, flanked by Candice O’Halloran (left), Thift Store manager Gwen Peterson (right), and volunteers, directs a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Thrift Store Saturday. Renovations and an expansion of the store began approximately two months ago and culminated in a grand opening ceremony over the weekend. - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni commanding officer, Col. Michael A. O’Halloran, flanked by Candice O’Halloran (left), Thift Store manager Gwen Peterson (right), and volunteers, directs a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Thrift Store Saturday. Renovations and an expansion of the store began approximately two months ago and culminated in a grand opening ceremony over the weekend.

A woman performs nihon buyou, a form of traditional Japanese dancing, before an audience assembled at Kikko Park in Iwakuni city during the Kintaikyo Momiji (Kintai Bridge Maple Leaf Festival) Sunday. Various forms of Japanese traditional music and dance forms were showcased throughout the park during the festival. - A woman performs nihon buyou, a form of traditional Japanese dancing, before an audience assembled at Kikko Park in Iwakuni city during the Kintaikyo Momiji (Kintai Bridge Maple Leaf Festival) Sunday. Various forms of Japanese traditional music and dance forms were showcased throughout the park during the festival.

A Marine dressed in a Marine Corps uniform from a past era marches during the pageant at the Marine Aircraft Group 12 2009 Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the IronWorks Gym here Nov. 12. Marines joined together to celebrate 234 years of tradition. - A Marine dressed in a Marine Corps uniform from a past era marches during the pageant at the Marine Aircraft Group 12 2009 Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the IronWorks Gym here Nov. 12. Marines joined together to celebrate 234 years of tradition.

Melanie Bengtson, the class instructor, attaches the sleeves to a wool sweater during a weekly Learn to Knit and Crochet class at the station library here Nov. 10. Bengtson learned to sew from her mother as a child and learned to knit while in 4H. - Melanie Bengtson, the class instructor, attaches the sleeves to a wool sweater during a weekly Learn to Knit and Crochet class at the station library here Nov. 10. Bengtson learned to sew from her mother as a child and learned to knit while in 4H.

A cheer squad shows their stuff during the Top Gun competition at the Far East Cheerleading Clinic held at the Matthew C. Perry High School gymnasium here Nov. 9-13. Top Gun is a competition in which cheerleaders compete individually in four categories: tumbling, stunting, dance and jumps. - A cheer squad shows their stuff during the Top Gun competition at the Far East Cheerleading Clinic held at the Matthew C. Perry High School gymnasium here Nov. 9-13. Top Gun is a competition in which cheerleaders compete individually in four categories: tumbling, stunting, dance and jumps.

The IronWorks Gym indoor pool reopened Nov. 4 after four months of renovations. The project cost $1,176,720.70 and was funded by Headquarters Marine Corps. - The IronWorks Gym indoor pool reopened Nov. 4 after four months of renovations. The project cost $1,176,720.70 and was funded by Headquarters Marine Corps.