Navy and Sea Cadets Team up to Clean Up Local State Park

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Maebel Tinoko , Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

June 21, 2010 - PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. (NNS) -- A Sailor from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Sea Cadets from Seattle's Blue Angels Squadron volunteered their time to help preserve naval history at the Fort Worden State Park, in Port Townsend, Wash., June 20.

"Today we have Sea Cadets working to clear some of the debris from the gutters around the old military bunkers to alleviate some of the erosion and preserve this place as a site for historical reference," said Lt. j.g. Robert Jablonski, commanding officer, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corps Blue Angels Squadron. "We want to show the Sea Cadets the importance of Navy history, and we want to embed the core values of honor, courage and commitment. "

"We need to demonstrate what the Sailors of the past have accomplished and what they will need to accomplish to continue to carry on the Navy traditions," Jablonski said.

Volunteers helped clear overgrown plants around the old bunkers, clear water drains, and rebuild original walkways to help preserve the original look of the park.

For one former Sea Cadet, Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Kelsey Nicholls, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, coming back home and giving back to her former unit was important to her.

"I am here to help out with this community service project and give back to the Sea Cadets because that is where I started before I joined the Navy," said Nicholls. "It's important to preserve naval history because heritage gives us a sense of where we came from."

According to www.historylink.org, during World War II Fort Worden was the headquarters of the Harbor Defense Command and was jointly operated by the Army and the Navy. The fort was home to the 14th Coast Artillery Regiment of the U.S. Army, the 248th Regiment of the Washington National Guard, the 2nd Amphibious Engineers, and Navy personnel. The Army operated radar sites and coordinated Canadian and U.S. defensive activities in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. The Navy was responsible for the detection and identification of all vessels entering and leaving Puget Sound, monitored new underwater sonar and sensing devices.

"It is great being able to give back to the community and connect to Navy history to keep our history alive," said Sea Cadet Charles Motzer. "We learn what other service members have done before us and history sets a foundation of our future."