By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles White, Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs
PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Annapolis (SSN 760) Sailors volunteered to work on two major projects for First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale as part of Fleet Week Port Everglades 2011, April 26.
The eight Sailors assisted church staff members with painting a two-story church building and clearing a large parking lot of crumbling concrete parking blocks, the materials of which were then donated to a local Habitat for Humanity project where they will be recycled.
Church Administrator David Kramer noted the difficulty in organizing a large working party of strong people to handle the two projects from within the church body and was appreciative of the Sailors' helpfulness. Adding to that appreciation was his surprise to learn of a very typical Navy skill set.
"It was wonderful to learn that all of the Sailors know how to paint," he said. "If you don't know how to paint, it can get messy."
Electronics Technician 3rd Class Jacob Lalonde of Corpus Christi, Texas, had never before been to Florida but still chose to spend his first day ashore volunteering. He said it was the best way to "experience Florida and touch base with the people who live here, to show them that we actually care."
In addition to volunteering his time at First Presbyterian, Lalonde decided to spend his next two liberty days speaking to patients at a children's hospital and feeding the homeless.
After a few hours of work, Navy volunteers were surprised with a lunch prepared by Executive Chef Kevin Hyotte, judge of Fleet Week Port Everglades' Galley Wars, which is scheduled for April 28. The meal included gourmet submarine sandwiches and muffins.
With more than just a meal though, the charitable dealings of the Navy toward First Presbyterian of Fort Lauderdale have reciprocated through the church's craft ministry, which makes and sends sand scarves to service members in Iraq and Afghanistan, and blankets to wounded warriors in Landstuhl, Germany.
David Kramer said the impact of the Sailors' hard work for the church will be equal to the church's impact on the military.
"These are two very important jobs that will be noticed immediately and appreciated literally by thousands and thousands of people," he said.
As part of Fleet Week Port Everglades 2011, community service events by each of the sea services will be held throughout the week, in South Florida.
More than 2,500 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are in South Florida for the week-long celebration of the sea services that honors the men and women of the military through public events and recognition, and also provides the sea services an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of surface platforms, equipment and the skills of the men and women serving aboard these vessels.
For more information on Fleet Week Port Everglades 2011, visit the Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs Center's Navy NewsStand page at https://navcms.news.navy.mil/local/nrse/.
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