Farragut Sailors Visit Tallinn, Estonia

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class A.J. Jones, USS Farragut Public Affairs

TALLINN, Estonia (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) departed Tallinn, Estonia, following a three-day port visit, Aug. 11.

During the visit, Sailors participated in community engagement projects and experienced Estonia's rich culture.

"We were excited about Farragut's visit," said Michelle Schohn, public affairs officer for the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn. "It shows a tangible demonstration of the United States' commitment to Estonia, which is vitally important to the Estonian people."

Sailors from Farragut visited the Tondi School for Special Needs Children to interact with the students and staff, as well as restore an iron fence that surrounds the property.

"It felt really good to come out and support these kids," said Seaman Nicholas Tonello. "Visiting Tallinn was fantastic, but to be able to interact with the Estonian people on such a personal level was a real treat."

Sailors also provided shipboard tours for an Estonian youth baseball team sponsored by the U.S. Embassy to Estonia, as well as Estonian and Russian schoolchildren. The tours gave the children a chance to explore the ship with Farragut Sailors while learning about the Sailors' jobs and the U.S. Navy.

Farragut also hosted a shipboard reception during the visit for distinguished guests and foreign dignitaries, including the prime minister of Estonia, defense minister of Estonia and the U.S. charg� d'affairs to Estonia, as well as other military and civilian officials representing their countries.

"The interaction that our armed forces have had with the Estonian army and navy has been extraordinary over the past twenty years," said Cmdr. Glen Quast, commanding officer of Farragut. "The relationship that has developed over this long period has made our visit special, and I look forward to operating with the Estonian navy in the future."

Farragut is on a scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.