By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Huey D. Younger
Jr., USS America (LHA 6) Public Affairs
CALLAO, Peru (NNS) -- More than 30 Sailors and Marines
assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) joined Peruvian
sailors in a joint community relations (COMREL) project Sept. 1 at Immaculate
Conception School, a municipal preschool, in Callao, Peru, during a scheduled
three-day port visit.
The school, attended by more than 180 students from age two
to five years, prepares young children for primary education.
The ship's chaplain's office contacted the U.S. Embassy in
Peru to find volunteer opportunities during the port visit. The embassy then
reached out to the Peruvian Navy who helped coordinate the event held at
Immaculate Conception School.
America Sailors and Marines spent the day painting two
classrooms a bathroom and the courtyard. They also laid down new sod, so the
children would have a grassy area to play. The Peruvian Navy provided medical
services and haircuts for the children, and the Peruvian Navy band played
throughout the COMREL project for entertainment.
Lt. Patrick McPartland, Navy chaplain aboard America, said
the service members choosing to use their liberty time to help others spoke
volumes about their character.
"They could've done anything. They could've slept in
their 'rack', gone out in town or shopped, but they chose to use their time to
help other people instead of using it as a free day," McPartland said.
Although the volunteer services most visibly impacted the
local community, it also left a lasting impression on the service members who
participated.
"I think just to smile and spend a little bit of time
with them and make their school look a little bit prettier will be a big deal
to them," said Quartermaster 3rd Class Maria Smith. "Just to make
somebody feel better and the fact that they are kids means even more to me."
After the painting was finished, the Sailors and Marines put
a personal touch on their project by decorating a section of the wall in the
courtyard with painted hand prints.
"We are able to come together and do something nice for
everybody," said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 2nd Class Alicia Maldonado.
"It's not just for the America, but for us as people in general."
Throughout the "America Visits the Americas"
transit the crew also volunteered at various COMREL projects in Colombia,
Brazil and Chile.
"COMRELs are something that they'll remember from the
countries," said McPartland. "It might be the highlight of their time
in that country; this is interacting directly with the people and making a
positive impact and leaving our mark around the world."
America is currently traveling through the U.S. Southern
Command and U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility on her maiden transit,
"America visits the Americas." America is the first ship of its
class, replacing the Tarawa-class of amphibious assault ships. As the next
generation "big-deck" amphibious assault ship, America is optimized
for aviation, capable of supporting current and future aircraft such as the
MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The ship is scheduled to be
ceremoniously commissioned Oct. 11 in San Francisco.
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