Navy Departs the City of Roses

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Lockwood, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest Public Affairs

PORTLAND, Ore. (NNS) -- Fleet Week came to an end as the three visiting Navy ships departed the Tom McCall Waterfront Park sea wall in Portland, Ore. and began transiting the Willamette River, June 13.

The guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and guided-missile frigates USS McClusky (FFG 41) and USS Ingraham (FFG 61) were in Portland along with vessels from the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and the Royal Canadian Navy, in celebration of the 104th Annual Portland Rose Festival.

"It's a nice opportunity that the Sailors can come here and have some fun," said Gladys Stanton, Rose Festival Softball Tournament volunteer.

Stanton also said just being part of something that provides a little payback to the Sailors is her favorite part of the festival.

More than 5,000 visitors toured the Navy ships, allowing the public to interact with and see the character of the Sailors and the capability and quality of the ships. Festivities for Sailors during Fleet Week included several officially-hosted parties, a waterfront carnival, sports tournaments and the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade.

"It's been outstanding, the support of the public and outpouring of friendliness has been overwhelming," said Cmdr. Ron Candiloro, executive officer of Navy Recruiting District Portland. "Portland Navy Week is the chance the Navy gets to show off and the community really responds to it."

"I think the Navy being able to come out here is good for the community," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Erik Wilkins, assigned to USS Lake Champlain (CG 57). "It also gives the Navy a chance to see how much the community does for us."

The arrival of the USS Charleston in 1907 marked the first visit From a Navy vessel.

Sailors Bring Rose Festival to Hospitalized Children

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Lockwood Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

PORTLAND, Ore. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to guided-missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) visited Shriners' Hospital for Children in Portland, Ore., June 10, continuing a tradition that Sailors have carried out each year during the Portland Rose Festival.



Service members visited the hospital to bring a part of Rose Festival to the children who can't leave to attend the festival.

Susan Gallegos, child life specialist at Shriners, said it was important to visit children at the hospital to let them know the Navy cares about them.



"Oh, they love it. We all do, it's not just the patients, it's the staff too," said Gallegos. "It really does make it nice, knowing that [the Sailors] come in every time and take their time off the ship and spend it with the kids."



Sailors were divided into groups and moved through the hospital to hand out ball caps from various commands. They were also able to talk to children and posed with them for souvenir pictures and even watched a magic show put on by one of the patients.



"They are great; they are cheering up," said Ens. Jorge Fuentes, Ingraham's fire control officer. "Their parents are telling us it's the happiest they have ever been in the hospital."



The hospital provides specialized care for children under the age of 18 and is funded by the Shriners Hospital for Children Endowment Fund, which is maintained through gifts, bequests and contributions.



"I'm grateful that we can cheer them up even in their pain," Fuentes said.

Ingraham Sailors also visited the Veterans Administration Hospital and Sailors from the Canadian navy visited Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

 For more news from Navy Region Northwest, visit navy.mil/local/cnrnw/.

Navy Ships Arrive in Portland for 104th Annual Rose Festival

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Lockwood, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Northwest

PORTLAND, Ore. (NNS) -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), and Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates USS Ingraham (FFG 61) and USS McClusky (FFG 41) arrived in Portland, Ore. to celebrate the 104th annual Rose Festival, June 9.

Throughout the week, Sailors will have an opportunity to enjoy premier events of the festival including the Rose Festival Golf Tournament and Rose Parade, live music, food, entertainment and various sports competitions among ships.

"I'm excited to be here 'cause the people here are nice and really like the military," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Steven Santillanes, stationed aboard USS Lake Champlain. "It's a positive event because people get to experience the Navy up close and personal."

The Portland visit offers the public an opportunity to tour the ships and meet Sailors as they showcase their ship's capabilities.

"It is very different to see something that you don't see a lot of from where I'm from," said Mark Gilchrist, of Longview, Wash. who embarked aboard Lake Champlain on the ship's transit into Portland. "I think it puts a real personal touch on the Navy. I got to talk to the crew members, and I brought some young ones that had a chance to see what it was like and if the Navy was something they would be interested in."

In addition to the three U.S. Navy ships, ships from U.S. Coast Guard, the Canadian Maritime Forces and the Army Corps of Engineers are also participating in Fleet Week.

Navy warships have been coming to the City of Roses since USS Charleston's visit in 1907 and are considered a highlight of the festival.