Four nations, two events, one city brought together

Photo By Sgt. Lucas Hopkins | Navy Lt. Marufudeen Oladipupo, an assistant supply officer with the USS Leyte Gulf, and a New York City native, packs trash on top of a dumpster in an alleyway behind the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore on Sept. 12, 2014. More than 60 U.S. Marines and sailors from the United States, Canada, Germany, and Turkey were called upon to help restore the ship. The Marines, from various units, including II Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, and 2nd Marine Logistics Group based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 from Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., arrived in Baltimore aboard the USS Oak Hill Sept. 10 to participate in the “Star-Spangled Spectacular” honoring the 200-year anniversary of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”  

BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES

09.12.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Lucas Hopkins 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

BALTIMORE – More than 60 Marines from various units, including 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division and 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and U.S., German, Canadian and Turkish sailors, participated in community relations events on Sept. 11 and 12, 2014.

The service members helped restore the USS Constellation on the 11th, then helped clean two alleyways behind the Great Blacks in Wax Museum the following day.

The Marines and sailors arrived in Baltimore on Sept. 10 the “Star-Spangled Spectacular” in honor of the 200-year anniversary of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

For Baltimore, two tourist attractions are now better equipped to handle the expected 1.6-million visitors for Star Spangled Spectacular. For the Marines and sailors, it was a chance to serve with each other while giving back to the community.

“It was a great opportunity for the Marines and sailors to work alongside other nations,” said Navy Lt. Laura Palmer, the chaplain for 1st Bn., 10 Marines. “We’re here to serve together.”

Most of the U.S. service members had their first encounter with military personnel from foreign countries.

Cpl. Patrick Zediker, an armory chief for Headquarters Battery, 1st Bn., 10th Marines. was one of more than 80 service members who gathered trash from the two alleyways behind the museum. He said despite coming from separate nations, the Marines and sailors found a sense of unity working together.

“It’s different. There’s a lot of camaraderie there,” said Zediker. “We’re all working to make this place beautiful.”

As the piles of garbage grew larger, locals started taking notice, observing the men and women in uniform spruce the area.

“If you look around these areas, there are a lot of people who can’t physically help for one reason or another, being out here doing something for those who can’t is wonderful,” said Zediker.

The Americans, Germans and Turks also helped loading timber onto the USS Constellation, which is scheduled to be remodeled in six weeks. The Ship was constructed in 1854, and was once a first-class ship in the Navy’s fleet. Now, the Constellation docks at the inner harbor in downtown Baltimore, serving as a tourist attraction.

“It’s great having service members on board, helping to preserve the history they are now a part of,” said Dan Sutton, the chief of Ships, Facilities and Collections Care.

Taking a step back from their work, the Marines recognized the common interest between the separate countries.

“It’s no one country’s responsibility; it’s no sole person’s responsibility. It’s us as human beings who are responsible for taking care of each other, and hopefully that’s the image being portrayed here,” said Zediker.

The Marines and U.S. sailors are scheduled to revamp a skateboarding park in Baltimore on Sept. 15.

• Date Taken: 09.12.2014
• Date Posted: 09.12.2014 20:32
• Story ID: 142043
• Location: BALTIMORE, MD, US