Sailors Participate in Masonville Cove Cleanup

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Maria Alvarez | 161013-N-BY095-233 BALTIMORE Md. (Oct. 13, 2016) Rear Adm. Charles W. Rock, Naval District Washington Commandant, participates in the Masonville Cove Shoreline Cleanup for Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore. This event provides the people and media of the greater Maryland/Baltimore area an opportunity to interact with Sailors and Marines, as well as see, firsthand, the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Maria I. Alvarez/Released)  

BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES

10.13.2016

Story by Seaman Maria Alvarez 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Reserve)

BALTIMORE– American and Canadian Sailors joined with local Benjamin Franklin High School students to participate in Masonville Cove Shoreline Cleanup, Oct. 13.
The Sailors were attached to the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and the Canadian guided-missile destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (DDG 282).
The team of more than 45 volunteers was divided into groups to cover a portion of the Masonville Cove shoreline.
“ 70 years ago the communities came down here and used the shoreline for recreation and then it became a dumping spot for debris but now it is our turn to help clean Masonville Cove,” said Lorraine Warnick, Director of Environmental Programs for Living Classrooms Foundation. “The Sailors and students are here today to volunteer and help clean the environment we live in to better the community.”
Throughout the morning, volunteers picked up aluminum cans, plastic bottles and any other debris they came across while walking along the shoreline. For one volunteer the purpose of the cleanup was to give back to the community.
“ I am here to do what it takes to better the environment and my community,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Alexis Suarez, a Leyte Gulf Sailor. “ This world we live in is such a beautiful place and it is our responsibility to take care of it.”
Rear Adm. Charles W. Rock, Naval District Washington Commandant also participated in the cleanup.
“I think its really important, as citizens of this country, to give back to our communities and events like this allow opportunities for our Navy to partner with the community to give back,” said Rock. “It also allows people to meet Sailors in the Navy face-to-face and to learn more about one another and in doing so better the community.”
According to Olivia Hunter, Naval District Washington Regional Community Service Program Manager, Rock was the first commandant, during her time in the position, to get his hands dirty while participating in a community-relations event.
“The successful cleanup was a direct result of the volunteers’ hard work and dedication,” said Warnick. “The Sailors and students collected 662 pounds of trash.”
Warnick and Hunter thanked the volunteers for their service and presented them with certificates.
“ I think it’s important for communities to get together and do good for one another,” said Rock. “ If we all did a little bit we could make a huge difference for each other.”

• Date Taken: 10.13.2016
• Date Posted: 10.13.2016 18:56
• Story ID: 211958
• Location: BALTIMORE, MD, US