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    Marines and sailors make connection with Italian students

    Marines and sailors make connection with Italian students

    Photo By Capt. Eric Abrams | Lt. Arthur Briggs, a chaplain with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis...... read more read more

    Giarre, Italy - Thundering cheers, large welcoming posters and approximately 300 ferociously waving American and Italian flags greeted the Marines and sailors as they entered the San Giovanni Bosco Elementary School gymnasium In Giarre, Italy, November 16, 2016.

    Students, faculty and parent volunteers provided the enthusiastic welcome as the Marines and sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa conducted their first-ever community relations event at a school in the city.

    “The reception we got from the school was incredible,” said Lance Corporal Conor Fredericks, an intelligence analyst with SPMAGTF-CR-AF. “The kids were screaming and yelling and were so excited to give all of us hi-fives.”

    After a couple young students read welcome messages in English, the entire student body sang and performed songs for their visitors, one in English and one in Italian.

    “The children obviously worked really hard to perfect the songs for us and their excitement to perform what they worked on was a joy to watch,” said Lt. Arthur Briggs, a Chaplain with SPMAGTF-CR-AF.

    After the morning festivities in the gym, the Marines and sailors spent the remainder of the day teaching classes about nutrition, exercising with the students, taking group pictures at every opportunity and answering questions ranging from their favorite food to the most important thing they have learned from being in the military.

    "I'm delighted about this great initiative. I'd like to thank the Marines for their wonderful support and I'm ready to host more joint community service projects to further strengthen our friendship," said Giarre Mayor Angelo D'Anna, who was present for the event.

    The experience provided an opportunity for Marines and sailors to spend time strengthening the relationship between the two countries and cementing a positive climate with the next generation of Italians.

    “The general interaction with the children was the most important thing we accomplished here today,” said Briggs. “For many of these students it is the first time they’ve met an American, to start that relationship on such a positive note can have tremendous implications for the future.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 11.15.2016
    Date Posted: 11.21.2016 03:29
    Story ID: 215330
    Location: GIARRE, IT

    Web Views: 128
    Downloads: 3

    PUBLIC DOMAIN