Photo By Master Sgt. Tamara Dabney | Navy recruiters serving in Navy Recruiting District Raleigh, Division 7, help restore...... read more read more
“Shipmates helping shipmates” has been a running theme in the Navy for several years. The phrase illustrates the idea that whenever a sailor is in need of support, his or her fellow sailor will be there to help. In the wake of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Matthew, the theme also resonates with civilians in Eastover, South Carolina.
On the morning of October 9th, 2016, people woke up to find their homes flooded with murky water. Though Hurricane Matthew had passed, heavy rains persisted. As the rain continued to fall, people frantically scooped buckets of rain out of their homes. For some homes, the immense flood waters were too much to bear; these homes were completely destroyed and would need to be rebuilt.
More than six months after the storm made landfall, the devastation is still very apparent.
In the spirit of “shipmates helping shipmates”, recruiters serving in NRD Raleigh’s Division 7 recently volunteered to help restore the homes of storm survivors in the rural town of Eastover, South Carolina. The homes had been completely destroyed and the lives of the owners had been turned upside down. Without the efforts of volunteers, it is unlikely that the home owners would ever be able to afford to have their homes restored. NRD Raleigh recruiters were not just restoring homes, they were restoring hope for families.
“For me, the experience was breathtaking. To help someone who was in need was an amazing experience,” says Navy Lieutenant Trimeka Thomas, NRD Raleigh Division Officer and Officer Recruiter. “Many of our recruiters were able to use skills that they learned in the Navy, such as civil engineering and construction, to help restore the homes. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of one of the homes we helped restore. Since she lost her home in October, she had been living with her adult daughters. She was very grateful that we were there to help her. She said that she’ll be happy when she doesn’t have to live with her daughters anymore. There’s nothing like having your own home.”
16 years of service in the Navy has afforded Lt. Thomas countless opportunities to help many people. She says that her participation in Hurricane Matthew disaster relief efforts stands out as one of the most memorable and humbling experiences of her career.
“I’m reminded of my favorite quote by activist Dorothy Height:
“Without community service, we would not have strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.””
“It shows that we are aware of what people are going through in the communities that we recruit in. We are members of the world’s greatest Navy; serving our country and our local community is what we do.”
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.11.2017 14:28 |
| Story ID: | 233518 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Hometown: | CHARLESTON, SC, US |
| Hometown: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Hometown: | RALEIGH, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Shipmates Helping Local Residents, by MSgt Tamara Dabney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT