SPMAGTF-SC Marines hold opening ceremony for Honduras school projects

Photo By Sgt. Melissa Martens | Marines with the Logistics Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, pose with Doris Morudiagu, left, director of education for the Municipality of Trujillo, and Gisela Hernandez, assistant to the governor of the department of Colόn, at the opening ceremony for Trujillo, Honduras, school renovation projects at the Taufick Bendeck Elementary School, June 15, 2017. The school is one of the infrastructure improvement projects the Marines of SPMAGTF-SC will work on during their six-month deployment in Central America at the request of partner nation governments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Melissa Martens)  

TRUJILLO, HONDURAS

06.21.2017

Story by Sgt. Ian Leones  

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command held an opening ceremony at Taufick Bendeck Elementary School in Trujillo, Honduras, June 15, to signify the start of several renovation projects in the local area.

A team of combat engineers, heavy equipment operators and motor vehicle operators from the Logistics Combat Element, SPMAGTF-SC, will be working to remodel four local schools in the area.

"We've partnered with the Honduran government, specifically the city of Trujillo, to work on four schools that were selected through the Department of Education," said U.S. Marine Capt. Jarrod Deitrich, Trujillo site officer in charge, LCE, SPMAGTF-SC. “They reached out and selected the schools based on the needs within their department.”

For the next five months, the Marines will work at the following schools: Ana Palmore, 11 Febrero, Elvira Tome and Taufick Bendeck.

“We are going to spend four weeks renovating each school, for a total of five months,” Dietrich said. "We're happy to be working hand in hand with the Honduran government."

In addition to the infrastructure improvement projects in Trujillo as well as in Guatemala, the Marines with SPMAGTF-SC are conducting security cooperation training in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, and, should the need arise, are on standby for disaster relief efforts in the region at the request of the host governments.

While addressing the audience at the event, Col. Michael V. Samarov, the commanding officer of SPMAGTF-SC, stated that he hopes the relationship between the Marines and the people of Honduras is one of mutual benefit.

"Perhaps our greatest privilege is the opportunity we have to make a positive difference, learn from your rich experiences and culture, and make new friendships,” he said.

• Date Taken: 06.21.2017
• Date Posted: 06.22.2017 12:08
• Story ID: 238666
• Location: TRUJILLO, HN