U.S. Marines complete second school renovation project in Honduras

Photo By Sgt. Ian Leones | U.S. Marine Sgt. Milton E. Ramirez, a motor transportation mechanic with the Logistics Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, interacts with children after the closing ceremony for the Elvira Tome school renovation project in Trujillo, Honduras, Aug. 25, 2017. The closing ceremony signified the completion of a four-week renovation project the Marines conducted at the school, at the request of the Honduran government. The Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF-SC are deployed to Central America to conduct security cooperation training and engineering projects with their counterparts in several Central American and Caribbean nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ian Leones)  

TRUJILLO, HONDURAS

08.28.2017

Story by Sgt. Ian Leones  

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

U.S. Marines with the Logistics Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, attended the closing ceremony for the Elvira Tome school renovation project in Trujillo, Honduras, Aug. 25.

The renovation project is the second of four school renovation projects the Marines will complete during their time in Trujillo. The Marines worked side by side on the project with engineers from the Honduran armed forces.

“The majority of the project revolved around rebuilding the roof,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. Edwin O. Lopez, an engineer equipment mechanic with the LCE. “We tore down the existing roof and built new trusses that could withstand strong hurricane winds.”

In addition, the Marines also installed new electrical wiring, plumbing, and created storm shutters to withstand the tropical storms that frequently hit the area.

Unique among the four schools, Elvira Tome belongs to a small community of about 360 people who identify as Pech, an indigenous group of Honduras.

“It was really eye-opening for me to work with an indigenous population,” said Lopez. “They try to maintain their ways through the school by teaching the kids their language. They also do as much as possible to bring their culture back to the community and introduce it to the rest of Honduras.”

The community even got involved with the painting of the school.

“The day of painting, the community came here together to provide support and our Marines greatly appreciated it,” said U.S. Marine Capt. Jarrod D. Deitrich, the Honduras site officer in charge.

As the project ends, the Marines are proud to have helped such a grateful community.

“The Marines and Honduran engineers have built such a beautiful school here that I hope you will be able to cherish for years to come,” Dietrich said to the community during his speech.

The Marines will continue their school renovation projects at Ana Palmore and Once de Febrero schools before the end of the deployment. In addition, the Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF-SC are conducting security cooperation training and other engineering projects with their counterparts in several Central American and Caribbean nations.

• Date Taken: 08.28.2017
• Date Posted: 08.29.2017 16:59
• Story ID: 246271
• Location: TRUJILLO, HN