Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Micah Blechner | 220420-N-QV906-0045 NEW ORLEANS (April 20, 2022) - Sailors assigned to USS Farragut...... read more read more
The concept of service is to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services. Sailors and Marines in New Orleans for Navy Week New Orleans are exemplifying that concept through their community outreach efforts.
“We do so much more than just fight wars,” said Lt. j.g. Justin Carp, a Southern Baptist Chaplain stationed aboard USS Lassen (DDG-82). “I think it is important to show the communities we live in that we are more than that. We care about them and we are capable of helping out here at home. We are not just in the Navy for a paycheck, we are here to give back as well.”
This was the prevailing mantra from the 40 Sailors and Marines who helped to paint the outer wall of Louis Armstrong Park in the historic Treme district of New Orleans during Navy Week New Orleans festivities April 20, 2022.
They arrived at 8 a.m. sharp ready to work and quickly passed around paint rollers, edge brushes of various sizes, and buckets of paint. All geared up, they worked to help beautify an already colorful community with the invigorating tones of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album motivating in the background.
“This is easy, the hard part is not volunteering to do this stuff,” said Seaman Akwasi Boakye, an undesignated seaman stationed with USS Farragut (DDG-99) originally from Ghana. “I volunteer for every event like this. I had duty yesterday so I could not do it yesterday. But, I am already signed up to help out for tomorrow’s event!”
Boakye went on to explain that painting a fence might seem tedious and boring, maybe hard work. But, where he comes from he is used to doing much more for far less.
“Back in Africa, you have to work so hard to get money to get something to eat,” continued Boakye. “I feel like giving back to the community is the best thing we can do as Navy Sailors, especially Junior Sailors. Believe it or not, we are able to help the country simply by painting the fence. We are out here in the open with music in the air giving back, having a good time, joking around, being a team. We are setting an example to all the people of what community is and what giving back can look like.”
“It is important for the country sees us out in the community helping with ordinary things,” said Navy Retail Specialist 3rd Class Vic Singh, a Sailor attached to DDG-99 originally from Guyana. “Yes, we serve our country out at sea, out at war. We are trained to fight for our country and fight the ship when necessary. But we come home from those conflicts and live right along side civilians. We serve them at war so they don’t have to go. We serve them here during times of peace by simply painting this fence. Or yesterday we helped clear trash and debris from one of New Orleans’s historic cemeteries. We raised our hands to serve. This is what we do.”
Singh went on to say that small acts of service, while seemingly mundane, inspire others. By showing positive attitudes and group camaraderie or unit cohesion other people could be inspired to join the Navy and give back to others.
“A lot of us join the Navy to get out of bad communities and we never go back,” Singh continued. “It is important to me to give back to places I have the opportunity to visit. New Orleans is hosting us during this Navy Week. Why wouldn’t I take this opportunity to give back to this community who has been so incredibly generous.”
Singh said that there are very few parks and areas for recreation like Louis Armstrong Park where he grew up in South America. If he were able to help beautify community areas where he grew up he would happily help, happily give back to his home community.
“Since I am not at home I decided to help out in someone else’s community,” Singh said.
As Navy Week New Orleans continues, U. S. Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen will join their French counterparts in experiencing the vibrant culture and cuisine of their host city.
Navy Week New Orleans provides an opportunity for the citizens of New Orleans and visitors to meet nearly hundreds of Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see, firsthand, the latest capabilities of today’s sea services.
Navy Week New Orleans is scheduled to run to April 22. For up-to-date information on ship locations and tour schedules, visit the official Navy Week New Orleans website at www.nolanavyweek.com and “Like” www.facebook.com/Nolanavyweek.
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.1969 19:00 |
| Story ID: | 418990 |
| Location: | NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sailors and Marines show NOLA community they are more than war fighters, by PO1 Micah Blechner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
