Subscribe
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) David P. McKee, USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Public Affairs
SAN FRANCISCO – Members of the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decision Making chapter helped to preserve Alcatraz Island, Oct. 6 as part of the 31st Annual San Francisco Fleet Week celebration.
CSADD members worked alongside Marines, park maintenance employees and civilian volunteers to help maintain one of the most famous historic U.S. landmarks.
In the spirit of SSFW, the annual maintenance day was an opportunity for those who preserve and protect the nation’s heritage to work side-by-side with the men and women who defend the nation.
“Working together during fleet week is huge,” said Aaron Roth, the superintendant of maintenance of Alcatraz Island. “We developed a greater respect and appreciation for what service members do and we hope they did the same for the work we do.”
CSADD members organized the project with help from the ship’s chaplain to provide a community-service option for their members and sailors to take part in during SSFW.
“This is what we do,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Cameron Havard, an active CSADD member. “This was a day to do something constructive with our time, instead of doing something destructive while we are in San Francisco.”
Park officials said they were extremely appreciative for the manpower provided by the sailors and Marines.
“Everyone here today helped make a better experience for visitors to the park,” said Jim Kren, a historical architect in the park’s maintenance division. “We had an incredible work day.”
Makin Island sailors who took part in the day-long project said they enjoyed the opportunity to help preserve the landmark and learn more about its history.
“It’s great to know I contributed to preserving history for future visitors,” said Ensign Inna Stukova, a San Francisco native and Makin Island officer who accompanied the ship’s CSADD members on the project. “I wish more people would participate. With our work force we could do more.”
SSFW 2012 is scheduled from Oct. 3-8 and will bring more than 2,500 sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen from four ships to the city of San Francisco in order to highlight the personnel, technology and capabilities of the sea services.
In addition to Makin Island, other U.S. Navy ships taking part in SSFW 2012 include the guided missile destroyers USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Spruance (DDG 111).
Makin Island recently returned from a seven-month deployment and was the first U.S. Navy ship to deploy using a hybrid-electric propulsion system. By using this unique propulsion system, the ship saved over $15 million in fuel costs and the Navy expects to see fuel cost savings of more than $250 million, over the course of the ship's lifecycle. Lessons learned during Makin Island’s maiden deployment prove the Navy's commitment to energy awareness and conservation and will positively influence future ship designs for several decades.
This initiative is one of many throughout the Navy and Marine Corps that will enable the Department of the Navy to achieve the Secretary of the Navy's energy goals to improve our energy security and efficiency afloat and ashore, increase our energy independence and help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.
| Date Taken: | 10.06.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 10.08.2012 14:44 |
| Story ID: | 95849 |
| Location: | SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Makin Island CSADD chapter helps preserve Alcatraz Island during San Francisco Fleet Week, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT