• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Carr Visit Strengthens Friendship with Cape Verde

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060314-06
3/14/2006

From Commander, Naval Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

ABOARD USS CARR, At Sea (NNS) -- For the second time in as many months, Sailors aboard USS Carr (FFG 52) and embarked crew of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 44 visited the island nation of Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa March 8-10.

During a visit to the island of St. Vicente, Sailors had the opportunity to establish friendships in the town of Salamansa, when they contributed their time at two community relations projects by teaming up with soldiers of the Cape Verde army.

“This is a great opportunity for us to give back to this wonderful country that has welcomed us with open arms,” said Damage Controlman 1st Class(SW) Chad Keiffer.

Thirty-one Carr Sailors and 10 Cape Verde soldiers spread their goodwill by volunteering at the Escola de Salamansa, an elementary school March 8.

Chief Damage Controlman(SW) John Garrett, the ship’s 3M coordinator, set up both projects at the school.

“I enjoyed coordinating in this project and I’m very thankful that I was given this opportunity,” he said. “I’ve done lots of volunteer projects in the past, most at homeport, but my time in Salamansa has been the most fulfilling and rewarding period of my career.

“Even though we were in a foreign country and they knew very little English, there were other ways for us to communicate with each other,” he added.

During the first project, the exterior of the school was painted after members of both militaries prepared the walls by chipping the old paint and filling in the holes with spackling. At the second project, the classrooms walls were painted while Carr Sailors repaired the school’s soccer field nets, and others picked up trash and broken glass on the field.

“We’re happy to be here, happy to help, and happy to make new friends,” said Lt.j.g. Sarah Bedard, from HSL-44.

The school’s principal, Maghi Reies, and her staff prepared a local Portuguese dish of rice, beans and pork for the Sailors.

“This is just a small token to show our appreciation,” said Reies. “We are all very happy to have both militaries here working side-by-side with our soldiers on this project. The students here are having a great time with the Sailors.”

The community relations projects were a way for visiting Sailors to give something back to the Cape Verde community as they continue a U.S. 6th Fleet commitment to strengthen partnerships with West African nations.

Carr is on a scheduled six-month deployment and is currently operating with USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) in the waters off West Africa to support U.S. European Command Theater Security Cooperation and develop emerging partners in promoting regional stability.