• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Chancellorsville Volunteers in Singapore, Thailand

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060327-13
Release Date: 3/27/2006 4:00:00 PM

By Ensign Erin Virdone, USS Chancellorsville Public Affairs

USS CHANCELLORSVILLE, At Sea (NNS) -- During port calls to Singapore and Pattaya, Thailand, in February, Sailors from USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) volunteered some of their liberty time for community service projects at homes that provide for disadvantaged children.

Sailors visited the Children’s Society in Singapore Feb. 17. The facility is a government-operated home for children without proper guardians and supports 60 children from the ages of four to 12.

The children enthusiastically welcomed the Sailors who were waiting at the home to play games with them when they returned from school. The Sailors and children enjoyed multiple games of frisbee, basketball, and “freeze tag” for six hours.

“This was my first [community service] project,” said Sonar Technician (Surface) 3rd Class (SW) Marquerite A. Gerald. “A little girl said to me that she was so happy we were there. Her sweet words made me feel really good.”

Feb. 23, Sailors enjoyed friendly competition at the annual sports day held at the Street Kid’s Home in Pattaya, Thailand. The organization maintains homes for handicapped and blind children between the ages of four and 17. It also enrolls them in schools in an effort to provide greater opportunities for them in the future.

Religious Programs Specialist 1st class (SW) John C. Bertorelli, a seasoned community service volunteer, has visited the Street Kid’s Home before and is a big fan of the organization.

“They provide a nice home and good care for these kids,” Bertorelli said.

The highlight of the sports day consisted of soccer matches between Chancellorsville Sailors and the children. The Sailors were humbled by both the junior team, consisting of children ages 12-14, and the seniors, ages 15–17.

In both Singapore and Pattaya, Sailors distributed Project Hand Clasp materials.

The project accepts and transports educational, humanitarian and goodwill material overseas on a space-available basis in U.S. Navy ships. Materials are distributed directly to needy recipients by U.S. service personnel stationed in overseas areas or embarked in U.S. Navy ships which visit these areas. The gifts included bikes, scooters, basketballs, medical and school supplies, and personal hygiene items. The Sailors helped build the bicycles and even taught some children how to ride them.

Lt. Young Song, Chancellorsville’s chaplain, organizes the ship’s community service projects and recognizes their focus.

“Our [community service] events are not for the Sailors or the ship, they are for the children. They never want us to leave at the end of these events. I wish we could do more because the need is so great,” Song said.

Chancellorsville departed Pattaya Feb. 27 to continue on her routine deployment in the Western Pacific. Forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, Chancellorsville is assigned to Carrier Strike Group 5.