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Ashland Visits the "Holy Land" for Easter

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080328-06
Release Date: 3/28/2008 6:59:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mandy Hunsucker, Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs

HAIFA, Israel (NNS) -- Amphibious dock landing ship, USS Ashland (LSD 48) Sailors spent their Easter weekend, March 21-23, exploring the Holy sites of Israel while in port Haifa.

Ashland's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) committee organized tours for the cities of Nazareth and Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and Mount Carmel.

"The MWR committee's purpose is to get the ideas, concerns and interests of the crew into a form that everyone can enjoy," said Chief Quartermaster Martin Herrera, Ashland's MWR committee chief. "The U.S. Embassy gives a list of authorized tours to the local MWR representative, Michael Fuchs. We contacted him and he arranged the tours."

Sailors boarded buses at sunrise and set off for special Easter tours. For some it was opportunity to visit history, and also an opportunity to renew their respective religious beliefs. For others, family ties tugged them to visit the area.

"I went on the Nazareth and Dead Sea tours," said Operations Specialist Seaman Joshua Danford. "I saw Mount Masada, where 900 or so Jews took their lives so they wouldn't become slaves to the Romans during King Herod's reign. I also rededicated myself to my Christian faith by baptism in the Jordan River. I'll never forget that."

"My mother passed away recently and a lot of my family members donated money to have trees planted in Jerusalem in her name," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class (SW) Ira Trussell, Ashland's Jewish lay leader. "It was neat to see the site where the trees will be planted and see all the holy sites.

"Unfortunately, I visited Jerusalem on the Jewish Sabbath, so a lot of the Jewish sites were closed. But it was interesting to see where, according to the Bible, Jesus was crucified," continued Trussell.

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. Around the same time of year, the Jewish community celebrates Passover – a seven-day festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery.

Ashland is part of the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group, currently operating in the Navy's 6th Fleet area of operation to support Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation efforts.

For more news from Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/esg8/.