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USS Carr Celebrates Caribbean Navy Days in Curacao

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080522-03
Release Date: 5/22/2008 7:39:00 AM

By Ensign Timothy Boston, USS Carr Public Affairs

CURACAO, Netherlands Antilles (NNS) -- USS Carr (FFG 52) participated in Caribbean Navy Days 2008 in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, May 18, to celebrate naval heritage in the region with the British, Dutch, French, Colombian and Trinidadian navies in addition to the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard and Dutch Royal Marines.

Hosted by the Dutch Navy, Royal Marines and Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard, the festival consisted of ship tours, flight demonstrations, live music from the Royal Marine Band, local steel drum bands, a 7-mile run around Willemstad and a parade of ships into the Curacao harbor. Sailors participated in many Navy receptions throughout the weekend and enjoyed their liberty in town.

"Our chain of command stresses that we are both warriors and ambassadors to the ports we visit," said Cryptologic Technician Technical Seaman Ryan Blank. "I enjoyed getting the chance to practice my Spanish with several Colombian sailors."

Highlights of Caribbean Navy Days included an aerial demonstration by U.S. F-16 pilots, and British, Colombian, Dutch and Netherlands Antillean Coast Guard helicopters.

Commodore Peter Lenselink, flag officer, Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean, hosted the festival and invited Carr's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Mark V. Metzger, and several crew members to attend a joint reception aboard the Dutch auxiliary ship HMLNS Amsterdam (A 836).

Carr Sailors gave tours to guests and distributed
"Welcome Aboard" brochures to visitors from all over the Caribbean. Public tours help promote the Navy's mission in the region by demonstrating the U.S. Navy's capabilities and ability to operate with allied navies.

"I was quite impressed by the camaraderie and genuine fellowship between these professional naval forces," said Metzger. "Together we showed the people of Curacao what we bring to the table not just in defense capability but moreover the strategic importance of our presence here. And from what I hear, Carr Sailors enjoyed every moment of liberty here."

Carr, homeported in Norfolk, is deployed under the tactical control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command conducting Theater Security Cooperation events in the region.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.