Patriot Furthers 7th Fleet Relationships in Batam
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS100301-23
Release Date: 3/1/2010 8:14:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs
BATAM, Indonesia (NNS) -- USS Patriot (MCM 7) departed Batam, Indonesia, Mar. 1 after a four-day scheduled port visit.
While in Batam, Patriot Sailors conducted ship's tours for university students, local groups and children, as well as participated in a community service project.
Nearly 130 children, ages six to 16, from a local orphanage visited the ship, enjoying chocolate chip cookies and Kool-Aid made by Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Robert Shewbert.
"The tour [with the kids] was really cool. A lot of the kids understood English, and, if not, I had an interpreter for back up," said Mineman 2nd Class Zachary Sund. "They seemed really excited to be here; they seemed really appreciative and receptive to it all, to the cookies and juice we had on the mess decks. It was a good time and fun."
Patriot Sailors also participated in a community service project with Batam University students, planting 80 trees along a local road.
"This is part of an effort to keep Indonesia green," said Stanley Harsha, consul general of the American Consulate in Medan. "This country really emphasizes this. So, if they can make this road green, then it contributes to the environment and makes it more beautiful."
Muhammad Sazili, a Batam University staff member in charge of students participating in the community service event, thanked the Sailors for their participation.
"Thank you very much for the U.S. Navy coming here and helping us with this," said Sazili. "This is just the beginning of our working together; thank you. This tree planting is a symbol of the co-operation between our peoples."
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