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Colombian School Welcomes Freedom Sailors During COMREL

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100323-14
Release Date: 3/23/2010 4:31:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class AC Rainey, USS Freedom Public Affairs

CARTAGENA, Colombia (NNS) -- Sailors from littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) made the most of their first port visit to Cartagena by donating their time to spruce up a local elementary school March 20.

During the community relations (COMREL) project at Instituto Skinner, located in the Villa Gloria area of Cartagena, Freedom's Sailors joined Colombian Marines in painting and making wiring repairs.

More importantly, they were able to enjoy a morning of interaction and camaraderie with neighborhood residents and children.

"I enjoy being able to help out – I enjoy giving back," said Engineman 1st Class (SW) Eleuterio Roman. "At my previous command, I was the COMREL coordinator, so I really enjoy doing this. Looks like everyone else here likes it too."

This COMREL was the first in a foreign port for Freedom, which arrived in Cartagena on March 19 to begin a theater security cooperation (TSC) port visit. The nation's first littoral combat ship is currently on its initial deployment to the Caribbean Sea and the coasts of Central and South America under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet.

In addition to the COMREL, Freedom turned over two pallets of medical supplies and toys donated by Project Handclasp. The donation was presented to a local community center by Lt. Todd Sehl, Freedom's electronic materials officer.

"This is really great to have the U.S. Navy and Freedom here to help us, and it is important for our countries to work together," said Gustavo Martinez Cafi, the school's project coordinator. "When this happens, good things come."

Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Carlos Wilkerson emphasized the cooperation not just between Freedom's Sailors and their Colombian counterparts, but between the two nations as well.

"I think this builds a relationship between both countries to fight for the same vision, to have a good working relationship – that way we can work together in the future with our navies, with their navies and then also their communities," Wilkerson said. "So I think doing this right here proves and reinstates what the U.S. and the Navy and America is all about. It's about friendship, about coming together as one, and I think that's what makes this world a better place."

The first ship of the revolutionary LCS program, Freedom is a fast, agile, mission-focused ship that demonstrates the latest in naval technology. Freedom will conclude its maiden deployment later this spring when it arrives at its new homeport of San Diego.