Patriot Sailors Lend a Hand at Indian Orphanage
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS100326-14
Release Date: 3/26/2010 3:27:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin, Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs
PORT BLAIR, India (NNS) -- Sailors from mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) participated in a community service project at the Ramakrishna Mission orphanage in Port Blair, India, March 24.
Sailors cleared brush to plant some pomegranate, guava and lemon saplings and then and put up posts for a volleyball net.
"It was a pretty good community service project, I think," said Mineman 3rd Class Kyle Rose. "We got to help out the children, clear out their vegetable garden of weeds and what not, and post up a volleyball net for them. It was pretty good. It was a lot of fun."
Engineman 2nd Class Paul Lozano echoed Rose.
"I had a really good experience playing with the Indian kids. The weeds were tough, I mean, but weeds are always tough. But, all in all, the fruits of our labor will pay off in the long run. The kids will enjoy this, and I'm glad I did this," said Lozano.
Swami Amartyananda, the secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, expressed appreciation the volunteers.
"We are very much happy and thankful to you. You cleared the gardens and you have planted so many trees," said Amartyananda. He continued that the Sailors were an example to the children.
"The young, very small boys are very much inspired. You see [one], just five years of age … seeing [what] you people are doing. A lot of inspiration, that in the scorching sun you are working, and the children are very much inspired," said Amartyananda.
Patriot is one of four mine countermeasures ships forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. The crew reports to Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, who is based in Okinawa, Japan.
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