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Klakring Sailors Help Refurbish Orphanage in Montevideo

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100512-12
5/12/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Michael J. Scott, CTG 40.0 Public Affairs

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (NNS) -- The guided-missile frigate, USS Klakring (FFG 42), and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) Det. 10 Sailors conducted a community relations (COMREL) project May 8 at Hogar Maruja Stirling Boys Orphanage.

The orphanage houses 24 boys, whose ages range from 2 to 18, and has a staff of eight adults who care for the children.

Crew members primed and painted the dining room area of the boys' home in colors the children picked out; terracotta red, pear green, and haze gray.

"I was painting the walls, and this young boy was just standing there watching me," said Electronics Technician 1st Class Kevin Graham. "I turned, handed him the brush and showed him what to do. He did a pretty good job and was very pleased with his work."

All of this work contributed to Klakring's mission of strengthening relations between Uruguay and the United States. Sailors were eager to volunteer for the COMREL project, which enabled them to interact with members of the community and the boys at the orphanage.

"We gain much more from these experiences than a newly painted wall; we know that a few children's lives are being made better," said Klakring's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Scott Smith.

COMREL programs are humanitarian efforts that include repairing and repainting schools or hospitals in communities of need, as well as providing basic supplies. School supplies and toys are also common goods given to the local community.

Maruja's Home Manager Miriam Mirabelli was very pleased to have the 15 Sailors come and help the orphanage. This is the fourth consecutive year U.S. Sailors have visited the home.

"The boys really enjoyed having the Sailors come and paint for them. They had a chance to play and interact with everyone who came to help," Mirabelli said. "They really had a great time. This is something they will never forget."

COMREL projects are a great opportunity for the crew to come together off the ship and exchange their shared values and a desire to help others. They are a vital component of the Southern Seas 2010 deployment, which is focused mainly on theater security cooperation. For Klakring, this project was the continuation of a larger humanitarian effort planned for various ports in South America and the Caribbean.

Klakring, as part Task Group 40.0, is on a six-month deployment to South America and the Caribbean as part of Southern Seas 2010 (SS10). Southern Seas is an annual U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)-directed operation implemented by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO) and executed by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40 as Commander, Task Group 40.0. Southern Seas focuses on conducting a variety of exercises and multinational exchanges to enhance interoperability, increase regional stability, and build and maintain regional relationships with partner nations. SS10 includes the guided-missile frigate, USS Klakring (FFG 42), HSL-42 Det. 10, and DESRON 40 serving as the command element.