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Mesa Verde Helps Others in Greece

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110729-02
7/29/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Josue L. Escobosa, USS Mesa Verde Public Affairs

SOUDA BAY, Greece (NNS) -- USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) Sailors and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Marines volunteered their liberty time to assist with the beautification of the St. Nakafious Parish during a port visit to Souda Bay, Greece, July 25-26.

During the course of two days, 19 volunteers assisted with renovation work at the parish's food bank and shelter.

"It was very nice of the Sailors and Marines to help out," said Father Emmanuel, the church's chairman of the board of directors for the orphanage. "Things like this make us friends and bring us together."

A total of 95 man-hours were put into the renovation of the shelter, which included sanding, painting and patching holes throughout the building.

"Everybody put their hands in and went to work right away," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ricardo Ortiz. "It gives a chance to show what we can do to help out around here."

The parish was founded in 1960 and has had more than 1,000 female orphans ranging in ages from 3 to 20 years old. The orphanage currently houses 20 women and the food line currently provides food for 50 different families.

"We made tremendous progress," said Chief Information Systems Technician (SW) Marquita Gresham. "It's great to help out this much because everybody doesn't have the same access to resources that we do. It shows that we're capable of more than just a war time presence."

The parish provided the volunteers with light refreshments, which included fresh orange juice, traditional Cretian pastries and fruit.

"It was really good," said Ortiz. "We get a chance to learn the culture; more so than we do on tours or just going out in town. Here we get to go out and into their homes and see how the local population really lives."

Since their deployment in March, 95 Mesa Verde Sailors and Marines have completed three community relations (COMREL) projects in an effort to help serve local communities.

"The participation level is great," said Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW) Amylyn Rogers, the ship's community relations coordinator. "We always have more than enough volunteers and if for some reason someone can't show up, we always have a line of people waiting to take their spots."

"These projects really bring the team together," said Lt. Diego Londono, 22nd MEU chaplain. "It gives us the opportunity to work and laugh together, and allows the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team to show what we're about."

The Mesa Verde is deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.