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Sea Breeze 2013 Plants Roots for the Future

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS130715-09
7/15/2013

By Lt. Cmdr. Kim E. Dixon, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

ODESSA, Ukraine (NNS) -- Ukrainian and U.S. participants from Exercise Sea Breeze 2013 visited with students from two Odessa secondary schools Saturday, July 13, where they planted four trees to commemorate the event.

Ukrainian Rear Adm. Dennis Berezovsky, exercise director; U.S. Navy Capt. James Aiken, exercise deputy directory, members of their staffs, and the leadership of the Ukrainian Western Naval Base, which is hosting the exercise participants, went to the maritime middle school number 24 and middle school number 12 where they met with students and school administrators.

In brightly colored traditional dress, young women at both schools greeted the visitors with a traditional Ukrainian greeting of bread and salt.

'Tradition dictates that guests are offered bread and a dish of salt on an embroidered ceremonial cloth called a rushnyk by their hosts with the greeting, 'With this bread and salt we greet you. Welcome,'' said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mariya King, exercise interpreter and former Ukrainian national. 'Protocol requires the guest to break off a small piece of bread, dip it in salt, and bow their head slightly in thanks, before eating. Bread represents hospitality and salt symbolizes a friendship that will never sour or be corrupted by time.'

The maritime middle school teaches students from 8 to 16 years of age with a specialized curriculum that prepares them for a career in the Ukrainian navy or border guard, although it is not a mandatory profession. The students paraded the school colors for the visiting guests, sang the school anthem and performed a Ukrainian musical number, all reflective of their maritime theme, which even runs to the motivational sayings posted on the classroom wall.

'It is very appropriate you have that on the wall,' Aiken told the students through an interpreter, referring to the saying in Russian 'From the school desk to the captain's bridge,' posted in the classroom. 'We all started at the school desk and with hard work, ended up in the captain's chair.' He urged the students to make their own opportunities by 'knocking at the door, asking for the chance, and seeking out chances.'

Heading out to the school yard, Bereszovsky and Aiken each planted a tree, racing to the finish in good humor. Aiken recruited a young student, Sasha, to assist him in the race.

'We have planted the trees, now we will see them grow, and hope for the peace that comes with them,' said maritime secondary school Principal Lyudmila Sebova.

The group was received with similar warmth by the staff and students at secondary school number 12, who performed a Russian folk dance, with a small modern touch in the addition of a faux 'boom box.'

After the planting of the two trees, students posed with their visitors for a group photo on the school steps.

'This event is part of our cooperation program with our mentors, the Western Naval Base,' said the school principal. 'Thank you for your hard work of defending our countries.'