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USS Stephen W. Groves Conducts COMREL in Lima, Peru
Story Number: NNS060912-08
Release Date: 9/12/2006 5:03:00 PM
From USS Stephen W. Groves Public Affairs
LIMA, Peru (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) and embarked detachment Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 46, Det. 8 participated in a community relations (COMREL) project in Lima, Aug. 26 during a port visit to Callao, Peru.
Thirteen Sailors visited the Perez Aranibal Orphanage, the largest orphanage in Peru. Perez Aranibal houses more than 500 children of all ages.
“We repainted walls, cleaned floors, and dug ditches, and more,” said Lt. Cmdr. Bart Marsh, HSL-46 officer in charge. “After the work was done, we played soccer with 30 energetic children. The children really seemed to respond to the Sailors as we worked at the orphanage. It was a wonderful opportunity and positive experience for all of us.”
Stephen W. Groves Sailors got quite a workout in their soccer game against the young Peruvians. Nobody kept score, but the feeling at the end was that the children had gotten the better of the Sailors.
“We may have done a lot of work to the orphanage, but I think we actually got more out of this than the kids did,” said Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class (SW) Michael Heyne. “The kids were all over the place during our soccer game. I don’t think we ever really had a chance. It was so much fun and incredibly rewarding to see them all smiling and laughing.”
This project was a great chance for the Groves crew to help some of the underprivileged children of Peru. Lt. j.g. Lauren Carr got to spend time with some of the young girls at the orphanage. She played games with them and talked with them about the United States and how much she was enjoying her time in Peru.
“The girls were really energetic and had lots of questions. I really enjoyed my time with them and learned a lot from the experience,” said Carr.
“Helping the citizens of the countries we visit is a tremendously important part of our mission,” said Cmdr. Jon Kreitz, Stephen W. Groves commanding officer. “Helping repair this orphanage is a very rewarding endeavor. Children are the future of every society. Making their lives better now makes the future of their country even brighter.”
Homeported in Mayport, Fla., Stephen W. Groves is a member of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14. Groves and HSL-46, Det. 8 are currently deployed for counter narco-terrorism operations, for Commander, U. S. Naval Forces, Southern Command, also based in Mayport.
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusns/.
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