USS Vincennes cleans up Sugar King Park

By CASSIE DLG FEJERAN
Special to the Saipan Tribune

Crewmembers of the USS Vincennes took time to provide community service, among others, by assisting the Saipan Mayor’s Office and the Environmental Interagency Cleanup Operation Team in a cleanup at the Sugar King Park yesterday afternoon.

Despite the slight drizzle, several Navy volunteers wielding spades, shovels, and wheelbarrows got down and dirty as they raked dead leaves, planted trees, and cleaned up the area.

Navy personnel Joshua Thomas, Shawn McGarrell, Stevie Greenway, Carlos Hoasasquiche, Rocky Torres, Arlin Landry, Isaias Gamuz, and Chad Brigance all pitched in to pick up the garbage, clear fallen branches, cut the overgrown bushes, and remove the mud that covered the area surrounding the monuments.

“We are always trying to do [community relations] projects. The Navy is not just about defending the [United States]. We are also about community work. We are not just for the Navy. I think that we represent the best of what the Navy does,” said USS Vincennes commanding officer Mark J. Englebert.

The community relations project was brought to their attention through Ruth Coleman, deputy executive officer for the Military and Veterans Affairs Office.

According to Englebert, this is their second visit to the island. “We were here mid-May of this year. We had asked if there were any [community service] projects and this is what they told us,” he said.

For his part, Mayor Juan B. Tudela said that, upon receiving notice of the arrival of the USS Vincennes, his office decided to provide lunch for the Navy personnel “because they were willing to support the beautification of the island.”

“We were suppose to have 20-30 [people from the Navy] but because of the weather, there were few [that came],” said Tudela.

Despite this, Tudela said he is thankful for the group’s help and presented the USS Vincennes a plaque in recognition of their help.

In return, Englebert presented Tudela and former congressman William Torres with plaques for their active support for the military. On hand to assist Englebert in presenting the plaques were Lt. Commander Ferdinand A. Reid and Command Master Chief Edmund Boilard.

The ship, which carries about 340 crew and officers, is scheduled to leave the island sometime next week.