Press Releases 2007

Feb 19, 2007

USS McInerney Makes a Difference in Panama

USS McInerney (FFG 8) Sailors volunteered Feb. 19 to take part in the first U.S. Embassy People to People program during a port visit to Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Panama.

This program focuses on the needs in the Panamanian community and connects them to U.S. personnel able to help them. McInerney Sailors played a vital part in the program's pilot initiative in Panama, which has hopes to develop the program in Embassies worldwide.

Coordinated through the U.S. Embassy in Panama and supported by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO), McInerney Sailors spent time at Divino Nino Ofrece un Hogar Orphanage, a non-profit orphanage and Nutre Hogar, a rehabilitative facility for children.

Walleska Wagner, the Embassy's People-to-People coordinator, took charge of planning and execution of the event. Sailors who have been involved with community relation (COMREL) projects in years past have said this was the best one that they have done in terms of planning and coordinating the project.

At the orphanage, the Sailors diligently painted and laid tiles on the outside walls.

"This COMREL was a very rewarding experience. Installing the wall tile made us feel like we were doing something for the children that would last a long time," said Cryptologic Technician Technical 2nd Class William Rodriguez.

"These COMREL projects are really worthwhile. It makes you [think] how lucky you are and grateful that there are places like these orphanages that are willing to help these kids. We only spent one day here and did some work that had to be done, but what we did went a long way here and everyone was very appreciative," said Lt. j.g. Jon Willis.

As a non-profit organization, donations to the orphanage like those that McInerney made are significant and their effects are further reaching than the crew realizes. The orphanage provides a home for 17 children and nine infants.

In addition to making a difference with their labor, McInerney Sailors had some fun too. After a day of hard work, the Sailors, with all the children in tow, went to a local park to play chase, catch and soccer. Also, McInerney was also able to donate Spanish-version Disney videos to the children, made possible by a generous donation made through the Jacksonville, Fla. area office of the United Service Organizations (USO). Also donated to the children were a new gas stove, oven, and a large supply of diapers for the infants.

The second stop for McInerney's volunteers was to Nutre Hogar. Nutre Hogar is a non-profit live-in facility housing 38 malnourished children. It takes months, sometimes years, to recover from the adverse affects of malnourishment. Nutre Hogar seeks to rehabilitate these children and return them back to their parents.

"It was really heartbreaking to see these children, yet there was a sense of optimism here," said Operation Specialist 2nd Class Jose Ramiro. "I think of my own children when I look at these kids. Hopefully, our visit here made some kind of difference. I really recommend to anyone to participate in a COMREL project. It made my visit to Panama quite special."

This is McInerney's third successful COMREL project of her deployment. The crew has gained a more in-depth understanding of the people and places McInerney has visited.

McInerney is underway conducting exercises and operations at sea in support of the Joint and Inter-Agency counter-drug efforts in the U.S. Southern Command area of operations. In port, the ship participates in events ashore to support U. S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) Theater Security Cooperation efforts through military-to-military contact with regional maritime forces.

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusns/.