MARGAO, APRIL 23
US sailors onboard the USS Shiloh took time off on Friday to paint the primary school classrooms of city-based Bhatikar Model High School as part of its continuous efforts to build community relationship with local populace.
Around 67 sailors took part in the painting exercise during a port call by the US Navy ship this evening. For majority of the sailors, this was their first visit to Goa and they look forward to a sporting encounter with the Indian Navy on Saturday and a day out in the state on Sunday.
The crew later handed over footballs and ceiling fans, besides a memento to the school management, which was received by school headmistress Ms Kane in the presence of School Managing Director, R S Kamat.
Says Consul Public Diplomacy, Lynne Gadkowski: “US Navy ships, visiting India, usually offer to take part in any community service they can render during a port-call to highlight their peacetime social orientation. As a part of this time-honored American tradition, some crew members from the visiting US ships taking part in the Malabar Exercise 2010 have offered their services to help the institution by painting the walls of their primary section”.
She said the US Navy crew members had worked with the school in the past, adding that though it is exam time, the school management agreed to welcome their doors for the sailors.
Lynne said this offers a great opportunity for the US crew to work with the local community, offering their labour and talents to help the institution.
“This people-to-people contact also promotes the mutual understanding so important to the expanding ties between the US and India”, she added.
Chaplain Michael Tagaloa said the objective behind the whole exercise is to build community relations, improve allied relations, adding ‘the main effort is to get out to the community and do some good work and experience the good thins. India really has to offer many good things”.
On Monday, the crew members would go out to the sea, back to work with the Indian Navy as part of the Malabar exercise.
The USS Shiloh is one of the five US Navy ships visiting as a part of an annual cooperative Naval exercise by the United States and Indian navies. The visiting ships usually offer to take part in any community service they can render during a port-call to highlight their peacetime social orientation. As a part of this time-honored American tradition, some crew members from the visiting US ships participated in this service act. This is a great opportunity for the crew to work with the local community, offering their labor and talents to help the institution. This people-to-people contact also promotes the mutual understanding so important to the expanding ties between the US and India.
