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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Harbordale Elementary School
students were in for a surprise when Marines and Sailors
walked into their classrooms dressed in their sharp, dress
blue and white uniforms ready to answer any and all
questions they had pertaining to the military.
Three
Marines from 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion and 2nd
Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Marine
Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., as well as Sailors from the
USS New York (LPD 21) and Carrier Strike Group 12, spoke to
more than 450 Harbordale Elementary School students about
their experiences in the military during a school visit, as
part of a community relations event during Fleet Week Port
Everglades 2014.
Second-grade students pose with
Cpl. Brandon M. Carteaux, native of Dallas, Ga., and amphibious
assault crew chief with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine
Division, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Airman
Apprentice Daniel Goodridge, native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and aviation
boatswain's mate (fueling), during a school visit to Harbordale
Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale, FL on April 30, 2014 ... as
part of a community relations event of Fleet Week Port Everglades
2014. Three Marines from 2nd AAV Bn., and 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine
Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, as well as Sailors from the USS New
York (LPD 21) and Carrier Strike Group 12 spoke to more than 450
Harbordale Elementary students about their experiences in the
military and on ship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alicia R.
Leaders) |
“I started to think of some questions before the (Marines
and Sailors) came to the school, like ‘what would it be like
if the ship sank,' ‘do you need to know your mathematics'
and the basic school stuff,” said Michaela Z. Lovejoy,
second grader of Harbordale Elementary School in Fort
Lauderdale, Fla. “I've been wanting to ask military men and
women about what they do, so I'll remember this experience
by getting the chance to ask those questions.”
When
speaking to fourth-grade students, Cpl. Joel A. Slaymaker,
native of Lancaster, Penn., told them, “Not every mission is
necessarily going to a fight or a battle, or is about bad
stuff. It is about coming to visit you guys and showing you
what we do, and spend time with you so you can learn about
our jobs, and we can learn about you.”
Michaela said
she's never seen service members in person, and she has only
seen them on TV or in the movies. The school visit allowed
students to meet Marines and Sailors for the first time, and
were appreciative of their service.
“My first time
seeing Marines (and Sailors) was today when they came to my
school,” said Skyler K. Becker, fourth grader of Harbordale
Elementary School. “It's really cool because we are seeing
people who are serving our country and risking their lives
for us.”
Harbordale students continued asking
questions left and right. They asked a broad spectrum of
questions, such as thunderstorms while being on ship, why
the Marines and Sailors joined the military, what kind of
food they eat, what kind of gear gets loaded on the ship,
and the students even asked about 9/11.
“The
children are young, and they haven't experienced as much as
we have, so we were there and told them what we do and what
we did,” said Navy Airman Apprentice Daniel Goodridge,
native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and aviation boatswain's mate
(fueling). “It feels good to know that they're very
intuitive, and their eyes open up when we tell them
something, and despite the fact that they weren't born, they
still knew about 9/11. So the motto of the USS New York –
Never Forget, it never really has gone away, and the stories
just keep going and going, and people will keep talking
about it.”
Goodridge said he thoroughly enjoyed
sharing his military experience with the students, and
answering the questions. The Marines and Sailors left a
lasting impression on the students, and one they are happy
to share with others.
“I am going to tell my parents
all about the awesome experience of talking to the Marines
and Sailors,” said Skyler. “This is going to be a really
awesome memory of the fourth grade. I want to tell the
Marines and Sailors, ‘thank you for serving our country.'”
More photos available below
By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alicia R. Leaders
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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