Sailors Volunteer, Celebrate Jamestown's 400th Anniversary

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- A large group of Sailors from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) volunteered to help out during a weekend of events celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Va., the first permanent English settlement in America, May 11–13.

The 550 volunteers from Carl Vinson helped visitors find the attractions and guided people to parking spaces throughout the three sites of Historic Jamestown, Jamestown Settlement and Anniversary Park.

Aviation Electronics Technician Mate Airman Kimberly Romero of Carl Vinson's Weapon’s Department said she enjoyed being at the event.

“I’ve never done a community relations project before. It’s definitely interesting because I was able to meet people from all over the U.S.,” Romero said.

Visitors to the celebration took part in the many historical festivities and shows held during the three-day event, which included a grand pageantry, visits by dignitaries, children’s activities, and musical performances.

“When we have such large events like this, we reach out to all departments for their participation,” said Cmdr. Donald Cramblit, Carl Vinson’s command chaplain, who was in charge of the ship’s volunteers. “Volunteering for events such as this one is important because they bring out a spectacular response from our ship.”

Carl Vinson is currently undergoing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The RCOH is an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle.

During RCOH Carl Vinson’s nuclear fuel will be replenished and the ship’s services and infrastructure will be upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet and prepare for another 25 years or more of service.

For more news from USS Carl Vinson, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn70/.