NAVELSG Join Read Across America at DJ Montague Elementary School

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG), Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex visited students at DJ Montague Elementary as part of Read Across America, the celebration of children's author Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2.

Read Across America is an initiative of the National Education Association to raise funds for libraries and increase reading among school children. Sailors visited classrooms and read various books by Dr. Seuss to students.

"To me, it means giving back and paying forward to the generation that will someday take the lead," said Personnel Specialist 1st Class Cassie Brown. "Showing our children that the more they read the better they become at it. I do believe for as much as I think I give to them, they give back to me even more. I am so grateful to be a part of something that has been so wonderful and meaningful."

NAVELSG Sailors have mentored students at DJ Montague since 2009. Once a week Sailors visit the school and spend time with a student assigned to them - helping with homework, sharing playground time, drawing, having lunch or just talking. Students benefit from attention from a positive adult role model in their lives. Brown has been a mentor at DJ Montague Elementary for three years.

"The benefits our children receive from these mentoring relationships are priceless," said Dani Cote', Behavior Specialist, DJ Montague Elementary School. "We are lucky to have such a wonderful partnership with the Navy."

Sailors submit requests at NAVELSG to become a mentor. The command and the school screen them. They must commit to participate and some even get to know their student's parents and attend weekend sporting events and special school functions.

"As coordinator for our school mentor program, I find it so satisfying seeing the interaction of the students with our Sailors," said Chief Yeoman Katherine Kules. "But maybe, more importantly, I can see and feel the pride our Sailors feel when they are interacting with the children. They are looked up to as heroes."

"Our Sailors take pride in supporting the community and Read Across America is no exception," said Capt. Michael Stiglitz, NAVELSG deputy commander. "The importance of reading makes this a very worthwhile cause and NAVELSG was thrilled to support it."

Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group delivers expeditionary logistics capabilities with mobilization-ready Navy Reserve Forces and active duty Sailors. They provide a wide range of supply and transportation functions critical for peacekeeping, crisis response, humanitarian assistance, and combat service support missions. NAVELSG is component of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), a global force provider of adaptive force packages of expeditionary capabilities to joint war fighting commanders.

For more news from Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/nelsf/.