Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) visited a school for students with special learning needs as part of a community relations outreach project, Oct. 18, during a scheduled port visit to Singapore.

During the visit, organized by Bonhomme Richard's Religious Ministries Department, Sailors assisted students and teachers of Genesis School for Special Education with various activities including academic assignments, musical expression, arts and crafts, social interactions, and recess. The volunteer project aimed to foster positive relations and cultural exchange with the local community.

"The relationships that we're forming with the host nation are important for our understanding of different cultures while deployed overseas," said Bonhomme Richard's Assistant Chaplain, Lt. David Hammond. "It was really amazing to see how the school is operating to meet the kids' challenges and to help them as they grow."

While the community relations project relied on the Sailors' voluntary service, the one-on-one interactions inside the classrooms rewarded the Sailors with rare, personal experiences.

"It's a snapshot of the bigger picture," said Hammond. "To see people who are in need, to see people who are generous with their service, and also to see these special needs students who are loved and cared for -- it wakes us up to the world outside of ours. It's something for us to learn from -- that patience, that dedication to helping others to grow and develop."

The school welcomed and integrated the Sailors within the classrooms, in which the Sailors worked with the students to solve math problems, build puzzles, play instruments, and share stories of culture and heritage with the instructors.

Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is on a scheduled port visit to Singapore during a routine deployment in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. The Bonhomme Richard ESG consists of Bonhomme Richard, amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20), and amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42).

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