USS San Jacinto (CG 56) Sailors traveled to the greater Houston area Nov. 8-12, to visit their namesake battleground and participate in Armistice and Veterans Day events, over the long holiday weekend. 

The nine-member contingent was led by Command Master Chief Dean Sonnenberg. He and the team visited the namesake’s San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site where they toured and met with Park staff to learn about the famous battle and its impact on the state and Nation.  Nearby, they also visited the Battleground Monument dedicated to its heroes, and the former battleship, USS Texas (BB 35), where they participated in morning colors.

While in the historic area, the team met with local LaPorte Mayor Louis R. Rigby and accompanied him to LaPorte High School for a Veterans Day ceremony with the Navy Junior Recruit Officer Training Corps (NJROTC).

“Meeting with local leadership, gave me an impression that they want to do more for the military in the area and make a larger footprint so they can take better care of veterans that are located throughout the state,” said Sonnenberg. “There’s a huge push to take care military and veterans in the area.”

“Visiting with the NJROTC students showed me the quality of our future Sailors and where they come from,” added Seaman Christiana O’Reilly, from Clinton Township, Michigan. “Telling them about the history of the Navy and knowing that we had a hand in teaching them about life in the Navy, gave me a sense of pride.”

In addition to visiting their namesake, the team split up so one group could attend the Houston Veterans Day breakfast and Parade while the others laid a wreath during the 100th Anniversary Armistice Day ceremony aboard the Texas.

“Laying the wreath during the Armistice Day event was a somber experience for me,” said Sonar Technician (Surface) 3rd Class Tanner Prater, from Fort Wayne, Indiana. “It was remembering the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and being a part of this ceremony is something I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.”

The team’s most visible event of the weekend featured the USS San Jacinto Honor Guard which paraded the colors in front of a sold out crowd of 18,055 at the Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers NBA game Nov. 11.  

“Being here reminded me how important my service is to this country is and why I joined in the first place,” said Logistics Specialist Seaman Dante Gennaccaro, from Kenosha, Wisconsin. “It can be hard to remember that when going through our daily routine aboard the ship, but being here really showed me what it means to be serving the country and answering the call.”

This was a uniquely special trip for one of the crewmembers, Operations Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Bueno, who hails from Mesquite, Texas.

“It was a nice homecoming; it’s always fun being back home,” he said. “This trip was a great opportunity to stand in front of everyone and show them what we do.”

“My favorite part of the trip was the opportunity to speak to the younger generations about the military and telling them what we do aboard San Jacinto,” said Chief Yeoman Gary Sharper, Jr., from Valdosta, Ga. “My junior Sailors gained a lot from this visit, being able to learn about the battle of San Jacinto and sharing what they do on a day-to-day basis with folks there and at the schools.”

The Ticonderoga-class cruiser was commissioned in Houston, in 1988, by then Vice-President George H. W. Bush.  This ship is the third warship to bear the name San Jacinto and is named for the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. With a crew of more than 300 Sailors, the ship is homeported at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va.

For more information and a video of the cruiser, click here:   http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=800&ct=4

USS San Jacinto website:  https://www.public.navy.mil/surflant/cg56/Pages/default.aspx

USS San Jacinto Facebook:  https://­www.facebook.com/­USSSanJacinto/

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