Sailors from guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) participated in beautification projects at Saipan Southern High School and Francis Mendiola Sablan Middle School, Nov. 2.

The Sailors hung school signs, cleared brush, spoke to classes and played games with students.

Visiting the school was an opportunity for the Sailors to step away from their work on the ship and get a first-hand look at what life is like in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

"I went to the school cleanup because I thought it would be a good way to meet regular people from Saipan," said Operations Specialist Seaman Jacob Felix, a native of Surprise, Arizona. "The kids were excited to meet us, asked a lot of questions, and some of the teachers were curious about what we do in the Navy and what life is like on a ship."

The staff and principals of the schools gave the Sailors an opportunity to speak to students in their classrooms about their occupations and why they joined the Navy, before the Sailors and students sat down for lunch.

"Coming from a small town in Missouri, I wanted opportunities which weren't available in my hometown," said Chief Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Morgan George to a sixth-grade math class. "I've gotten to see the world, lived in a lot of different places, and I've been able to support my family doing a job I love."

After lunch, Sailors played soccer and basketball with the students. Once the students went back to their classes, the Sailors worked to replace parking lot signs to help improve safety at the schools. Rep. Edwin Propst, the representative of District 1 in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Island's legislature, provided the signs and tools used at both sites.

"It's heartwarming to see Sailors take time away from their liberty and spend it helping others," said Lt. Kristian Carlson, Bunker Hill's command chaplain. "Life on board the ship is filled with hard work doing the nation's business, and even though these Sailors deserve time off, they are willing to sacrifice some of it to benefit these kids."

The organizer of the event, an Army veteran, expressed his gratitude before the Sailors left the pier.

"Being prior service, I know it's hard to hear people thank you for your service," said Brad Ruszala, the public affairs officer for Joint Region Marianas. "But thank you, not just for your service to our country, but also for choosing to help these schools."

Bunker Hill and Sampson are on a regularly scheduled deployment with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG). TRCSG is comprised of Carrier Strike Group 9 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 staff, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and the DESRON 23 ships guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Preble (DDG 88) and Sampson, as well as Bunker Hill.

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