Sailors assigned to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) visited a variety of schools in the Hampton Roads region to help celebrate the U.S. Navy's 241st birthday, Oct. 13.

NECC Sailors visited Hermitage Elementary and Shelton Park Elementary Schools, which are both located in Virginia Beach, while explosive ordnance technicians from Explosive Ordnance Group 2 visited other area schools to include Rosemount Forest Elementary School and Green Run Elementary School.

Capt. Bruce Boyle, who spoke at the NECC Navy birthday celebration at the type command's headquarters helped coordinate community relations opportunities in the community.

"Every year on the U.S. Navy's birthday our Sailors should take the time to reflect on the many personal blessings that comes from wearing the cloth of our nation," said Boyle. "We really need to turn inward to look at the blessings you receive by serving in our Navy."

Karen Just, school liaison officer assigned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story appreciated the time Sailors spent with the area elementary school children, especially on the Navy's 241st birthday.

"It takes a village to raise a child," said Just. "This is especially true for creating and maintaining a positive and nurturing school environment for an entire student body."

Petty Officer 1st Class Sharon McQueen, assigned to NECC, volunteered at Shelton Park Elementary School and appreciated the experience especially on the Navy's birthday.

"Volunteering with the children today was an incredible experience," said McQueen, who added they seemed to have a lot of fun, "but I believe I had more fun than they did."

"It was a great opportunity to share a little about what we do in the Navy," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Travis DiPerna.

Just added while the volunteer efforts of the Sailors serve to enhance children's education, they also serve to benefit the volunteer as well.

"Doing for others feels right, and it's contagious," said Just. "For our Sailors to be engaged in local schools is tremendous and helps to build on an ongoing social, academic, and emotional framework of success."

NECC is an enduring warfighting force providing sea-to-shore and inland operating environment capabilities across the full range of military operations that is focused on delivering combat effective expeditionary forces ready for worldwide operations now and into the future.

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