Sailors from aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) attended Houston Navy Week, Oct. 17-22.

Navy Weeks, coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO), are designed to give Americans the opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity.

The trip gave GHWB Sailors a chance to visit kids at schools and Boys and Girls clubs, volunteer with local programs, meet the ship's namesake and the city's mayor, and attend the Wings Over Houston Airshow.

The first visit of the week was at Texas Children's Hospital, one of the country's top-ranked pediatric hospitals. Sailors from GHWB and attack submarine USS Houston (SSN 713) spent time with patients and their families in the cancer center and orthopedic unit, and gave "Honorary Sailor" certificates and ball caps to the children.

Crystal Ortiz, manager of volunteer services for Texas Children's Hospital, said events like these not only benefit the patients, but the volunteers as well.

"For our patients, [visits like this] provide light in some of their darkest times," said Ortiz. "For us, it's just a little bit of time out of our day, but for them it could make their entire week. It means more to them than I think we realize. It's also neat to see what visitors take from the experience when they leave."

For Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Martens, this was the best part of the weeklong trip.

"We say that what we do takes courage," said Martens, "but to see these kids -- some of them facing terminal illnesses -- being so happy, it's humbling to think someone is admiring of you when the truth is we we're more admiring of them. So for me, that was the highlight of the trip simply because we need to be reminded why we're even doing this."

GHWB Sailors also spent time with kids at local Boys and Girls Clubs in the area by helping them with homework and participating in physical education activities.

"These visits strengthen the kids' connection to the community outside of Housman," said Sergio Maldonado, director of the Boys and Girls Club at Housman Elementary School. "It emphasizes the good character and citizenship tier of our program, and the military volunteers really embody that. The kids see that there are other adults who care about them, and that want to come and work with them and see them."

Petty Officer 2nd Class Courtney Richard, a Houston native, said interacting with the kids was her favorite part of the trip.

"When I lived here, I didn't know anything about the military at all," said Richard. "The kids think all we do is play with guns, so it's nice to educate people about the military and give back to the city that raised me."

GHWB Sailors and Sailors from across the country spent a day volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization which builds homes for people in need.

"The house we put up is for elderly veterans, and it felt really good," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Serrano. "If it wasn't for the veterans, I wouldn't be where I am today."

During this trip GHWB Sailors also had the rare opportunity to meet the ship's namesake, former President George H.W. Bush -- the only living namesake of a U.S Navy aircraft carrier.

"It was just such a combination of nervousness and excitement," said Martens. "It's a real honor to meet someone who played such a role in shaping the country we serve."

"I also recognize that this is quite an honor the command gave us, and all you can do hope that you're representing [the ship] as well as you possibly can," added Martens. "It's a great chance to bond with other Bush Sailors on the trip and meet Sailors from other commands. I had a blast."

GHWB is currently preparing for a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) which will test all warfare mission areas of the ship and Carrier Strike Group 2.

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