Sailors of the Year from aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) visited College Station, Texas, and neighboring communities, Nov. 10-12.

The trip gave the GHWB 2016 Sailors of the Year the opportunity to volunteer at a Habitat for Humanity project, visit the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, tour Texas A&M University, attend a military appreciation game night, and meet the ship's namesake.

"We are one of very few U.S. Navy warships with a living namesake, and the Bush family remains actively involved with the ship, to include keeping up with our Sailors," said GHWB Command Master Chief Huben Phillips. "President Bush has 7 1/2 decades of service to our country, so bringing our Sailors of the Year here for a namesake visit serves to strengthen our heritage."

The trip began by volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity project where the Sailors and students from Texas A&M University prepared homes by smoothing out a foundation, cleaning, and loading trucks.

"The trip this year allowed us another chance to interact with people that we met," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Tonski, GHWB's 2016 Junior Sailor of the Year. "It gave us an opportunity to get to know the people around us, and for them to get to know us as both Sailors and people."

Tonski, who was also GHWB's 2014 Petty Officer of the Year, added it is important for the American people to see U.S. Navy Sailors as both a professional fighting force and as regular people, because it helps to understand military men and women are just as approachable as anyone else.

The Sailors then visited the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum so they could learn more about their ship's namesake.

"When you're growing up, you hear the name George H.W. Bush and how he was a United States president, and you may even hear about how he was the director of the CIA, but you don't fully understand the magnitude of what he has done for our country until you tour the museum," said Seaman Mason Holt, GHWB's Bluejacket of the Year. "I learned so much about him; I learned about his long career of service, to include his naval service during World War II. He's lived a fascinating life."

The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum holds an estimated 44 million pages of documents, 2 million photos, 10,000 videos, and 122,000 museum objects. As part of the National Archives, the museum is relied on to archive documents and objects of historical significance.

According Dr. Robert Holzweiss, deputy director of the library, the number of objects continue to grow in large part because of the popularity of Bush both in the past and present.

"Whether or not you are a member of the military, if you are in the area, I believe you should visit this museum -- if not to see the significance of President Bush in American history, then to see the history he has helped to shape," said Holzweiss.

The next day, GHWB Sailors were given the chance to tour Texas A&M's campus and be with the guests at a military appreciation football game, but the highlight was certainly the surprise meeting with former President George H.W. Bush.

The first to shake his hand was the ship's command master chief.

"He asked me two questions," said Phillips. "'How is my carrier' and 'How are my Sailors?' Even at 92 years old, his thoughts are on us."

The meeting was a highlight for the Sailors, according to Petty Officer 1st Class Joanna Waugh, GHWB's 2016 Senior Sailor of the Year.

"It was amazing to still see and feel the spark in such an incredible man," said Waugh. "My tour on the ship has treated me well; I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity."

The namesake visit is intended to serve as an engagement with the public on the importance of the Navy and demonstrate how Sailors give back to local communities, both at home and abroad.

"To be a Sailor of the Year is not about points," said Phillips. "It's about caring, giving, and serving. I believe that we have 2,900 Sailors of the Year aboard GHWB, but we can only pick four. Set goals and keep growing, and keep working to find a better version of yourself."

George H.W. Bush, homeported in Norfolk, is currently preparing for a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), which will test all mission warfare areas in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), visit http://www.navy.mil/ or http://www.facebook.com/USSGeorgeHWBush.