Members of the USS Wasp crew witnessed one of the Navy's oldest traditions as a Sailor was baptized aboard amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) May 20.

Wasp accommodates many different religions and offers baptisms on the ship for those attending the necessary classes.

During the ceremony, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Francis Vance read scripture amongst her peers before being baptized in a small pool by the ship's chaplain, Cmdr. Carla Barry.

"I didn't know they really did it here until Cmdr. Barry told me," said Vance. "She said that we could sit down and do it, so I signed up for it. I couldn't ask for anyone better to do it for me."

Vance lived with many different families growing up and joined the Navy not long after graduating high school. She said it was religious faith that kept her going.

"I grew up with my grandma; she was Baptist, so I went to church with her before I ended up in foster care," said Vance. "Once I ended up in foster care, all I had was my religion. I was in 15 different foster homes, so the only thing I had while I was there was the lord. He helped me get through."

The Navy supports free religious practice, which is offered on all naval vessels and offers a way of coping with stress during long deployments.

"I believe that religious services aid the ship by giving the Sailors or the Marines an opportunity to really worship in their faith group," said Barry. "The way it impacts the ship is that it makes the Sailor or the Marine mentally ready, and spiritually ready to be that warfighter that we want them to be out there on the deck plates."

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