Nearly 50 Sailors and Marines assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) teamed up with local volunteers from Pontchartrain Park Neighborhood Association, April 23, as part of a community service project for Navy Week New Orleans (NW NOLA).

The service project gave Sailors the opportunity to support the community by engaging in multiple neighborhood beautification projects such as lot clearing, landscaping and painting.

"We have multiple sites throughout the city, and right now we are working on a lot of beautification sites in neighborhoods like here with the Pontchartrain Park Neighborhood Association," said Yvonne Cappel, volunteer coordinator for Network Volunteers. "After Katrina, many of these lots have become blighted and that's why we have the Navy and Marines out here helping us out. A lot of the people that live in this area are senior citizens, so it's really difficult for them to maintain these blighted lots."

Working alongside volunteers, Sailors and Marines cleared several lots using bush hogs, weed eaters and brush cutters.

"It's good to help out the communities, especially for people who aren't able to do this kind of work themselves," said Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Karli Deuser. "This lot looks like it needed to be cleared out for a while now, and I'm just glad we are able to come here and help."

In addition to clearing the lots, Kearsarge Sailors and Marines assisted local residents with various tasks including painting, yard work and Christmas lights removal.

"This is really just a huge favor for the neighborhood, and we are incredibly appreciative," said Cappel.

Navy Week NOLA is a weeklong celebration and collaboration between the community of New Orleans and ships representing the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, as well as the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy to provide opportunities for citizens of New Orleans and visitors to meet nearly 2,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen as well as see the latest capabilities of today's maritime services.

Navy Week New Orleans is scheduled to run from April 19 to April 25.

For up-to-date information on ship locations and tour schedules, visit the official Navy Week New Orleans website at www.nolanavyweek.com and "Like" www.facebook.com/Nolanavyweek.
For more news from USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lhd3/.


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

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Southeast, visit www.navy.mil/.