Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) partnered with Great American Cleanup for a volunteer project, April 10.

As part of their Chief Petty Officer (CPO) 365 training, Sailors cleaned-up Barraud Park in Norfolk. While the event was meant to bring together chief petty officers and first class petty officers, volunteering in the park proved to hold an additional purpose; a spirit of inspiration was manifested.

Participating in community relations (COMREL) events inspires Sailors to do more in their communities.

George Washington Sailors began picking up trash around 8:30 a.m. There was a civilian crew already in the park cleaning up as well. Although the prior crew had done a sweep of the park, the amount of trash that still remained was mind boggling. Sailors picked up everything from broken beer bottles to a ship-wrecked inflatable boat, and everything in between, for approximately four hours.

"To see how much trash was already out here was crazy," said Chief Information Systems Technician Jermaine Adams, a participant in the COMREL. "If the other crew hadn't already gotten rid of the other 15-20 bags of trash that were already out here that would just further go to show how bad our communities can get, and how we can get in there, help out and do our part."

After seeing how much was accomplished in a short timeframe, Adams realized their presence along with more involvement from the community was needed to continue to help the community.

"I have to say, this event definitely inspired me to want to do more," said Adams. "The only way it's going to get better is if we continue to come out and help. This just goes to show that although people are coming out and saying they're cleaning, they aren't doing so the way we just did. No one else is going to go along the waterside like we did, I mean someone pulled out a boat and a water cooler. That shows you that it's years of trash that have piled up, but it shouldn't only be on us to get the job done."

In many communities, the neighborhood park is a safe haven for children to play with their friends, or for families to enjoy a picnic. If a park is not well kept, people may be less inclined to visit it.

"I see us helping in the park as a domino effect," said Chief Logistics Specialist Ahnas Akande, a participant in the COMREL. "A clean park gives children somewhere to go, whereas with a dirty park, no one wants to go there. It gives them a positive place to be instead of hanging out at the 7-Eleven. I wish I had a park when I was growing up."

Though cleaning up the park is a small gesture, its effects are boundless. The Sailors involved in the effort were able to sew a seed into the community.

George Washington's CPO 365 team will continue to give back to local communities throughout the year. The organization will be volunteering at a school field day in May.

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