Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW) 3 Sailors going through training at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, participated in community relations projects (COMRELS) Oct. 3 and 10.

The group assisted with construction at the decommissioned Nevada State Prison, built a fence around a historic Civil War gravesite and aided a community arts and crafts center.

The event was initiated by Lt. Robert Fasnacht, chaplain of CVW-3, and coordinated with the help of Ronni Hannaman, director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce. Fasnacht and 12 Sailors representing CVW-3, VFA-32, VFA-86, VFA-105, VFA-131 and VAW-123 participated in the community service projects.

The first project was held at the Nevada State Prison Oct. 3. Built in 1862, making it the third oldest prison in the country west of the Mississippi River. The first gas chamber in the world was constructed here and first used in 1924. The prison was closed to inmates on Jan. 4, 2012, and decommissioned May 18 that same year.

"I enjoyed the COMREL at Nevada State Prison," said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Derrius Jones, a Sailor assigned to VFA-32. "I will definitely volunteer to go back again. It was nice to learn the history of one of the oldest prisons in America, and it will benefit the Navy by helping Carson City and the surrounding area to see what we're really about. It also demonstrated esprit de corps by displaying a physically challenging regimen throughout the day."

A week later, the team went to an isolated, two-plot gravesite near the Ornsby County Poor Farm. The men buried there had enlisted and served in the Civil War before being admitted to the farm.

"We built a fence around the plot to better delineate the sacred space in the middle of the fairgrounds," Fasnacht said.

That same day, the team helped improve the appearance of the Brewery Arts Center, a multicultural art organization encompassing two city blocks, three performance facilities, two art galleries, a cafe, classes, camps and artist services.

The site started as a brewery, which opened in the 1860s and operated for 88 years. An exhibit of the Carson Brewing Company's history is available in the arts center.

"The air wing personnel worked hard both weekends," Fasnacht said. "We were able to take a team and follow through on our commitment."

Their help was well-received by the community. Carson City Parks and Recreation provided showers and Carson City Elks Lodge No. 2177 hosted a goodbye barbecue for the volunteers. They even received a certificate of appreciation from the mayor.

"When we visit a place, we leave it in better condition than when we found it," Fasnacht said. "It was a success, we finished the work that was set before us and bonded as a team sharing a common vision of giving back to the local community. All of us enjoyed ourselves."

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