Sailors assigned to submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) celebrated Easter while underway with a sunrise service, April 5.

Frank Cable Sailors of different denominations gathered together to celebrate Easter Sunday on the ship's flight deck with songs, hymns and an early morning service.

"The Easter season is a time to celebrate spiritual faith," said Lt. Cmdr. Louis Lee, command chaplain assigned to Frank Cable. "The fact that they got up on Sunday morning to [go] out there and sing, worship together and to pray, it meant a lot to everyone."

Despite having served as a chaplain on a ship previously, Lee said he never had the opportunity until now to hold an Easter sunrise service.

"The timing just didn't work out," said Lee. "This time on Frank Cable, being underway, it was the perfect opportunity so I made the most of it. There's no better place to have a sunrise service than in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was just beautiful."

Being underway can often mean an increased workload, which can result in an increase in stress. One Sailor who attended the service said he felt it did a lot to lift his spirits.

"Sometimes you just need that stress reliever and that's what God is," said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Malcolm Portier. "It just lets you know no matter what you're going through, everything is going to be all right."

The opportunity to affect morale and strengthen Sailors' faith is something Lee takes seriously and he takes pride in having held this service, he said.

"To sing songs of resurrection, celebrate the main pillar of Christianity and see the sun rise from the east, those things really meant a lot to me," said Lee. "It's one of those things that really complete my chaplain ministry in the Navy."

Frank Cable, forward deployed to the island of Guam, conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility and is currently on a scheduled underway period.

For more information on Frank Cable, visit www.cable.navy.mil or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USSFrankCableAS40.

For more news from USS Frank Cable (AS 40), visit www.navy.mil/.