More than 1,300 Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) volunteered in the Hampton Roads region, March 13, marking the command's fourth time to give back to the local area in mass.

"I'm extremely proud of our Sailors, not only for the work they have performed on board the carrier, but also for the way they conduct themselves off duty. It truly is great to see them giving back to the community in such diverse and impactful ways," said Capt. Todd Marzano, executive officer, USS Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln Sailors volunteered at 29 different locations from Norfolk to Suffolk to Virginia Beach and cities in between providing countless hours of community assistance that consisted of everything from cleaning parks to mentoring elementary children.

"These opportunities are great to show that we not only serve in the military, but we are here to serve the community as well," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate Airman Recruit Yousuf Baig, who volunteered at the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation with 39 of his fellow Sailors from Lincoln's Air Department. "It is a great feeling knowing that you are helping out the people locally especially at a place like this, where you can come back and see the efforts of your hard work. I plan on walking these trails as often as I can now."

Lincoln Sailors have participated in three previous command-wide COMREL events since the aircraft carrier and its crew arrived in Norfolk in August 2012. Since 2012, Lincoln Sailors have volunteered nearly 35,000 hours of community service in the Hampton Roads area positively impacting more than two million people.

While Sailors from Lincoln's Air Department cleaned trails at Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation, other Sailors from the carrier's Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department straightened headstones of the fallen and completed various landscaping work at cemeteries in downtown Norfolk.

"Today we are here at the Elmwood Cemetery to pay our respects to Sailors and Soldiers from previous wars buried here," said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Shelldon Hunter. "We will straighten headstones and complete landscaping work, as well as paint fences all to show our appreciation of what this site represents."

Historic Cemeteries Volunteer Jane Oakes appreciated the Sailors assistance today in Norfolk.

"It is just a massive job here, they work totally on volunteers and a lot of us are retired and it's so nice to have strong backs and strong hands to be able to help us," said Oakes.

While Sailors beautified cemeteries in Norfolk, other Sailors assigned to Lincoln's Combat Systems Department volunteered at 10 different schools in Newport News to coincide with National Reading Month. Other Sailors volunteered with the local Boys and Girls Club of America.

"It shows that we care about the people here," said Lt. Vahe Sarkissian, Lincoln's Psychiatrist, who volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of America, in Newport News. "I have always been about giving back to the community, I didn't grow up in the best neighborhood so these kinds of programs help family members and friends stay out of bad places."

Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate Anthony Richardson, assigned to Lincoln's Safety Department coordinated a volunteer event with the Elizabeth River Project.

"Participating in community relations events as often as we do as a command is an opportunity to give back to the Hampton Roads community in ways that people living here can benefit from," said Richardson.

Cmdr. Maurice Buford, Lincoln's chaplain, who coordinates the command's overall community relations events, reflected on the massive impact the Sailors have on the local communities they live and work in.

"We have found that by coordinating these massive one-day volunteer outreach opportunities involving our Sailors it positively impacts the countless community members and organizations they will interact with along with the communities at large," said Buford.

Gunner's Mate 1st Class Landis Green may have said it best when he summarized the meaning of volunteering.

"To me, community is a way that we show support to those that support the military. They support those who serve so I guess this is our way of saying thanks," said Green.

Lincoln is currently undergoing Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz class to undergo an RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.


For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit www.navy.mil/.