US Sailors in Community Service Project with RC Pantai Valley
Blue Ridge, Seventh Fleet experience Kuala Lumpur
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Blue Ridge, Seventh Fleet experience Kuala Lumpur
Seventh Fleet and USS Blue Ridge public affairs
Posted: 02/07/2004
ABOARD USS BLUE RIDGE AT SEA – The Seventh Fleet command-and-control ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) departed Port Klang, Malaysia Feb. 6 after completing a routine three-day port visit.
Sailors from the Seventh Fleet staff and Blue Ridge took part in a wide array of activities while in Malaysia ranging from a Seventh Fleet Band performance in the nearby metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, to a community service project at a local children’s home.
“My overall impression is this is a great international liberty port,” said Capt. J. Stephen Maynard, Blue Ridge commanding officer, as he stood outside the downtown Suria Mall waiting for the Seventh Fleet Band to begin a concert amidst the sizable crowd gathered in the Kuala Lumpur City Center, or KLCC, at the foot of the Patronas Twin Towers. “Most Sailors I talked to were impressed with the international flavor of Kuala Lumpur, the city’s ethnic groups and diverse population.”
According to Safful Bahari Din, visitor services assistant with Petronas Twin Towers Visit Operations, the KLCC is the city’s social and economic life force.
"The towers represent seamless blending of cultures here in Kuala Lumpur,” said Din, leaning against a handrail within the towers’ sky bridge 574 feet above street level. “The population of Malaysia is mostly Muslim… but here in Kuala Lumpur, particularly around the KLCC, the population becomes much more diverse. The area was once a British colony, and the European influence is still very evident.”
On the warm, overcast evening of Feb. 5, crowds of people gathered at the many outdoor restaurants and pubs at the base of the twin towers, and along the adjacent fountain and reflecting pool. They had come to bask in the center’s vibrant nightlife and to watch a goodwill concert by the Seventh Fleet Band’s Far East Edition big band.
A gentle sprinkle almost quelled the event, but as the band erupted into a jazz version of the Navy song “Anchors Aweigh,” the crowd roared.
“They like it,” shouted Susan Bathija, over the cheers of the crowd. Bathija now lives in Toronto, but her family lives in the nearby Malaysian city of Panang. “This is very good for tourism. This city desperately needs things like this. “They enjoy these kinds of things, especially the young people.
Women covered head to toe in baju kurung and tadung, a loose fitting traditional dress and scarf covering the head, swayed to the fiery jazz just ahead of where Bathija stood. Next to the women, two young men with jet-black hair and richly dark skin seemed elated as a trumpet solo pierced through the accompanying music.
“As you can see, most of the crowd is Muslim,” said Bathija, “but these people aren’t anti-American.”
The band broke midway through their set in observance of the evening Muslim prayer. As the broadcast voice of a Muslim clergyman’s song faded in the evening air, the band blasted into the second half of their set.
Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW) Gunar Swenson, Blue Ridge bakeshop supervisor, watched from the steps of Suria Mall.
“We come out and spend our money and show our faces, but look at this crowd,” said Swenson, panning his open palm across the crowd toward the band. “It makes them ambassadors. Plus, the people look at me and say ‘hey, you’re in the Navy too.’ It makes us all look good.”
“Everything about the experience was both positive and impressive,” reflected Musician 2nd Class Christopher Beehler, a trumpet player with the band. “It was truly a privelege for Far East Edition to play in Kuala Lumpur's City Center in front of such an enthusiastic crowd and with such awe-inspiring scenery -- truly outstanding.”
“It was fun to play in a new country and for the people in Malaysia,” said Musician 3rd Class Andrew Pacchiarotti. “I would never have had this opportunity had I not joined the Navy. And yet, when I go to ports like Kuala Lumpur, I feel like I never have quite enough time to get everything I want out of it.”
40 Sailors also volunteered to help rejuvenate the Salvation Joy Haven Home for the Elderly and the Shelter 1 children’s home on Feb. 4.
The services were provided as part of a community service project sponsored by the Sailors and the Rotary Club of Pantai Valley.
“We came to do what we can,” said Blue Ridge Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Jon Brzek. “We’re here to leave a lasting impression.”
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Cryptologic Technician (Communications) Seaman Travoria Young (right) plays a game of Checkers with a resident of the Joy Haven Home for the Elderly during a community service project here Feb. 4.
(U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael R. McCormick)
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The lasting impression came from two groups of Sailors who took time to help increase the standard of living for the 17 elderly residents of Salvation Joy Haven, and the 16 children of Shelter 1.
“The Sailors painted the recreation area and stairwell. Then they cleaned ceiling fans and windows,” said Blue Ridge medical department leading chief petty officer and assistant community service director Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW) Edgar Nemsingh.
In addition to cleaning and repairs, half of the Sailors helped strengthen the happiness of the Shelter 1 children.
“They also took time to interact with the children by reading to them,” said Nemsingh.
“I decided to help out in the community and experience the culture,” said Cryptologic Technician (Communication) Seaman (SW) Travoria Young. “I liked meeting the people and doing good deeds.”
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The U.S. Seventh Fleet’s command-and-control ship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), visited ports in Malaysia, Thailand, China, the Philippines, and Japan in early 2004 for military-to-military talks and community action projects. Here, the USS Blue Ridge moors to Gaoyang road pier during a port visit in Shanghai, China.
Photo by PH1(AW/SW) Novia E. Harrington, USN |
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) crewmembers, Hospital Corpsman Chief (SW) Bonnie O'Mara and Culinary Specialist 1st class (SW) Benjamin Alejo roll fresh paint on a wall at the Joy Haven Home for the Elderly during a community service project here Feb. 4.
(U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael R. McCormick)
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One Sailor took advantage of the port visit to sign up for another hitch.
Engineman 1st Class (SW) Buenventura Olaya reenlisted for two more years in the Navy at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers on Feb. 4.
Olaya, a native of Abucay Bataan, the Philippines, who works in the Seventh Fleet staff 1st division, said he contemplated several locations, but decided the outdoor setting of the KLCC was ideal.
“I wanted to reenlist while we were under way, and this was the most historic place to do it,” said Olaya.
Most Blue Ridge and Seventh Fleet Sailors enjoyed in the broad liberty opportunities in the exotic metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation liaisons organized tours and activities for eager participants.
“We learned on one of our tours that tourism has taken the number two spot behind manufacturing for the main source of income in Kuala Lumpur,” explained Personnelman 2nd Class (SW) Matthew Johnson, who works in the Blue Ridge personnel department.
Johnson ended up buying many items in the commercial hub of Malaysia.
“We did a lot of haggling and a lot of buying,” said Johnson. “But I was surprised. I didn’t expect it to be this modern. Kuala Lumpur feels really industrialized. Modern. They have really nice pubs and restaurants.”
The availability of quality merchandise proved to be very good for most Sailors.
Disbursing Clerk 3rd Class Yuchen Wu from Posten, Mass., said, "I mostly went shopping in Kuala Lumpur. It was really good shopping here and I really enjoyed the variety of foods that were available here."
In the end, Blue Ridge’s visit to Malaysia proved to be an overly positive experience for most of the Sailors.
“Basically, you could sum it up like this: Food was good, people were nice and the shopping was excellent,” said Johnson through a beaming grin.
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This article is taken from the Official Website of the US 7th Fleet, and the US Navy Website.
http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2004/February/4.htm
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