|
|
|
 News from Around Banderas Bay | January 2008 
Two US Ships Support Femenil Vallartense
 Peter Gray - PVNN
| Thanks to the efforts of Puerto Vallarta Navy Leaguers and crew members from the USCGC Mellon, the work started before Christmas by the US Navy team from the FFG Crommelin at the Associación Femenil Vallartense was completed before the New Year.
|
Members of the local Navy League took a break from seasonal partying to greet the USCGC Mellon on its arrival on December 27th. This was magnificent timing, because it meant that the work started before Christmas by the US Navy team from the FFG Crommelin at the Associación Femenil Vallartense buildings could be completed before the New Year.
| | The Femenil facilities, which were in real need of attention after suffering severe flood damage during the rainy season, are now in fine shape. | 
| | The fine men and women of the US forces come to Puerto Vallarta to work for no more than the satisfaction of giving people in need a helping hand. |
Thanks to the efforts by crew members from both ships, the Femenil buildings, which were in real need of attention after suffering severe flood damage during the rainy season, are now in fine shape.
Seventeen Coast Guard officers and enlisted men and women turned out to do a great painting job, only slightly hampered by the fact there was no water coming into the Femenil complex. A very long hose from a building across the way smartly took care of that problem.
I interrupted two young women painting, Lt. Jennifer Chase and Ensign Anna McNeil, to ask whether they had ever participated in one of these Comrel work parties before. Interestingly enough, they had both done similar social projects before joining the Coast Guard. But this was the first they had done as representatives of the US forces. Anna McNeil remarked on the peacefulness of the courtyard, recognizing its value to many of the women who come to the Femenil buildings from difficult lives and need a lot of aid and comfort.
The ship's XO, Jose Jimenez from Puerto Rico, told me a bit about the Mellon. He confirmed something I had read which I thought remarkable - that one of the ship's engines is modeled on a railway train engine and the other on the jets of a 707 aeroplane. That speaks to considerable engineering ingenuity.
The Mellon was commissioned on January 9th, 1968, so it has its 37th birthday coming up soon. She is a "high endurance cutter" and can travel 10,000 miles at 20 knots. That's like going directly from New York to Melbourne Australia.
Captain Eric Chanberlin is in command of the ship. He has had a highly distinguished career, ever since graduating from the US Coast Guard Academy in May 1984.
The Navy League actively solicits the visits of US ships to Puerto Vallarta. There are plenty of projects from schools to orphanages, old-age homes to homes for the disabled, that need the helping hands of the fine men and women of the US forces, who turn out to work for no more than the satisfaction of giving people in need a helping hand.
We thank the Captain of the USCGC Mellon and his crew for their visit. And a pat on the back for the Navy Leaguers who found time to pause in their Christmas festivities to work alongside the sailors. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us