DVIDS – News – Sailors and Marines volunteer at VA hospital during LAFW

LOS ANGELES (May 26, 2022) – Sailors, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD2), and Marines, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, volunteered at the Veterans Hospital during the week of the Los Angeles Fleet (LAFW), May 26.

Sailors provided veterans with snacks, clothing, and medical supplies, and Marines played a musical selection for veterans.

“We show mutual respect to the veterans here,” said Christopher Bermudo, electronics technician 1st class, of St. Louis, Mississippi. “We have the privilege of helping them. It’s good to see them come to be served by us when they served before us.

The VA provided meals from a food truck to include barbecue and sides.

“We helped with the installation, and we’ll be there after to take it all apart,” said Gerry Hernandez, electronics technician 2nd class, from El Paso, Texas. “It’s nice to come here and help the previous generation who helped us.”

The Marines performed a selection of music for veterans, including covers by Nelly, Outkast and Stevie Wonder.

“We are here to connect with our veterans,” said Master Sgt. Nathan Doggett, of Joliet, Ill. “I feel good: there’s nothing better than giving back to veterans.”

Fleet Week is an annual, multi-day celebration of our nation’s maritime services held on the Los Angeles waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles during Memorial Day weekend. Free to the public, the event features public ship tours, military displays and equipment demonstrations, live entertainment, aircraft flyovers, and a Galley Wars culinary competition between Navy, Army and Navy teams. , navy and coast guard. The event is May 24-30.

LAFW is an opportunity for the American public to meet its Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard teams and learn about the American maritime services. During Fleet Week, service members participate in various community service events, showcase capabilities and equipment to the community, and enjoy the hospitality of Los Angeles and surrounding areas.