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Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force -
Nashville read stories to local children at the Nashville Public
Library on September 7, 2016.
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September 7, 2016 - Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter
Squadron 167 based out of New River, NC read a book to children at
the Nashville Public Library in Nashville, Tenn. Marine Week
Nashville is an opportunity for the people of the greater Nashville
area to meet Marines and learn about Corps' history, traditions and
value to the nation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lucas Hopkins)
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Marine Week Nashville officially kicks off Sept. 7 with
an opening ceremony at Public Square Park at 6:00 p.m.
The Nashville Public Library advocates literacy for
children through read-alongs and other activities. Story time is held
several times a week, but this was the first occasion where
Marines were part of the performance.
“We read a
story to the children, did some juggling, found out what
their favorite colors are, and basically just interacted
with the children, which was a lot of fun,” said Capt. Cray
Pack, an AH-W1 Cobra pilot with Marine Light Attack
Helicopter Squadron based out of New River, N.C.
Marine Week grants an opportunity for the residents of the
greater Nashville area to learn about the Marine Corps,
while also building service-to-citizen connections as well.
“Having one-on-one contact with Marines builds personal
relationships,” said Pete Carden, a performance artist with
the Nashville Public Library.
“It shows they're not
just the people who fight wars, but they can be storytellers
and friends, too.”
“The big takeaway was the Marines
are warfighters, but we're also family men and women,” said
Pack. “That was what we portrayed to the people; we're just
like every other American in that family is extremely
important to us.”
Over the next week, the Marines
will showcase their expeditionary capabilities through
events like static displays and MAGTF demos, while fostering
community relations during high school and college visits,
ceremonies and a parade.
“The entire reason we exist
is for the safety of this country and for the American
people,” said Pack. “It's a once in a lifetime experience to
come and show the people of Nashville what we do as a Marine
Corps. It's been a great experience so far and we're just
getting started.”
More than 800 Marines are
participating in Marine Week Nashville to give the residents
of the greater Nashville area a chance to meet individual
Marines and celebrate community, country and Corps.
By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lucas Hopkins
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
The U.S. Marines
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