NEW YORK (USTCNS) --- The entire country is mourning the loss of thousands of lives on American soil, but some Americans have to put their feelings behind them right now and press on. There is cleanup to be done, jobs to go to and families to take care of.
The chaplains aboard USNS Comfort are being given a unique opportunity to care for the Sailors aboard and make sure each sailor is dealing with his or her emotions in the best way possible. Some just need someone to talk to, some just need to make sure they are taking care of themselves and eating three meals a day. Each one is dealing with this tragedy in his or her own way, and the chaplains are here to make sure they are given the chance.
Comfort sailors have an opportunity of a lifetime right now to serve their country and fellow citizens in New York City, but they can't do it if they can't deal with their own emotions.
"These sailors' families trust the care of their sons, daughters and loved ones to the Navy, and we are here to make sure each person on board is okay," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Salvador Aguilera.
"Our primary focus is to check up on the crew," added Navy Lt. David Stroud. "We are going to every space in the ship daily to talk to the sailors and let them know that we are here for them. It's really informal. We call it deck-plate ministry."
The chaplains also provide religious services, holding a Catholic mass and Protestant prayer groups daily. Sunday morning services are also held. The chapel is open 24 hours a day so the crew and visitors will always have a place to go and worship.
The chaplains' secondary mission is to take care of the disaster relief workers who come aboard. "The best way we have found to comfort these visitors is to find them in the galley," said Stroud. "We just sit down with them and chat. Mainly they want to talk about home, their families and their jobs, so we just listen, and offer advice when they asked for it."
The chaplains have also set up a table right outside the galley covered with pamphlets, bibles and other booklets for the guests and crew to look through, find what they want or need, and take.
"I feel that we as a crew are truly providing a valuable service to the relief workers. It makes it really worthwhile for all of us to be here in New York," said Chaplain Stroud.
"I have to admit I was skeptical at first about how this would work. It is something we have never done before, but I think that we are helping each person that comes on board in a really great way," he said. "We are giving them things they have been depriving themselves of for over a week. Things everyone really needs like food, clean clothes, rest, medical attention, and so much more."
The chaplains went to ground zero (a term that has been given to the World Trade Center site) to see the conditions the relief workers have been practically living in. They couldn't believe the destruction they saw.
"There were steel beams twisted up like they were tinfoil," said Chaplain Stroud. "Things that seem like an enormous task by themselves are being overlooked for right now because there are other things that are even more tremendous. One thought that crossed through my mind was how they are going to be washing windows in this city forever. The man-hours that it is going to take to get this city back in shape are incredible. It's Herculean."
Aguilera added, "When I saw it on TV I thought it was horrible. When I saw it in person it was overwhelming."
Aguilera's time at ground zero has not passed yet. He has been asked to join the Catholic priests at the morgue in blessing bodies of the colleagues and fellow Americans that the Catholic disaster relief workers are bringing in. Many of the relief workers don't want to leave the morgue without having a blessing done with a priest, and the priests are working at the morgue 24 hours a day to provide this service.
"The priests that have been working down there need a break, so I am going down to help them out and give them some time to rest," said Aguilera who will be at the morgue working from late evening to early morning. "Chaplain Stroud is a great guy and he is allowing me to do my work down there by taking over my duties on the ship while I'm gone."
While their duties are extensive, Aguilera has faith that Stroud can handle everything that comes his way.
According to the Comfort Medical Treatment Facility's Executive Officer, Navy Cmdr. Bess Harrahill they both bring an invaluable service to the ship.
"When they walk into a room I can sense some peace in the midst of all this chaos," Harrahill said. "It reminds me that there is something out there bigger than all of us."
(FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
