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USS LOUISVILLE USS Louisville Sailors Visit School for Navy Week Story Number: NNS070419-12Release Date: 4/19/2007 5:47:00 PM By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Lucinda Thierry, Navy Office of Community Outreach LOUISVILLE, Ky. (NNS) -- Nearly 400 students at St. Raphael Catholic Elementary School participated in a question and answer session April 18 with members of the crew from USS Louisville (SSN 724) as one of several activities for the Louisville Navy Week. Students flooded the Sailors with questions like, “How fast can subs go and have you ever fired a torpedo?” Principal Paul DeZarn presented a school T-shirt to Cmdr. John A. Sager, Louisville commanding officer. He also gave each crew member a medal of St. Raphael, patron saint of travelers. The crew then presented something special to a young submarine fan. The 10-year-old stood before his peers, seemingly nervous but very excited, as Sager presented him with the submarine’s official coin and a picture of the Louisville. “I want to be in the Navy and be a scientist,” said the student, “so I can design submarines that jump out the water, fly, attack (the enemy) and do cool things.” A couple of years ago, the boy's grandmother arranged a surprise visit from the crew of the USS Kentucky (SSBN 37) explained his mother, Alex Spoelker. “This year, the Navy League contacted the USS Louisville for Navy Week, telling them about [my son] and suggesting that the crew visit the school,” said Spoelker. “We’ll definitely come back again,” said Sager. “It’s been great, and we’ve gotten nothing but positive support for our crew.” Twenty-six Navy Weeks are being conducted throughout the country this year by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) in an effort to increase awareness of the Navy’s mission to areas like Louisville with traditionally limited exposure to the fleet. For more news from Navy Office of Community Outreach Navy, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/navco/.
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