Courtesy Photo | Construction Electrician Constructionman Philip Wall from Naval Mobile Construction...... read more read more
GULFPORT, Miss. - Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 participated in the Region III Special Olympics held aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport June 8.
Seven volunteers from the battalion’s Air Detachment signed up to assist with sponsoring athletes; running the events like softball, soccer, and horse shoes; and performing tasks to help ensure the event ran smoothly
To kick off the event, the athletes and some volunteers took part in the opening ceremony, which involved walking a portion of the track. NCBC Gulfport Commanding Officer Captain Frederick F. Burgess attended the event and escorted the athletes during their entrance. The sponsors then met their athlete and started a bond that grew throughout the day.
For Steelworker First Class Matthew Whisenhunt and his wife, Deann, this was their introduction to Tim Rafanello. The Whisenhunts spent the day escorting, conversing and cheering for Tim during three soccer events and horseshoes. Tim, who lives in his own apartment, spends his week working at Millcreek and once a week helps clean a local church in Picayune, Miss.
At one point during the day, the Whisenhunts were surprised when a voiced called out to them from beneath the soccer tent. Sara Johnson, another Special Olympics athlete, was sponsored by the Whisenhunts two years ago when NCBC Gulfport first hosted the event.
Whisenhunt said, “The reunion filled our minds with great memories of NCBC’s first hosted Special Olympic Games and warmed our hearts to know that the bond created had made a lasting effect.” While they hadn’t seen each other since the first event they have kept in touch through social media.
Other Seabee volunteers like Construction Electrician Constructionman Philip Wall and Utilities Constructionman Matthew Kicinski were instrumental in running the individual events.
Wall worked the softball event, explaining the rules of the event to the athletes. After he finished telling an athlete the rules, he would run to his post to retrieve softballs thrown by the athletes and throw them back so the athletes could show their abilities to field ground balls while providing encouragement and motivation the entire time.
Kicinski volunteered for the horseshoes event and ensured each athlete’s score was recorded accurately and submitted for awards. Kicinski said he thoroughly enjoyed himself and was glad he signed up for the event.
Another volunteer, Construction Electrician 3rd Class Zachary Zehner ran water bottles to various event locations and when he heard the generator powering a large cooling fan had, he troubleshot the generator to get it running properly again.
As pizza arrived for lunch and the sun was out in full force, all the volunteers seized the opportunity to mingle with more athletes. By the end of the event, many said they had been blessed by the experience and look forward to the next time the Games are hosted aboard NCBC Gulfport.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2013 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 109173 |
| Location: | GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 246 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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