St. Christopher’s School for the Deaf was an amazing place to visit. I was teaching sign language on the ship to interested Underwood sailors even before I knew there was going to be a
COMREL and was very excited about the prospect of holding an event at this
school. The Jacksonville-St. Augustine area, where I live and close to Mayport
where the Underwood is stationed, has the distinction of being the largest deaf
community in the entire country, and my wife works at a school for the deaf.
After being married for 16 years, I’ve been able to learn a great deal of
American Sign Language, and so the experience at St. Christopher’s was made even
more incredible and I knew that I would be able to bring some of my skills to
the table. At the school we received a warm welcome, but once I started signing
with them I could tell that they were even happier to have us there. Being able
to converse with them in sign definitely put them at ease and created a very
warm atmosphere between us. The other sailors and I distributed stuffed animals,
played basketball, and communicated with the kids. Some of the Underwood sailors
that had been a part of my American Sign Language classes were even able to
carry on short conversations with the students! It was great seeing the sailors
having so much fun with the kids, and seeing the kids genuinely happy that we
had come to be with them for the day. I’d say that this day was the best I’ve
ever had in my entire 18-year Navy career.
V/R
IT1 (SW) Maitland
The experience for me at the
St. Christopher School for the Deaf was one of the greatest
moment’s I’ve ever had. Despite the fact that my signing wasn’t the best we were
able to communicate through means other that signing. The facial expressions and
smiles and hand gestures said more than enough for me. They were glad to have us
there and we were glad to be there for them. IT1 Maitland was the main point of
contact for signing as he is very skilled at it and he helped us make the
experience even that more pleasurable. For me this was an unforgettable day
because I left feeling proud that that could bring so much joy to kids and young
adults and I didn’t even have to say a word. Their expressions of gratitude and
thanks said it all.
V/R
OS1(SW) Parrish
No comments:
Post a Comment