USNA News Article

Annapolis Chief Selectees Give Back to the Community

September 6, 2012

By MCC Dennis Herring

Nine chief petty officer selectees from the Annapolis area Chief’s Mess recently spent two days volunteering in the local community to give back to those in need.

The soon-to-be-promoted chiefs spent their first afternoon of the weekend volunteering at the Washington, D.C. Ronald McDonald House and the second day visiting with residents of the Washington campus of the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

At the Ronald McDonald House, the nine spent an afternoon preparing an evening meal for guests of the facility. The home, which opened its doors in June 1980, serves as a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children who travel to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to be treated for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The home is designed to provide an environment where families can find comfort, necessities and respite during a time of great stress.

The chief selectees spent four hours preparing a meal of spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread and vegetables for the family members currently staying at the house, said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Lynval Weise, who works on the Naval Academy superintendent’s staff.

“It was an awesome experience to give back to those who are less fortunate,” Weise added. “You just don’t know how lucky you can be sometimes.”

For their second day of community events, the nine selectees visited with residents of the Washington campus of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. During the visit, the selectees and residents shared sea stories and spent a couple of hours bowling in the campus’ six-lane bowling alley.

“The residents had a tremendous time with the Naval Academy chiefs and chief selects,” said Carolyn Haug, the home’s volunteer opportunity coordinator. “Our residents enjoyed the opportunity to share stories with our younger generation and learn from each other. It was also a treat listening to all of the service songs since we had residents from different services with us. I don't think they were ready to part at the end of our time together.”

The first home for elderly military was established in 1811 by Congress in Philadelphia, and in 1851 the predecessor to the current Armed Forces Retirement Home was officially established in Washington, D.C. The home and its staff fulfill our nation's commitment to its veterans by providing a premier retirement community with exceptional residential care and extensive support services.

Master Chief Storekeeper James Webster, who enlisted in the Navy in 1945 and retired in 1975, signed the selectees charge books and talked with them about his time in the fleet.

“I’m a firm believer that a chief selectee didn’t get here without some help from a fellow first class petty officer,” Webster advised the new chiefs. “They put you here (in this rank) so now it’s time to help them make chief.”