NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES -- Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen assisted with building an affordable home during Habitat for Humanity (HFH) New York City’s seventh annual Fleet Week Build in Queens, New York May 23-24.
The HFH New York City site was previously a condemned house, left vacant for about 15 years. Because of its poor condition, HFH New York City had to completely demolish the home and build back from the foundation up.
“It’s amazing to work with the sea service members,” said Matthew Dunbar, the vice president of external affairs for HFH New York City. “The Fleet Week Build is one of our most productive builds of the year.”
Dunbar said that because of the service members’ hard work and dedication, the organization usually finds themselves a few days ahead of schedule.
“They really do make our mission their mission during Fleet Week,” said Dunbar. “The service members volunteering with us are not only serving and providing a home for a future home owner, but they’re also bringing this lot, that was once an eyesore, back to the community.”
Electronics Technician 3rd Class Eric Neketin, a volunteer assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), said this was his first Fleet Week and was eager to sign up for the HFH project once the opportunity appeared.
“It’s a good feeling to know that service members are doing more than just walking around showing off their nice-looking uniforms,” said Neketin.
While service members dig holes, strike nails and put up walls, Fire Controlman (Aegis) 3rd Ryan Summers said that this is a good opportunity to remember why we serve.
“I think it important for us to keep doing these types of events, so we don’t forget why we signed up,” said Summers. “It’s fun and cool to be recognized every now and then, but we also have to recognize the city hosts Fleet Week for us, and we can give back by doing this for them.”
Fleet Week New York, now in its 31st year, is the city’s time-honored celebration of the sea services. It is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services.