U.S.S. Vermont and U.S.S. Montpelier crews celebrate Fourth of July together for first time in three years
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, sailors from two navy ships took the weekend to tour the state, relax, and march in parades.
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, sailors from two navy ships took the weekend to tour the state, relax, and march in parades.
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, sailors from two navy ships took the weekend to tour the state, relax, and march in parades.
The crews of the U.S.S. Vermont and U.S.S. Montpelier returned to Vermont this weekend, marking the first time that representatives from both ships have been in the state together for the Fourth of July since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sailors spent Saturday touring Vermont ahead of Independence Day.
"Well, I'm from south Texas, and I've never seen mountains before," said James Syers, an FT-2 on the U.S.S. Vermont. "It is mindboggling! Just seeing the Green Mountains covering the landscape, I thought that was crazy!"
Syers said he loves Vermont after just one day.
"For such a small state, you guys have a lot of stuff!" said Gage Peterson, MM on the U.S.S. Montpelier.
Crews from both ships said they love getting to better know their ship's namesakes.
"We got to tour Morse Farm earlier today, which is a great, local attraction," said Chris Dolan, LCDR on the U.S.S. Montpelier. "They have creemees, everybody loves creemees!"
"There was a farmer's market in Montpelier so I went there and tried tea, espresso, a bunch of local stuff. Got some homemade kombucha, which that is near and dear to my heart, can't wait to try that one out! It's waiting for me back in my hotel!" said Daniel Walter, ETN-1 on U.S.S. Vermont.
But the day was not just for exploring. Crews from both ships went head-to-head in a cornhole "battle" in the afternoon.
"I'm sort of a ringer for the cornhole tournament, so if I need to step in and dominate, then I will do so!" said Terrence "The Chief" Shanklin, CPO on U.S.S. Montpelier.
"I am terrible at cornhole, but I'm gonna give it the old college try and do my very best," said Walter. "Who knows, maybe a miracle will happen and there will be an upset!"
The U.S.S. Montpelier named its cornhole team the Green Mountain Boys and the U.S.S. Vermont crew were the Maple-Champs.
But after the fun and games, the sailors geared up for Independence Day parades throughout the weekend.
"During the parade, we'll be wearing our summer whites, so we'll still look pretty fashionable but we'll be a little more comfortable," said Patrick Holt, STSCS on U.S.S. Vermont.
On Sunday, sailors from the U.S.S. Montpelier marched in the parade in their namesake city.
"I don't get to get in uniform that often anymore, so I'm actually looking forward to that and marching in the parade," Shanklin said.
The sailors from the U.S.S. Vermont headed down to march in the Poultney parade on Monday.