Legare participates in international exercises

Coast Guard Magazine, Oct, 2004 by Justin Nadolny

PORTSMOUTH, Va., May 26 -- During July and August, the CGC Legare spent 61 days deployed to Central America and South America. During the patrol, the Legare participated in two international military exercises, UNITAS 2004 and PANAMAX 2004. The Legare began its patrol steaming down the east coast of North America and through the Panama Canal for Callao, Peru, to participate in UNITAS 2004. The Legare, along with coast guards from Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, spent two weeks participating in joint exercises to strengthen international ties through cooperation in maritime safety and security procedures.

Upon completion of UNITAS 2004, the Legare steamed up the Pacific Coast of South America for Cristobal, Panama, to participate in PANAMAX 2004. The Legare, along with the USS Crommelin and naval vessels from Chile, Argentina, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, and Peru, spent the week in a realistic scenario defending the Panama Canal against a mock terrorist attack.

While participating in PANAMAX 2004, crewmembers from the Legare and the Crommelin spent the day at a small public school in Buena Vista, Panama. Throughout the day, crewmembers from the Legare removed trash, concrete blocks, weeds, and a 100-foot long metal fence to create a safer area in which the children can learn and play.

The volunteers also spent time cleaning out trash-filled rooms, clearing the children's soccer field, painting the front of the school, and installing a drainage system for rain water. The crews found time to interact with the children and were treated to a traditional Panamanian meal by the school's cooks. After an exhausting day, the volunteers received a grateful thanks from the school's staff and from visiting members of the U.S. Embassy, and left with the knowledge they had made a difference.

Story and photo by Ensign Justin Nadolny, CGC Legare